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Traer celebrates fashion through the ages

Sesquicentennial Committee kickstarts ‘sequin’ of events

North Tama High School student Madi Schults turns toward the audience as she gracefully models historical clothing as part of the Traer Sesquicentennial Committee’s Apparel Through the Ages fashion show held in the Kupka Cultural Center in downtown Traer last Sunday afternoon. PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON
Jean Kruse, Master of Ceremonies, addresses the audience Sunday afternoon in the Kupka Cultural Center as part of the Traer Sesquicentennial Committee’s Traer’s Apparel Through the Ages fashion show. Kruse was modeling a dress worn by the late Evelyn (née Stoakes) Wilson (1905-1986), a beloved vocal music teacher at Traer High School. PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON
North Tama High School student Jamie Jacobs models a ‘flapper’ dress from the 1920s during last Sunday’s fashion show held in the Traer Public Library’s Kupka Cultural Center. The feather in her headband was courtesy of a peacock owned by fellow North Tama students Ryan and Mason Hosek (not pictured) who – while dressed in period military uniforms – assisted models on and off the stage. PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON
Lisa Eikamp, owner of Simply Blooming floral shop in downtown Traer, models an outfit owned and worn by the late newspaper columnist Ethel Taylor (1905-2002) who along with her husband, editor E.E. Taylor operated the Traer Star-Clipper. PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON
PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON
PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON

TRAER – While snow stubbornly fell outside last Sunday, the Kupka Cultural Center in the Traer library was brimming with excitement as a packed house enjoyed a fashion show featuring Traer apparel through the ages.

The show was organized – a process that required copious amounts of both research and mending over the past year – by members of the Traer Sesquicentennial Committee including Wendy Barnes, Lora McMillan, Jane Seeley, Kristin McMillan-Stefanovic, Sharon Stoakes, Patty Suess, and Jean Kruse who played Master of Ceremonies for the event from behind a podium located to the right of the Center’s stage.

Kruse began the show with a brief history of the town of Traer which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year after the first iron horse arrived on July 28, 1873, following the efforts of community builder and railroad investor John “Skinny” Wells Traer from whom the town takes its name.

While Clutier resident Jenny Hulme played the grand piano, a bevy of local models including several North Tama High School students – Emma Boldy, Jamie Jacobs, and Madi Schults among them – then began to stride across the stage in historical clothing from the 1870s through the 1950s courtesy of the Traer Historical Museum.

The show featured everything from overalls to wedding dresses. As the models moved back and forth for the audience, Kruse provided a running commentary on each piece’s origin story including who in the community either owned the piece or wore it themselves.

Local florist Lisa Eikamp was among those who modeled for the show, wearing items from relatives that were brought over with them from Czechoslovakia, Kruse said.

Eikamp also modeled a dress, rhinestone-studded hat and stole combination that belonged to the late columnist Ethel Taylor (1905-2002) who along with her husband, editor E.E. Taylor operated the Traer Star-Clipper – one half of the North Tama Telegraph’s predecessor. Kruse described Ethel as “a style setter for Traer ladies.” (North Tama Telegraph note: The same cannot be said for the paper’s current and only reporter/news editor, Ruby McAllister.)

Following the show, attendees made their way across the street to the Traer Historical Museum for a reception where they also had the opportunity to view the displays from which much of the modeled clothing was obtained including Tailored E. Taylor, Diverse Fashion, Roy & Kate West, David & Valeria Pulkrabek, and Football Fashion.

The fashion show also served as a kickstarter to a lengthy list of events the Traer Sesquicentennial Committee has planned for 2023. Upcoming events planned by the committee include Veterans cemetery tours (May 29), Birthday Bash Kick-Off Party (June 3), dinner and a movie (July), home tours (August 5-13), North Tama Teacher Appreciation and Open House (August 11), a beard contest set to culminate in August at Winding Stairs Festival, a Civil War reenactment, a visit by the governor, and much more.

Follow the Traer Sesquicentennial – 150 Years of Pride & Progress Facebook page for more information.