Rogers Museum Relives Earlier Days of Death

Courtesy Photo "It is kind of our way of bringing people in in the fall," says Rogers Historical Museum's interim director Terrilyn Wendling of the timing of this annual exhibit. "You have the Day of the Dead, and in the fall, people were gearing up for the deaths of nature, and its replenishment."
Courtesy Photo "It is kind of our way of bringing people in in the fall," says Rogers Historical Museum's interim director Terrilyn Wendling of the timing of this annual exhibit. "You have the Day of the Dead, and in the fall, people were gearing up for the deaths of nature, and its replenishment."

The Rogers Historical Museum's somewhat spooky, thoroughly educational, exhibit "A House in Mourning" is back once again for a special run that coincides with both Halloween and the Day of the Dead. The museum's interim director, Terrilyn Wendling, says the exhibit has been running during this time period for over a decade now. During the exhibit, which explores mourning traditions in the early 1900s, the museum-owned Hawkins House is set up as though the family in residence has just experienced a death.

"There's a funeral announcement on the door, and, when you come into the kitchen, you'll see all the items that people would bring to a grieving family -- food, etc.," says Wendling. "We have an embalming table out on the porch. At the turn of the [20th] century, taking care of the deceased person fell to the family, and it was done at home -- the entirety of caring for the body, getting it in the coffin and having the service was all done at home. There are certain decor changes the family would do to show they were in mourning: pull the drapes, cover the mirrors and stop the clocks. And you would put on funeral attire. If you were a grieving widow, your choices were everything from a veil to jet-black clothing, nothing shiny, and that could last for a year -- longer, in some cases -- and only then would you slowly start getting back into colored clothing."

FAQ

‘A House in Mourning’

WHEN — 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, through Nov. 2; special tours at 7, 7:15, 7:30, 7:45 and 8 p.m. on Oct. 17-18 & 25-26

WHERE — Rogers Historical Museum’s Hawkins Housein Rogers

COST — Free

INFO — 621-1154

Wendling says the exhibit can help to point out how far removed we are from deceased loved ones, as compared with the past.

"When you had the quick service in the home, you had three days that the body was in your parlor," she explains. "You would sit up and shoo the flies away and make sure the ice was under the table to keep the body cold."

The exhibit runs through Nov. 2, with special presentations on Oct. 17-18 and 25-26 that will feature costumed interpreters performing roles like the funeral director and embalmer.

-- Lara Jo Hightower

[email protected]

NAN What's Up on 10/11/2019

Upcoming Events