THE PURDY WEDDING DRESS

The Purdy Wedding dress, from the McNairy County Museum, is now on display at The Oaklands Mansion Museum in Murfreesboro, TN. This dress was worn by Mary Dillahunty when she married John R. Adams in Purdy Tennessee on April 28th 1873. The wedding was officiated by Dr. Estell and was held at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church there. The Adams family continued their life in McNairy County, prospering and becoming a vital part of the county.

Great-great grand-sons of Mary and John, Josh Earhart of Smyrna, Georgia and Keith Smith of Washington, D.C., gifted the wedding dress to the McNairy County Museum 3 years ago. Granddaughter of John and Mary, Amelia Adams McCord is pictured in the dress in 1973, 100 years after her grandmother wore it. The exhibit at the Oaklands Museum is called “Wedding Dresses Through the Decades” and is open from January 17th through March 1st. Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4 PM and Sunday from 1:00 PM to 4 PM. This exhibit chronicles the change in fashion from different areas, eras and cultures up to our present-day bridal wear. Also, this year there will be an exhibit of wedding ring quilts on loan from members of the community.

Mary Beth Nevils, Curator at the Oaklands Museum, thanks the McNairy County Museum for sharing this piece of history with their Museum. This is the oldest dress in their collection this year!

The Purdy wedding dress on display at the Oakland Museum.

Amelia Adams McCord is pictured in the dress in 1973, 100 years after her grandmother wore it.

This dress was worn by Mary Dillahunty when she married John R. Adams in Purdy Tennessee on April 28th, 1873. below is the newspaper article describing the wedding event.

Editor’s New Since my last we have had a rain and a wedding. The ground is wet, vegetation is on the rise, and two more souls are happy. Mr.John R. Adams, Miss Mary Dillahunty were married at the C.P. Church, in this place, last Monday evening. The nuptial ceremony was performed by Rev. Dr. Estell. He is short and eloquent in his style. The church was crowded to its utmost capacity. We were highly delighted to meet our young and esteemed friend, Lewis Dillahunty, Esq., of Corinth. He came up to witness the marriage of his sister, and returned the next morning. We regret that he could not remain much longer, for Lewis is a capital fellow, and lacks no part that goes to make up of a true gentleman. Come again “Bud”

After the marriage, and the customary congratulations, Dr. Estell announced that if these were any other present, “who wanted to be done likewise, let them come forward or forever hold their peace.” There being no response to the Doctor’s hint, the congregation dispersed. some went home, but the majority repaired to the residence of Mr. J.M. Harris, which is also the home of the groom. Here there seemed to be an abundance of room and pleasure for everybody. There were the old and the young, the married, and single, the big and little, the gay and festive, and high revelry was soon in chief command of the joyous throng. Dancing was commenced, and as it ever does on occasions of pleasure, soon proved to be the attraction of the evening.

Supper

At 10 o’clock a most excellent repast was served, and the appearance of things about the dining room showed that ample justice had been done to every dish, and we feel that many thanks is due from us to Mrs.Adams, the groom’s mother, and Mrs. Harris for a complete satisfaction of our taste and apetite (sic.) Though we owe some of our good luck in getting a full supply to the shrewdness and sagacity of the little boys. We saw they were getting in good places to get two and then, we were soon supplied with enough for our own use, and some to take home to the children, you know.

Eleven o’clock was at hand, and we made a brief visit to the main parlor, paid our respects to the bride, whom we found injoying herself most splendidly, and looking as lovely as a “poet’s dream”. Her bridal costume was modest, but very tastefully arranged. Her dress and good sense. Her head-dress consisted of a beautiful wreath, her veil was made of silk tulle, which hung to the floor as she stood erect, We then took our companion on our arm, and went away with a light heart.

The bridal party went out to Mr. W.F. Cherry’s today for dinner. They report that they had a fine dinner and got swamped a dozen times. May 1,1873 NixVerbatum copy of clipping in old scrapbook in possession of Mayor D.T. Hamilton of Selmer. Scrapbook was made of “The Congressional Globe” of Feb. and Mar. 1869. This scrapbook was complied by Job E. Hamilton who lived in Adamsville,TN and who was the grandfather of D.T. Hamilton.

Story by Verna Webster