Anniversary

Yesterday, I posted on Facebook the information that it was my parents' 76th wedding anniversary. (My mom, 96, is still with us; Dad died in late November 1999.) Anyway, going through an old manila folder--I think it had belonged to my grandmother, Mom's mom--I found some very detailed information about their wedding on Oct. 12, 1939, in Enid, Oklahoma. The newspaper story had appeared in the Jackson (Ohio) Herald. My mother's Osborn grandparents had lived there.

I'm re-typing the story here because the old newsprint, yellow and fading, is so hard to read. I corrected some of the errors--but left the odd capitalization in places. In a few places, in brackets, I added a little information.

I learned quite a few things here--and not just about the clothing of the bridal party--and the music that day. I learned the name of the Denver church where my dad was preaching (still standing, still a church), the address where they lived in Denver, and the objects my mom carried (moved me to tears). And much more.


DYER-OSBORN NUPTIALS READ

The many Jackson friends of Dr. and Mrs. G. Edwin Osborn of Enid, Oklahoma, will be interested in the account of the marriage of their only daughter, Prudence, to Mr. Charles Edwin [sic--his name was Edward] Dyer, of Denver, Colorado, son of Mrs. Parl [sic--her name was Pearl] M. Dyer, of Freewater, Oregon. The marriage took place at the University Place Christian church at Enid, at eight o'clock the evening of October 12th.

Dr. Osborn officiated at his daughter's bridal which was witnessed by a large company of friends, many of whom were classmates of the couple at Phillips University [in Enid]. The vows were taken before an altar formed of Autumn leaves, ferns, palms and tall standards of chrysanthemums, with candelabra carrying lighted cathedral candles at either side. The windows of the church each held a lighted white taper, and white satin ribbons marked the pews reserved for family and close friends. Miss Osborn was attended by a maid of honor, four bridesmaids, a flower girl and ring-bearer. Mr. Ronald Osborn, brother of the bride, served Mr. Dyer as best man. Four ushers were chosen from the groom's college friends. A program of bridal music preceded the entrance of the bridal party, the pianist playing "I Love You Truly" and "Liebestraum," and a friend singing "O Perfect Love" and "Because." The Lohengrin and Mendelssohn wedding music was used as processional and recessional. The bridesmaids were dressed alike in romance blue taffeta with long circular skirts and short bustle backed jackets. They carried arm bouquets of dubonnet chrysanthemums. The maid of honor was gowned in rose satin made on similar lines to the gowns of the bridesmaids. She carried dubonnet chrysanthemums and deep pink roses. The small flower girl and ring-bearer wore Alice blue taffeta frocks.

Miss Osborn was lovely in an empire bridal gown of white satin fashioned en train with sweetheart neckline and long tight cuffed leg-o-mutton sleeves. Her finger tip veil of tulle was fastened to her hair with a Juliet cap and a short face veil was thrown back during the ceremony. Instead of the usual bridal bouquet, she carried a white satin-bound Bible whose boards were made of olive wood brought back from the Mount of Olives, the book a gift of the groom. A shower of white ribbons with valley lilies and tuberoses fell from the book. For her "something old," the bride carried a handkerchief sent by a family friend from Richmond, Va., who had carried it at her own wedding 25 years ago. The Bible held also a lucky six-pence brought by the Osbornes [sic] from Scotland.

Dr. and Mrs. Osborn received at their home following the ceremony, Mrs. Osborn being handsomely gowned in blue lace with a corsage of Talisman roses. A white tiered wedding cake topped with a miniature bride and groom, together with tall white candles, formed the centerpiece on the dining table from which guests were served by a group of the bride's college friends.

The couple left in the evening for Denver where the groom is minister at the South Broadway Christian church [link to church website] For traveling, Mrs. Dyer changed to a suit of Capri rose wool with brown fur collar and brown accessories.

The new Mrs. Dyer, a granddaughter of Mrs. L. A. Osborn of this city, was prominent in campus activities at Phillips University at Enid, and is listed in "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities." Her early schooling was taken at Sciennes School, Edinburgh, Scotland, and historic Thomas Jefferson high school of Richmond, Va. She plans to complete her university work at Denver.

Mr. Dyer is a graduate of the University of Oregon, North Western Christian college, and Phillips University, where he received his M. A. last June. He is a member of the Sigma Delta Psi fraternity, and of the Kiwanis club of Enid. Possessor of a fine tenor voice, he was prominent in musical circles while in Enid, serving as tenor soloist with the Cimarron Opera Company.

Mr. and Mrs. Dyer will be at home at 2 Lincoln Street, Denver, Colo. [Right across the street from the church, probably the parsonage.]