It was an unusual and cruel curse to mourn during pregnancy, yet more a curse to mourn the loss of an infant. The mortality rate of infants during the Victorian era was fifty percent, making gowns like this mourning style maternity dress rare. It is made of lightweight black silk and hangs lower in the front than the back allowing for comfort. Tiny eyehooks along the back make it easy to slip on and the belt ties in the back to create an empire waistline for “cradling” comfort and support. Large cuffs were especially suited for mourning apparel. These cuffs were referred to as “weepers”. Due to uncontrollable and unpredictable fits of weeping, the “weepers” were an instant relief for clearing a tear stained face.
Note: This room is respectfully mentioned as “Mollie’s Room”, as this was Mollie Woodruff’s bedroom while living in this home. Some say that her spirit still resides here because this was said to be where she was happiest, though she lost both her first infant and husband, Egbert Wooldridge within three months of each other. In her death bed, Mollie was quoted as stating, “I’ve never lived a tragic life, but I did know sorrow.“ Mollie loved to look into the rose garden, just below, through her window. The preservationists of this room took this into consideration when selecting the beautiful cabbage rose wallpaper. We try to include dolls and a juvenile feel to her room when staging display, as her perfect world would have included this sort of whimsy. A lovely tribute to a lovely spirit, our dearly departed “Mollie”.
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