Bachelors, Belles, Tendered a Most Brilliant Reception and Ball

The Racine Daily Journal, Wednesday, January 2, 1895

BACHELORS, BELLES.

Tendered a Most Brilliant Reception and Ball.

At the Hotel Racine by the Young Married People.

Society Out in Full Force – Elaborate Decorations – Rich and Costly Costumes – Guests Present from City and Abroad.

The reception and dancing party given at the Hotel Racine last evening, was one of the most elaborately conceived and elegantly executed affairs that has ever taken place in the state. The function was of interest to the world of fashion for many reason – first, because it was tendered as a compliment to the bachelors and belles of our beautiful city, by the young married folks, and second because it brought together the beauty and grace of society

The Young Married Folks.

The list of the married folks who joined together in giving this magnificent event were the following gentlemen and their wives:

Charles Adams, Edward Larrabee Baker, Frank Kellogg Bull, Burnett Bolden, Francis A. Brodsky, Charles Russell Carpenter, Jackson Case, William Howard Crosby, Charles Collins, Edward Clancy, Harry Dickey, Charles Dietrich, Edmund C. Deane, John Dickson, Walter Dutton, Lucius J. Elliot, Charles Erskine, Frank Fish, John M. Falvey, Albert Wright Guillbert, Charles Hambright, Charles Henry Humphreys, Otis W. Johnson, Frank Kelley, William Mitchell Lewis, Frank L. Mitchell, Henry Mitchell, W. Henry Miller, Charles H. Miner, Alfred L. Moore, Herbert Miles, Richard Taylor Robinson, Walter Reynolds, Clarence J. Richards, Henry J. Rogers, Will Raymond, H. Emmett Redman, H. J. Smith, Harry Mitchell Wallis, Philip Wackerhagen, Emery Darling Wright.

The arrangements were in the hands of Miss Bessie Bull, one of the most admired belles in the city.

Handsome Decoration.

The decorations within the hotel were extremely effective. The hall-way leading to the reception room was festooned with American flags. Parlor B. was used for the reception and the decorations were in red and green. The walls were decorated with smilax and wreaths and carnations were conspicuous.

The reception committee was composed of Mr. And Mrs. Ottis W. Johnson, Mr. And Mrs. Phillip Wackerhagen, Mr. And Mrs. H. M. Wallis, and Mr. And Mrs. C. H. Miner.

The card room to the west was in red, and the rays from handsome student lamps with large red shades made a pretty effect while the carnations and roses were in keeping, smilax being entwined through the room.

The magnificent dining room, used for the ball, was a scene of splendor. Over the door of the entrance was an American flag; holly was stretched from the chandeliers and through the room, at the north where is stationed the elegant mantle, was another flag; trailing down across the French mirror was holly and on the face were the words, “Happy New Year, 1895,” in white while at the base were ferns and palms. On the east and west walls were flags and greens. At the southeast corner was the orchestra platform decorated with palms and plants of various kinds.

The dining room, or annex, to the west was a thing of beauty. An American flag was gracefully looped overhead and the whole was in red. At either end of the table were gold and crystal candelabras upholding tinted tapes and softly shaded with red shades. The center was festooned with loops of smilax. A silver bowl was filled with carnations and there was a great abundance of other flowers. All of these decorations were under the personal supervision of Mrs. L. J. Elliott, Mrs. Charles M. Dietrich, and Mrs. F. K. Bull, Mrs. O. W. Johnson and Miss Bessie Bull.

Guests Arrive.

The guests commenced to arrive at an early hour, carriage after carriage depositing precious feminine beings and richly gowned. At 8:30 the majority of the guests had arrived. The celebrated Freidburg’s orchestra of Chicago stationed upon the platform, stuck up a march and the ball was on.

Magnificent Scene.

It was a magnificent sight. The ballroom brilliantly lighted, gaily gowned women flitting here and there, diamonds flashing and costumes fresh and every needed exponent present to render the occasion a perfect and memorable one in the history of Racine society.

No state in the union could have produced a more charming and handsome bevy of society ladies and more richly dressed.

The dancing floor was attended by the Messrs. Charles Carpenter, F. L. Mitchell, Frank K. Bull, H. M. Wallis, and L. J. Elliott.

During the entire evening the guests partook of elaborate refreshments furnished by the hotel, Charles Rivers, caterer. Punch, salads, ices and delicious cakes were among the delicacies served.

Some of the Costumes.

Among the many costumes noticed were: Mrs. Frank K. Bull, black satin; Mrs. H. M. Wallis, white and yellow silk moiré; Miss Bessie Bull, green and white taffeta, Miss Grace Deane, pink brocaded, lace trimmings; Miss Sinclair, blue and white; Mrs. W. Raymond, pale blue silk; Miss Minnie Whitford, light blue silk; Miss Alice Krans, dotted blue silk; Miss Aileen Price, pink taffeta; Miss Helen Lewis, pink silk; Mrs. Jackson Case, pink satin, with violets; Miss Helen Converse, imported gown of pale green silk, velvet and chiffon trimmings; Miss Hand, pale blue silk; Mrs. J. Rowlands, pale blue silk; Mrs. Frank Kelley, blue brocaded satin; Miss Helen Dutton, pale blue silk; Miss Wells, Milwaukee, pink crepe; Mrs. L. J. Elliott, pale green silk; Miss Ellsworth, Milwaukee, pale green silk; Miss Jennie Johnson, blue and white striped silk; Miss Marie Miner, blue crepe; Miss Hughes, pink silk mull; Mrs. P. S. Fuller, light silk; Mrs. C. Carpenter, brocaded silk; Mrs. Otis Johnson, pale blue silk; Miss Daisy Bull, white moiré; Miss Mattie Sinclair, blue and white silk; Mrs. H. Mitchell, a most becoming silk costume; Miss Lillian Hall, black satin; Mrs. Charles Dietrich, pale blue brocaded satin; Miss Barker of Milwaukee, pale green silk. Nearly all of the ladies carried roses and wore diamonds.

As a stranger said when he gazed from the upper gallery, it was a scene brilliant with light, fragrant with flowers, and animated with the presence of beautiful women.

Great credit is due Mr. Drake of Kenosha for the magnificent display of plants which he furnished for the occasion and also to Mr. G. H. Ede for the cut flowers and other decorations.

The Guests Present.

The guests present from abroad were Miss Ellsworth, Miss Lewis, Miss Dickens, Milwaukee; Miss Barker and Miss Wells, Chicago; Mr. And Mrs. P. S. Fuller, Henry T. Fuller, Mr. Barker, Mr. Trowbridge, Chicago; Mr. Johnston, St. Paul; E. W. Griswold, Neenah, Wis.; H. F. Tyrrell, Irving Bean and Mr. Ellis, Milwaukee, and Dr. Swartz of Chicago.

From the city Misses Bessie Bull, Laura Alshuler, Jessie Hand, Miss Henry, Mary and Jennie Johnson, Bertha Kelley, Alice Kranz, Helen Lewis, Marie Miner, Miss May, Zettie Noar, Ida Naylor, Aileen Price, Mattie and Lucy Sinclair, Eva Ward, Minne Whitford, Florence and Daisy Bull, Hattie Bates, May Conroe, Helen Converse, Grace Deane, Gertrude Dingee, Helen Dutton, Miss Dimmett, Lizzie Davis, Ella Hughes, Bertha Harris, Eunice Horlick, Birdie Heuffner, Ione Hardy, Florence Hambright, Nellie Elliot, Emma Evans.

Messrs. Vincent Adams, Roy Beebe, George Bolton, Andrew and Joseph Dietrich, Harry Dutton, Edward and Newton Evans, Bert Hand, Will Horlick, A. Horlick, W. J. Hopkins, E. Heuffner, J. Hendrie, John Happ, Harry Hambright, A. Guilbert, F. Guilbert, H. and F. Johnson, E. Jones, M. Knapp, J. Knight, J. Meachem, F. and H. Miller, L. Monroe, J. Workman, J. Sarles, M. Rodway, G. Palmer, J. Pitcher, C. Pugh, L. Norton, A. Northrop, E. Wratten.

Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Hambright, Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Deane, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. Judge Hand, Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Sinclair, Dr. and Mrs. F. A. Brodske and others.

The Racine Daily Journal, Wednesday, January 2, 1895


Notes (by Todd Wallace)

Edward Larrabee Baker printed a book called “Vision of Mirza” at the Gothic Press in Racine in 1902. The Woodcut pressmark was designed by Frances Baker and cut by Edward L. Baker. The author is Joseph Addison.

Bull, Frank Kellogg, manufacturer and capitalist of Racine, Wis., was born in Spring Prairie, Walworth County, Wis., May 7, 1857; son of Stephen and Ellen (Kellogg) Bull; graduated from Racine College, 1878; married, 1880, Belle Jones. Began in employ of J. I. Case & Co., as apprentice in repair department; appointed secretary, 1881, treasurer, 1896, president, 1897 of J. I. Case Threshing Machine Co., which is now the largest manufacturer of threshing machinery in the world. President Belle City Manufacturing Co., farm implement manufacturers. Clubs, Union League (New York), Milwaukee (Milwaukee), Chicago Club, Chicago Athletic (Chicago), Racine (Racine, Wis.). (from http://geneasearch.com/1914/biographies055.htm)

1. “H.M. Wallis was president of J.I. Case Plow Works and married to Jessie Fremont Case, one of J.I. Case’s daughters, of which he promoted and capitalized on. In 1883, J.I. Case made H.M. Wallis a general manager of the J.I. Case Plow Works. In 1892, he was elected as president by the board of directors and continued as president until its sale to Massey Harris in 1928. H.M. Wallis died in February of 1931, believed to be caused by injuries sustained November 11, 1930 from an auto accident.” (from http://massey-harris.com/measuringstickp2.html)

The Racine Daily Journal, Wednesday, January 2, 1895

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