Westmoreland – Fowlkes Wedding Writeup
From the Selma Morning Times, January 5, 1900
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Beautiful Home Wedding
Westmoreland-Fowlkes
“O fortune, O happy day,
When a new household finds its place
Among the myriad homes of earth.”
How forcibly these lines come to mind when we realize what Huntsville has gained in capturing one of our best beloved girls for the central figure of a new home, amid its hills of beauty. Not unmixed with sadness, at Selma’s loss, was the hour of joy marking the occasion of one of the most brilliant home weddings in our city’s history.
Last night, at 9:30 o’clock, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel A. Fowlkes, at their magnificent home on Dallas street, gave their lovely daughter, Lucille Cobb, into the keeping of Dr. Hawkins D. Westmoreland, of Huntsville, Ala, Rev. J. W. Shoaff, of Greensboro, officiating. Dr. Shoaff was happy to be thus honored, having known and appreciated the lovely bride during his pastorate of the 1st Methodist church in Selma.
No home in Selma is better suited for such a brilliant event, and artistic taste, here and there, had given an added charm by trailing Southern smilax, banking pink carnations, and placing stately palms just where they pleased the eye most. Pink was the prevailing tint in parlors and halls, the distinctive pieces of decoration being a double heart of pink carnations pierced with a golden arrow, while near by was Cupid, with glittering wings, rejoicing over the accuracy of his aim. These were suspended so as to hang over the bride and groom during the ceremony.
Mr. Louis Benish presided at the piano, and as he played a grand wedding march, two lovely little maidens, Cola Barr Craig in pink mouselin, and Lelia Kemp, in blue mouselin, came down the broad and handsome staircase, passing into the front parlor, untying the pink satin ribbons encircling the space where the bridal party, which had formed up stairs, stood. Closely following came the six bride’s maids daintily gowned in white mouselin de soir over taffeta, carrying La France roses. This bevy of beauties was composed of Miss Martha Munford, of Kentucky, and Misses Mary Ella Woolsey, Louise Mallory, Mary Young, Natalie Welch and Bessie Welch of Selma.
The male attendants were: Messers W. B. Bankhead and —Echenberger, of Huntsville; J. W. Randall of Birmingham; Dr. Benj. C. Fowlkes and S. A. Fowlkes Jr., brothers of the bride, and Dr. R. A. Rush, of Mobile.
These attendants came down the stairway in alternate couples, two ladies, followed by two gentlemen, counter marching at foot of the stairs, going through the back parlor and the two lines passing each other and forming an aisle in the front parlor. The groom and his best man, Mr. Edward Henderson, of Huntsville, then passed into place, followed by the first groomsman, Mr. David Gray, of Cincinnati,
Ohio, preceding the Maid of Honor, Miss Ethel Fowlkes, first cousin of the bride, looking her best in blue mouselin de soie over taffeta. Then came two tiny flower girls, veritable blossoms themselves, niece and sister of the bride, Lucille Rush, attired in blue, and Matelyn Fowlkes in pink mouselin de soie, scattering rose petals in the bride’s pathway, and then one more lovely child, Mary Knight Rush, in pink bearing a silver salver containing the wedding ring.
Then came the beautiful bride herself, gorgeously arrayed in white dutchess satin, with bertha of rare point lace, handed down from her mother’s maiden days, and carrying a fan, coming to her from her grandmother, her bridal veil being held in place by a magnificent diamond sunburst, the groom’s wedding gift to his bride. Accompanying her was the Matron of Honor, the dearly cherished sister, Mrs. R. A. Rush, becomingly gowned in a pink taffeta, with trimmings of spangled net. As the fair young bride and handsome groom plighted their troth, surrounded by their nearest and dearest, never was fairer scene presented to mortal eye.
Immediately after the ceremony each one of the bridal party inscribed their names in a wedding book, which is the most unique and truly artistic wedding gift the writer has ever seen. It is the gift of an artist friend and schoolmate of the bride, Mrs. Paul Speake, of Huntsville.
In the refreshment room, fairy-like, in green and white flomosa fern and bride roses, forming double hearts upon the table, minister and attendants drank to the happy couple’s health from an exquisite loving cup, the gift of Miss Munford, one of the maids.
Miss Fowlkes had the rare privilege of wearing her great-grandmother’s wedding ring, it being used by every daughter of the family.
The groom, a popular physician of Huntsville, has hundreds of friends who rejoice with him that he has won this pearl among women.
Costly presents, numbering quite two hundred, attested the popularity of this young couple, who leave for their home, attended by thousands of good wishes, to which are joined, most heartily, those of The Times and Alma.
January 7, 1900 – from the same paper
Wednesday morning, Miss Ethel Fowlkes entertained the Fowlkes-Westmoreland wedding attendants, both ladies and gentlemen, at an informal card party. The gentleman’s prize was cut for by Dr. Westmoreland. Messrs. Henderson, Echenberger and Bankhead, and the last named guest, one of the Huntsville visitors was the winner. Miss Natalie Welch captured the lady’s prize. The whole affair bore the artistic finish, Miss Fowlkes and her gifted mother know so well how to impart, and was a beautiful feature of the visitors’ stay in Selma.
[This is Ethel Fowlkes Toner, daughter of Minnie Kent Fowlkes (Mrs. Edward T., Jr.). Minnie was an artist, and founding member of the Alabama Chapter of the Colonial Dames.]
SOURCE
Submitted by Carter Fowlkes
This was a fun read. Who doesn’t enjoy a beautiful wedding?