On Wednesday, September 4, 1889, Florence Talbot “Kitty” Rogers, the lovely daughter of Henry and Cremora Rogers, married a gentleman from Chicago named Frank Hesing Pietsch.  

It was described in the Appleton Crescent as “the most brilliant of any wedding that has occurred in this city for years.” In fact, newspaper articles detailed the church, the music, the fashions, the service, the wedding breakfast, the decorations, even the wedding gifts, and particularly the reception which was held at Hearthstone.

To mark the 130th anniversary of this auspicious occasion, Hearthstone Historic House Museum recreated Kitty’s reception. The residence was again overflowing with flowers and other decorations, meticulously crafted by our curator and volunteers to the descriptions of the day. Also on display were a variety of Kitty’s wedding gifts as well as historic wedding attire from Hearthstone’s collections. Our guests, just like Kitty’s guests so long ago, were able to experience, in no small degree, this wonderful wedding.

Following are excerpts from the exhibit entitled Kitty’s Wedding: You’re Invited - the 130th Anniversary of Kitty Rogers’ Wedding. Also featured is the photography of Maria Belen Pereyra, MBPhotography, who captured the exhibit.

The exhibit was awarded the WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S BOARD OF CURATORS EXHIBIT AWARD in 2020.

 The Event of the Season

Kitty’s wedding was a much anticipated event in 1889.  In the run up to the wedding…

One newspaper called the impeding nuputals, “the most notable in Appleton society.” (Appleton Weekly Post, Aug 29, 1889)

Another paper said the wedding would be “the most brilliant of any wedding that has occurred in this city for years.” (Appleton Crescent, Aug 31, 1889)

After the wedding, papers were calling it…

“The most notable wedding in the history of Appleton society.” (Appleton Crescent, Sep 7, 1889)

“A brilliant affair.” (Chicago Tribune, Sep 8, 1889)

At the Church

Kitty’s wedding was held at Grace Episcopal Church in downtown Appleton which was located where All Saints Episcopal now stands. Over 500 invitations were issued to guests who started arriving an hour early.  They came from Chicago, from New York (where Kitty went to college), and from Michigan, as well as from Appleton and surrounding areas.

The chancel at the front of the church was filled with flowers. An arch, installed astride the aisle, was made out of with goldenrod and smilax (also called greenbrier, it is beautiful green vine with heart-shaped leaves and sometimes little berries). The altar was “almost hidden by banks of flowers” covered with eye popping gladiolas. Hanging over where the couple was to be marred was a large floral bell made entirely of white asters and sweet peas.

According to one paper, the interior decorations had an “indescribably beautiful effect” and “never before did flowers and garniture strive to successfully to express their joy at the union of two happy hearts” (Appleton Weekly Post, Sep 12 1889).

The service started at “high noon,” according to the papers, just as the sun started to come out.  Though the rain stopped, the couple was still “lucky” as tradition held that Wednesday was the luckiest day to get married.

Fashion and Friends

The groom, Frank, stepped out of the vestry as the service opened.  He was wearing a “Prince Albert” suit coat, named for and popularized by Queen Victoria’s husband, which was a long, knee-length double breasted coat with a fitted waist and contrasting collar.  Surprisingly, at least by today’s standards, he wore lavender-colored pants.  This was a very popular combination for weddings as wearing a black frock coat with black pants was not considered a stylish combination according to the style guides of the day.  Rather, style dictated that pants were to be gray, colored, plaid, or even striped.

As the procession started it was accompanied by the “Wedding March” from Wagner’s Lohengrin (now typically known as “Here Comes the Bride”).

Following the best man, Frank’s brother, who lead the way, were the four bridesmaids, Kitty’s friends from all over the country.  Their gowns were made with China crepe with silk sashes, each in a different color:  Nile green, old rose, peach pink, pale lemon.  The bridesmaids also wore “chip hats” (delicate bonnets made from thin strips of straw) trimmed with white lace.  (The bride and groom gave each bridesmaid a string of beads made of gold as a gift for being their attendants.)

The Beautiful Bride

Kitty made her entrance and came down the aisle flanked by Henry and Cremora.   Her dress, made of white brocaded satin, featured a brocaded satin train and a front piece of white crepe that was highlighted by “Valenciennes lace,” a very delicate lace from France (where the réseau - the net-like background - is made at the same time as the toilé - the pattern). It distinct from other types of lace because the openness of the réseau, the closeness and evenness of the toilé.  Kitty also wore a “floating” silk tulle veil attached lower on the back of the bride’s head very discretely so it appears to just be “floating” there.

No one reported what Henry wore but the papers mentioned that Cremora wore an embroidered gray silk dress trimmed with point lace.

Henry ceremonially gave Kitty away to Frank and the service commenced.  As Rev. Williams started the vows, the organist, Mrs. Williams, changed to “low, sweet strains” according to the paper.

After the ceremony, the party exited again to the wedding march and there was a carriage possession that took the wedding party down College Avenue and back to Hearthstone for the reception.

The Wedding Reception at Hearthstone

The reception was spectacular. Guests were invited back to Hearthstone where a “sumptuous” wedding breakfast was served (post-wedding meals were called “breakfasts” even though they were served in the afternoon) accompanied by music from an orchestra.  The caterer came all the way from Milwaukee. Unfortunately, the menu does not survive.  It can be imagined though that delicacies were brought from far and wide by train. 

There was a beautiful wedding cake, and probably a “Bride’s Cake” and a “Groom’s Cake” (one light colored and one dark colored) as well.  Each guest was given a piece of wedding cake in a “dainty box tied with white silk” as a memento.  (Appleton Crescent Sep 7, 1889)

The decorations outshone the catering.  They were covered extensively by the press.  According to the papers…

Windows were darkened and the “blaze of electric lamps substituted for the light of day.”  (Appleton Weekly Post, Sep 12, 1889)

“Thus were the surroundings rendered as entrancing as a fairy realm.” (Appleton Weekly Post, Sep 12, 1889)

“The effect was magical and poetic in its inspiration.” (Appleton Weekly Post, Sep 12, 1889)

The Wedding Gifts

According to the press…

Gifts started arriving long before the big day.  (Appleton Crescent, Aug 31, 1889)

The “elegant and lovely” wedding gifts given to the happy couple were “numerous, beautiful, and very expensive” and “never in the history of Appleton was a bride made the recipient of a more magnificent display of wedding gifts.” (Appleton Weekly Post, Sep 12, 1889)

“The variety and volume and value of these [gifts] speaks louder than words of the high regard entertained for these young people by their numerous friends.” (Appleton Weekly Post, Sep 12, 1889).

The gifts, which were listed in the papers as well they included sets of silver, china sets (much of the china was imported from Germany and England), services made of cut glass, chests of fine linen, collections of books (Kitty loved literature) and “household ornaments in an endless quantity and beautiful design.” (Appleton Weekly Post Sep 12, 1889) A host of Kitty’s gifts are in Hearthstone’s collections and were displayed for the special event.