Wednesday, October 12, 2016

The Fifth Wedding Anniversary Celebration of Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Steen in 1880


















This picture of my great great grandparents, Charles F. and Sarah Steen was most likely taken on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary in 1925. While I do not have a picture of the couple from 1880, the celebration of their 5th wedding anniversary was covered by the Sandusky Daily Register of April 5, 1880.






















One hundred eighty of the friends and family of Charles and Sarah Steen attended the event, which was held at the home of Sarah's parents, Henry and Huldah Milner, in Perkins Township, Erie County, Ohio. The Register article stated that "City and country folks mingled in the pleasures of the afternoon and evening..."  The decorations included festoons of evergreen, and a monogram of the years 1875 and 1880, to mark the years of the couples' wedding and their fifth anniversary. A feast "fit for a king" was laid out on tables at the Milner's home. There was dancing for the young, and social visiting for the older folks. A lengthy listing of the gifts received by Mr. and Mrs. Steen was included in the newspaper article. Some of the gifts were table mats, fans, tooth picks, parlor games, art prints, a towel rack, slippers, Bible stand, a looking glass,  and an easy chair. Several people went together for a marble top table and set of chairs for the Steens. An especially poignant gift was an India ink portrait of the Steens' oldest child, Harry Milner Steen. Sadly, Harry would pass away at the age of 8 in 1885. The baby twin girls of Mr. and Mrs. were not forgotten. Babies Ada and Alpha Steen  each received a gold necklace, as well as a pair of twin lambs.






















What fun I had reading about the big celebration for my Great Great Grandpa Charlie and Great Great Grandma Sarah Steen!

2 comments:

Miss Merry said...

Wonderful article.

Dorene from Ohio said...

Miss Merry, I was really looking for info. on Henry Milner, since
I have been looking at his family Bible. This was a treasure I found
quite by accident! Can you imagine having twin lambs as a gift??