This week’s
featured artifact is the dress that Dorothy Andrew wore, on July 2, 1955, when
she married John Gray Wittmeyer. This beautiful wedding dress is made of
taffeta and lace. Based on the inside seams of the dress and stitching, we
believe this dress was likely homemade. Perhaps Dorothy made it herself, or she
had someone make it for her, but it isn’t likely that it was commercially made.
Dorothy and her
5 siblings were all born and raised in Peace River, by their parents, Bill and
Agnes Andrew. Bill was a master blacksmith, machinist and welder, while Agnes
spent her time raising the children, curling and cooking a fine meal.
Dorothy and Gray
spent their married life in Colorado and Oregon. She may not have lived in
Peace River for quite a few years, but when making up her will, Dorothy thought
of her parents and her hometown. Upon her passing in 2011, it was revealed that
Dorothy had bequeathed between $500,000 and 700,000 to a group or groups in the
Peace Region that would memorialize her parents. After an arduous process, the
recipient of this bequest was the Peace Regional Outreach Campus, in order to
purchase and improve a building to house their school, programs and daycare.
The Grand Opening for the new Andrew Education Centre is today (September 3,
2013), and Peace River is pleased to welcome back to the Peace Country,
Rotarians from Eugene-Delta, Oregon, who along with Peace River Rotarians,
administered this bequest and chose the deserving recipient.
Dorothy and Gray
enjoyed a wonderful life together, full of love, laughter and memories. We
invite you down to the Museum to see this dress on exhibit, along with photos
of the Andrew and Wittmeyer families.
