SoIn 06162016

Fashion forward, backward Fashion breathes new life into steamboat museum

A News and Tribune Publication

JUNE 16, 2016 — Issue 118

TOP THREE: Clark County Ohio River Sweep

EVENT:

Lunch and Learn series at Carnegie

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EDITOR

Claire Munn

STORY

Elizabeth DePompei

PHOTOGRAPHY Tyler Stewart

WHERE TO FIND SOIN:

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ON THE COVER: An 1800s party ensemble, foreground, was a frillier gown appropriate for everyday wear. The summer ensemble, worn through the era, is an example of what would be worn for an outing. The dresses are on display at the Howard Steamboat Museum. | STAFF PHOTO BY TYLER STEWART

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Jason Thomas

DESIGN

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Getting dressed up with the Howards

W

ho knew the Howards were so en Such a cool idea for a display. vogue?

Dressmaker Ruby Grace Miller, who has In today’s centerpiece you’ll read roots in Jeffersonville but lives in Boston, about an exhibit at the Howard Steamboat spent oodles of time researching what fashion Museum featuring ... fashion. Not exactly what would have looked like between 1875 and you’d associate with the 19th century ship-build1900. Miller hopes people see that the dresses ing magnates. were ornate and fine, but still realistic for But it makes perfect sense: “Because the every day wear. In fact, she’s looking forward JASON THOMAS Howards were noted for having soirees, parties to wearing the dresses herself, according to SoIn Editor and sometimes they’d have musical productions DePompei. in the parlor over there with the piano and musiAnd the exhibit is more than just pretty cians, so this gives a good idea of what people wore at dresses. It also highlights the important role women the time,” Keith Norrington, museum director and curaplayed in history. tor, told writer Elizabeth DePompei for today’s story.

I’d get all dressed up for that.

As visitors travel from room to room, the shape, color and fabrics of each dress reflect how fashion changed — Jason Thomas is the editor of SoIn. He can be reached by through the later half of the 19th century, DePompei phone at 812-206-2127 or email at jason.thomas@newsandexplains. tribune.com. Follow him on Twitter: @ScoopThomas.

Bone-rattling act comes to Louisville SOIN THE KNOW

• WHAT: St. Paul and the Broken Bones

• WHEN: 8 p.m. Sept. 10 • WHERE: Iroquois Amphitheater

• INFO: Purchase tickets in

person at The Iroquois Amphitheater Box office, by phone 877-987-6487 or on line at ticketfly.com.

LOUISVILLE — Production Simple has announced that St. Paul and the Broken Bones will perform at Iroquois Amphitheater at 8 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 10. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 17, at noon.

“Sea of Noise,” the second fulllength album by St. Paul and the Broken Bones, marks a quantum leap in sound and style for the high-voltage Birmingham, Alabama-based band, a Production Simple news release stated.

Produced by Paul Butler and recorded at Nashville’s Sound Emporium, the group’s sophomore effort features an expanded eight-piece

St. Paul and the Broken Bones will perform at the Iroquois Amphitheater on Sept. 10. | PHOTO PROVIDED lineup of the widely praised soulbased rock unit. Longtime members Paul Janeway (lead vocals), Jesse Phillips (bass, guitar), Browan Lollar (guitars), Andrew Lee (drums), Al Gamble (keyboards), and Allen Branstetter (trumpet) are joined by Jason Mingledorff (saxophone, clarinet, flute), and Chad Fisher (trombone).

The collection of new original songs is the group’s first release on RECORDS, a joint venture of

SONGS Publishing, winner of ASCAP’s 2016 independent publisher of the year award, and veteran label executive Barry Weiss.

“Sea of Noise” is a successor to the Broken Bones’ 2013 debut album “Half the City,” which introduced the group’s blazing mating of ’60s soul fire — daubed with latter-day influences like Sly Stone, David Bowie, and Prince — to Janeway’s impassioned singing and writing.

SOIN | THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2016

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3 TO GO

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Where to go and be seen in Southern Indiana

SWEEPIN' UP THE RIVER • WHAT: Annual Clark County Ohio River Sweep

• WHEN: 8:30 a.m. Saturday, June 18 • WHERE: Check-in stations at Clarksville’s

Ashland Park and at the Falls of the Ohio State Park • INFO: 812-243-8233 ext. 101 Scouts, community/civic /student organizations, families and individuals are needed to help clean the banks of the Ohio River. The event will end at 11:30 a.m. Trash bags, gloves and bottled water will be provided and each volunteer will receive a free T-shirt. The Ohio River Sweep is a riverbank cleanup event that extends the entire length of the Ohio River and beyond. More than 3,000 miles of shoreline will be combed for trash and debris.

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BROADWAY IN THE KNOBS • WHAT: ‘42nd Street’ ahead of festival • WHEN: 6:30 p.m. tonight, June 16, Friday, June 17

• WHERE: Floyd Central High School • COST: Adults, $12; senior citizens, $10; students, $6

• INFO: floydcentraltheatre.org; 812-542-2284

The theater students at Floyd Central are getting ready to hit the road with their mammoth production of the Broadway musical, “42nd Street.”

The students were invited to present the show at the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln Nebraska the last week of June. To prepare for the task of taking such a large production on the road, they will present “42nd Street” two more times at Floyd Central for the local public.

IN THE SWING OF THINGS • WHAT: Concert in the Park • WHEN: 7 p.m. Fridays • WHERE: Warder Park, Spring Street and Court

Avenue, Jeffersonville On Friday evenings you can find the Warder Park gazebo replete with a brass band and surrounded by a crowd of all ages. Some bands pay tribute to the people who served in the armed forces and it makes for a lump-in-your-throat moment — genuinely patriotic and heartfelt. It’s a slice of Americana. Performing Friday: River Cities Concert Band; marches, show tunes and standards.

— Clark-Floyd Counties Convention & Tourism Bureau

GOTTA GO: Interested in seeing your event in our 3 To Go? Email SoIn Editor Jason Thomas at jason.thomas@newsandtribune.com

Stitching a history

Victorian-era dresses fill 1890s Howard mansion

By ELIZABETH DEPOMPEI elizabeth.depompei@newsandtribune.com

J

EFFERSONVILLE — The 22-room, three-story Howard family mansion that towers over East Market Street in Jeffersonville has been given new life thanks to a piece of history’s fabric that’s taking center stage: fashion.

Unlike anything the Howard Steamboat Museum has had before, a new exhibit showcases 10 Victorian-era dresses carefully placed on mannequins and staged throughout the mansion. As visitors travel from room to room, the shape, color and fabrics of each dress reflect how fashion changed through the later half of the 19th century. It’s a picture of 1800s Clark County life that previously could only been seen in black and white photographs.

Dressmaker Ruby Grace Miller said she spent a lot of time researching the era and what fashion would have been like in Jeffersonville. She focused on the time between 1875 and 1900, and paid attention to the early 1890s when the Howard home was built.

“And I think the goal was sort of to show what the clothes looked like, what the clothes could have looked like and then how they progressed,” said Miller, who has roots in Jeffersonville but now lives in Boston.

IF YOU GO

• WHAT: Victorian clothing exhibit at the Howard Steamboat Museum

• WHERE: 1101 East Market Street in Jeffersonville • WHEN: Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. until July 10

• ADMISSION: Between $5 and $7; free for children under 6 • MORE INFO: howardsteamboatmuseum.org RIGHT: Evening gowns, circa 1875-1880, were very elaborate, popularly adorned with train. | STAFF PHOTO BY TYLER STEWART

Doing her research After examining garments of the time, Miller said she decided what she wanted the dressed to look like and what their purposes would be, whether it’s a gown for a ball or a dress for a walk by the water. Then she decided what fabrics could bring her visions to life, like cotton and silk, and sometimes rayon.

One of Miller’s favorite dresses is a striped, form-fitting promenade gown made of silk that represents a shift from the fluffy, bustle-shaped dresses pre-dating the 1870s. Miller hopes people see that the dresses were ornate and fine, but still realistic for every day wear. In fact, she’s looking forward to wearing the dresses herself after the exhibit ends on July 10.

Keith Norrington, museum director and curator, said the museum jumped at the chance to have Miller custom make dresses for the exhibit. Norrington said people most often associate the Howards with their steamboat legacy. The family’s shipyard was just across the street from the mansion where modern-day Jeffboat sits. With fashion, Norrington hopes people can get a better sense of how the Howards lived day to day.

“Because the Howards were noted for having soirees, parties and sometimes they’d have musical productions in the parlor over there with the piano and musicians, so this gives a good idea of what people wore at the time,” Norrington said.

Women’s role

Jeanne Burke, Clark County historian, said the dress exhibit also highlights a group of people often forgotten in history.

SEE DRESSES, PAGE 8

CONCERT: JUNE 17

6 | THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2016 | SoIn

ENTERTAINMENT

MOVIES:

“Radiotronic”

JUNE 17

7pm - 9pm FREE Admission

é “Finding Dory”

“Central Intelligence”

Concessions will be available including Red’s Comfort Foods & Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt

MOVIE: JULY 1

This week's entertainment releases

ALBUMS: JUNE 17

é “The Getaway” by Red Hot

Chili Peppers “Earth” by Neil Young

BOOKS: JUNE 21 é “Vinegar Girl” by Anne Tyler “Fatal Pursuit” by Martin Walker

Presenting ‘Floyd Family of Kentuckiana’ SOIN THE KNOW

• WHAT: ‘The Floyd Family of Kentuckiana’

• WHEN: noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 21

• WHERE: Carnegie Center for

Art and History, 201 E. Spring St., New Albany • INFO: Free; registration is requested by calling 812-9447336 or emailing Delesha Thomas at dthomas@carnegiecenter.org.

“Minions” Movie Begins at Dusk (Around 9:00pm)

Gateway Park

500 Little League Blvd.

Lawn chairs and coolers welcome!

No smoking, alcohol, or pets allowed in the park.

For our full schedule, call 812-283-5313 or visit www.ClarksvilleParks.com

NEW ALBANY — The Carnegie Center for Art and History, 201 E. Spring St., New Albany, from noon to 1 p.m., Tuesday, June 21, will host author, retired columnist, and historian of the Parklands of Floyds Fork, Bob Hill, who will present the program “The Floyd Family of Kentuckiana,” as part of the Carnegie Center’s Lunch & Learn series.

John Floyd, who had surveyed land for George Washington and Patrick Henry in Virginia, is a totally forgotten local leader and pioneer who came out to the Falls of the Ohio with seven other surveyors in 1774 to try to settle land grant prob-

Bob Hill at Hidden Hill Nursery. | PHOTO PROVIDED lems. He would help rescue Daniel the eastern and southeastern porBoone’s daughter, and became a tions of Jefferson County, Ky., was very early Louisville leader. Thomas named in his honor. The Parklands of Jefferson would later name him Floyds Fork covers about 4,000 acres Colonel of the Kentucky Militia, and of that land.

Justice of the Peace and Surveyor Bob Hill is an author and retired for Jefferson County. Colonel John columnist and feature writer for Floyd established a settlement along the Courier-Journal, and a wellBeargrass Creek near what is now respected speaker on many topics.

Breckenridge Lane in St. Matthews, He and his wife Janet own Hidden in Louisville, fought battles with Hill Nursery and Sculpture Garden George Rogers Clark, and was killed in Utica, which specializes in rare in 1783 while on his way to Bullitt’s and hard to find trees and plants. Hill Lick. Floyds Fork, a tributary of the is also the historian of the Parklands Salt River that runs 27 miles through of Floyds Fork.

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LOCAL SOIN HAPPENINGS Feeling left out? Send your establishment’s and/or organization’s upcoming events/new features/entertainment information to SoIn Editor Jason Thomas at jason.thomas@ newsandtribune.com

LIVE MUSIC AT HUBER’S

• WHERE: Huber’s Orchard, Winery & Vineyards WHEN/WHO: Saturday, June 18: Joe Dotson, 1 to 5 p.m.; Sunday, June 19: Dev & Dan, 1 to 5 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC AT WICK’S

• WHAT: Live on State • WHERE: Wick’s, 225 State St., New Albany

Friday, June 17: SPKR, Lacee & Wyndell; Saturday, June 18: Rick Monroe; Saturday, June 25: Billy Davis Group

BANK STREET BREWHOUSE

Friday, June 17: Endless Summer Band w/ guest The Decades; Saturday, June 18: Twilight Cinema Featuring: “The Spongebob Movie”; Friday, June 24: Velcro Pygmies w/ guest Thunderstruck; Saturday, June 25: Twilight Cinema Featuring: “The Avengers: Age of Ultron”

Smokey’s Discount Tobacco Outlet Corydon • New Salisbury • Salem Jeffersonville • New Albany • Sellersburg Stop in at any of our 6 locations for a wide selection of e-cigs, candles, dreamcatchers and more....

CONCERTS IN THE PARK

• WHERE: Warder Park, Spring Street and Court Avenue, Jeffersonville

• WHEN: 7 p.m. Fridays

Friday, June 17: River Cities Concert BandMarches, Show Tunes and Standards; Friday, June 24: Early AutumnBig Band Swing; Friday, July 1: The Don Krekel OrchestraBig Band Swing Classics; Friday, July 8: Take Two and Company featuring June Kelley-RoySultry Ballads, Bossa Novas, Swing Tunes & Contemporary Classics

BICENTENNIAL BEATS • WHAT: Live music • WHERE: Bank Street Brewhouse, 415 Bank St., New Albany • WHAT: Bicentennial Park Summer Concert Series • WHEN: 7 p.m. Fridays • WHO/WHEN: Friday, June 17: Clint Ackerman 7 to 9 p.m.; • WHERE: Bicentennial Park, Spring and Pearl streets, New Saturday, June 18: Whisky Ginger, 7 to 9 p.m.; Friday, June

24: Joel Curtis, 7 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, June 25: The Blues Redemption, 7 to 9 p.m.

7 p.m. every Tuesday: Tuesday Night Talent Review

CORYDON LIVE

• WHAT: Live country music • WHERE: 220 Hurst Lane, Corydon • INFO: Admission, adults $12;

children 6-12, $7; under 6, free. For tickets call 812-734-6288.

Saturday, June 18: The Lloyd Wood Show; Saturday June 25: Evan Twitty, Tracy Jo Brown, Josh Ranke

Albany Friday, June 17: Fredrick the Younger with Reality Something; Friday, June 24: Vessel; Friday, July 1 (no show); Friday, July 8: Kentuckiana Blues Roadshow

and more!

For all of your smoking needs Wide Assortment of Zippo Lighters

Dr. Grabow Pipes & Accessories

Walk-in Humidor at 5 locations

DOCUMENTARY

• WHAT: Documentary Film Series • WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday, June 18 • WHERE: Jeffersonville Township

Public Library, 211 E. Court Ave., Jeffersonville The library is welcoming adults, 18 and older, to attend to next Documentary Film Series, 2 p.m., Saturday, June 18, at the library. Watch a film about the late comedian Joan Rivers as she relentlessly pursued her career, and all the struggles and sacrifices that went along with being a storied entertainer. For more information on this program, visit jefflibrary.org, Events Calendar or call 812-285-5635.

RIVERSTAGE EVENTS

• WHEN: 7 p.m. Fridays, 8 p.m.

Saturdays

• WHERE: RiverStage, Spring Street and Riverside Drive, Jeffersonville

Hookah

Open 7 Days A Week Monday - Saturday 8am to 9pm Sunday 9am to 6pm Corydon Location: Monday - Saturday 8am to 10pm Sunday 9am to 9pm

8 | THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2016 | SOIN

At the end of the 1880s, the style pictured above became much more slim and straight. This seaside dress would have been worn as daywear for walks and informal outings. The Howard Steamboat Museum in Jeffersonville is featuring a new exhibit showcases 10 Victorian-era dresses carefully placed on mannequins and staged throughout the mansion. | STAFF PHOTOS BY TYLER STEWART

This ball gown, circa 1899-1902, typically featured an overlay of Chantilly lace and were sleeveless by this time. Featured at the Howard Steamboat Museum in Jeffersonville, dressmaker Ruby Grace Miller said the goal of the exhibit was to "show what the clothes looked like, what the clothes could have looked like and then how they progressed."

DRESSES: Miller started sewing at 13 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 “I would like for the public to think about women’s role in history and how important it actually was. There were a lot of women who were powerful in their own right, but they just remained kind of in the background,” Burke said. “And most women who had their own businesses either ran grocery stores or they either made clothing or hats, and that was considered to be an all-right business for women.”

ONLINE Burke, who is also • Follow Ruby Grace Miller’s great aunt, said she’s reminded of Loretta Miller's fashion blog at rubysrags.blogspot.com Howard, the last family member to live in the mansion. Burke said • See more dress photos in Loretta had a positive an online gallery at impact on the steamboat newsandtribune.com business, whether it was office work or delivering steamboats to customers.

“She would pile up the boats herself,” Burke said. “So she was a real boom to the family business.”

Miller said people often overlook that when men were away from the home during times of war, it was up to the women to work and manage the household. She hopes her exhibit will make visitors think more about women’s role in history.

A jeweled scarf ring holds the neckline of an 1890s day dress.

Dressmaker Ruby Grace Miller said she spent a lot of time researching the era and what fashion would have been like in Jeffersonville. The Victorian-era dresses are on display at the Howard Steamboat Museum.

Inspiring a dressmaker In Miller’s own story it was the women in her family who inspired her to get into dressmaking. Her mother and grandmother sewed and she started sewing when she was about 13 years old.

“I was always interested in costuming, looking at books online and things like that,” Miller said. “And then I went to a sewing camp when I was like 12 and then I knew it was possible to make these garments I wanted so much.”

Miller was further inspired by the Jane Austen Festival in Louisville where she wore some of her own creations.

She loves that dresses from different eras are detailed and “more complicated.”

“It’s just a very different feeling, very graceful dresses to wear usually,” she said. “And it’s just a lot of fun.

Each era is different.”

Now that she’s graduated high school, Miller said she has more time to focus on dressmaking. She’ll be making a dress for her first client this summer. Beyond that, she hopes to maybe one day create costumes for theater productions or museums.

Clark County will be able to revel in Miller’s work again in the fall. She’s currently working on dresses for an exhibit at the Clark County Museum set to open this fall. She said those dresses will focus on the periods from 1816 to 1840 and 1900 to 1960. Until then, visitors of the Howard Steamboat Museum can get lost in the era in between, dresses and all.

A tea gown, 1893-96, is displayed in the dining room of the Howard Steamboat Museum. Tea gowns were popularized in the 1870s, were simple in design with luxurious fabrics. Dressmaker Ruby Grace Miller's work will appear in another exhibit later this year at the Clark County Museum.