Page 15 - North Haven Magazine Issue 12 Winter 2020

And finally, here is Mabel Cooper Paige, the
creator of this marvelous collection:
Mabel Cooper Paige in her
wedding dress, 1896

“1896, and presidential election year… not that I
had anything to do with the election – “Votes for
Women” was still nothing but a battle cry.”
“The dress is a French dimity. Dimity took its name
from the place where it was first woven – Damiet-
ta, Egypt. It wasn’t much of a wedding dress – I
was to have been married in a blue broadcloth suit
but at the last minute Mother expressed her un-
happiness because I wasn’t wearing white. So, in
the twinkling of an eye, the old white dimity was
laundered, the parson tied the knot, and they lived
happily ever after.”

Mabel speaks very pragmatically of her own
marriage – as she does most events recount-
ed in her notes. There is a little something
in this collection for lovers of history, craft,
and genealogy. Please stop by to see it. You
will find the Cooper Doll Collection locat-
ed at the North Haven Historical Society, 27
Broadway. Call ahead for times – 203-239-
7722.

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