Eliza McCarthy Autograph Book
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Eliza McCarthy Matrimonial Dress
Eliza sewed her dress out of sheer fabric for her wedding in April of 1906. It isn't known exactly if this was the dress she wore down the aisle (most likely it was) or if it was constructed for the honeymoon. It's possible that the overskirt was removed to have the underskirt in use after the ceremony. At some point a few of the items were altered slightly. Four pieces remain - a blouse, waist sash, underskirt and overskirt.
To underscore how petit Eliza was - the neck circumference of the blouse is 31.5 cm (12"), and the waist of the overskirt not even double at 54 cm (21.25").
Photographic Origins
Thanks to Herbert taking pictures inside his house, items that had been passed down the family line have been located in his photos.
1. Wall paintings in Gibson, by W. West
2. Wall Painting by W. West and Silver Planter with Asparagus Fern / Dorothy's Rocking Chair
3. Kitchen Iron
Dorothy Fox's Toy Sewing Machine
Dorothy sewed her entire life - her last project was a yellow two-piece suit she wore to her grandson's wedding just months before she passed away in 2003. This handcrank miniature is the machine she started on.
In other sewing machine news: while enduring the war's supply shortages of toilet paper, Eliza used her machine to perforate sections of newsprint that could be used when one needed to powder one's nose.
Crafty Herb
Most of Herbert's wooden creations came after his retirement and in gifts to his grandchildren.
Book Ends and Books!
Herbert made an integrated wooden sliding bookend set which now holds the old books. The Fox children were regularly read to - Uncle Tom's Cabin was a favourite, as was anything written by Charles Dickens.
Balmoral Doll House
Created and built by Uncle Dick for his great-niece, this dollhouse is a replica of the real house and its interior, with the roof that comes off for access to the rooms inside. It ingeniously includes a working light in the top.
Kept at 257 Balmoral to be played with under supervision, Richard would gift plastic toy furniture on subsequent birthdays to fill the little house. All parts were still in use until 2023.
