Today in Johnson City History, Wednesday, December 11, 2024
A memorable wedding and Rebecca Horvath’s “Preparing Room” for “Get Involved!”
Thursday, December 11, 1924: A century ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle reported on a society wedding. Let’s read about it!
“A prominent social event of the season occurred Wednesday afternoon at four o’clock when the marriage of Miss Elizabeth Cass and Mr. William Perry Bailey was impressively solemnized at the handsome home of the bride’s aunt, Mrs. Guy L. Smith, Sr., on East Watauga avenue (sic for Avenue).
“The entire lower floor of the home was opened for the nuptial event and lavishly decorated with palms, ferns, trailing ivy and mammoth white chrysanthemums. A improvised alter of evergreens, palms and ferns was arranged for the formation of the bridal party. The chandeliers were festooned with English ivy, and vases of white chrysanthemums and ferns were placed in charming arrangement over the reception suite.
“The pre-nuptial music was rendered by Mrs. Stanyarne Little, soloist; Miss Edith Miller, violinist, and Mrs. Henry C. Black, pianist. Mrs. Little charmingly sang ‘Beloved, It Is Morn,’ by Alyward, and ‘When You Are Near,’ by Pierson. Miss Miller’s violin solo was ‘Meditation,’ by Massanet, and for the entrance of the bridal party Mrs. Black and Miss Miller rendered the Wedding March from Lohengrin. During the ceremony Mrs. Black and Miss Miller softly played ‘To a Wild Rose’ by McDowell, and following the ceremony Mendelssohn’s Wedding March.
“The bride was attended by Mrs. Guy L. Smith as matron of honor and Miss Martha Good, Miss Ruth Cass, Miss Margaret Campbell and Miss Ruth Roberts Cass, of Elizabethton as maids of honor. Little Miss Dorothy Jane Miller was flower girl, and Master Guy L. Smith, III, carried the rings.
“Reverend W. F. Pitts, fo (sic for of) Athens, Tennessee, and Reverend Noe H. Cardwell of the First M. E. church (sic for Church), officiated, performing the impressive ring ceremony.
“The bride entered on the arm of her cousin, Mr. Guy L. Smith. Mr. Russell G. Bishop acted as best man and entered with the groom.
“The bridal party descended the broad stairway, which was decorated in trailing vines, ivy, and chrysanthemums, and passed through ribbon aisles into the drawing room where the ceremony was performed before the improvised altar.
“The bride never presented a more charming appearance than on this occasion in her bridal array. She wore a handsome wedding gown of white crepe back satin, made on fashionable straight lines, with gorgeous trimmings about the neck, and down the entire length of the dress on one side exquisite hand-pearled lace was used. On the side a handsome pearled ornament was fastened, while a long train of satin completed the costume. Her long veil of tulle was caught at the forehead with a coronet of pearls and orange blossoms. She carried an immense shower bouquet of Butterfly (indecipherable) and valley-lilies.
“Mrs. Smith, the matron of honor, wore a handsome gown of peach-colored chiffon heavily trimmed in designs of crystal beads with silver slippers. She carried an immense bouquet of Ophelia roses and sweet peas.
“Miss Martha Good’s fashionable costume was of coral color heavily pearled. She carried an arm bouquet of Ophelia roses.
“Miss Margaret Campbell wore an exquisite orchid chiffon dress with long waist and flaring skirt. She carried an arm bouquet of Killarney roses.
“Miss Ruth Cass was costumed in a lovely creation of chiffon of yellow and orange shaded together, with trimmings of ostrich. She carried an arm bouquet of Ophelia roses.
“Miss Ruth Roberts Cass wore a charming garb of blue chiffon with deep trimmings of ostrich, and carried an immense bouquet of Killarney roses. The bride’s maids wore silver slippers.
“Little Miss Dorothy Jane Miller wore a dainty dress of white chiffon, and Master Guy L. Smith, III, was dressed in cunning white satin suit.
“Following the wedding Mrs. Guy L. Smith, Sr., entertained with an informal reception. The guests were invited into the dining room where the picture table was arranged with the beautiful wedding cake in the center, while streamers of white tulle were suspended from the chandelier, shaded with ivy, to the four corners of the table and caught in butterfly bows. Much merriment was derived from pulling the (indecipherable) favors from the cake, which was cut by the bride. Delicious ices, cakes and mints carrying out a color suggestion of yellow and white was served by Miss Carrie Wiley, Miss Sarah Cass, Miss Margaret King, Miss Elinor Brading, Miss Frances Miller, Miss Mary Gump and Miss Margie Hunt.
“Assisting Mrs. Smith in entertaining were Mrs. George W. Hardin, Mrs. C. A. Smith, Mrs. L. Amhurst and Mrs. Harry D. Miller.
“Mrs. Bailey is the only daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Cass, her home always having been in Johnson City. She is active in a leading capacity in church, social, civic and musical circles, being a member of many of the old established and prominent clubs of the city, and a musician of rare accomplishments, and possesses to a rare degree a personality of brilliance and charm most attracting.
“The groom is a popular and successful young business man (sic for businessman) of Johnson City, being joint owner and an executive of one of the leading electrical establishments in this section. He is a son of Mrs. Emma Campbell, 115 East Unaka avenue (sic for Avenue), and has for some time been prominent in social and civic circles.
“Among the out-of-town guests were Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Cass, of Elizabethton; Mrs. Lee Donaldson and daughters, Misses Eloise and Dorothy Donaldson, of Morristown, and Miss Mattie Brown, of Whitesburg, Tennessee.
“Mr. and Mrs. Bailey left yesterday afternoon for an extended southern trip including various points in Florida, following which they will make their home in Johnson City.”
Here’s a wonderful “Get Involved!” Thank you to Rebecca Horvath for sharing this.
For many folks, a beloved Christmas tradition is watching the classic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The 1946 film stars Jimmy Stewart as small-town everyman George Bailey, who is down on his luck and deeply depressed on Christmas Eve. Angel-who-hasn’t-earned-his-wings Clarence intervenes and turns George’s life around in the most unexpected way: he allows him to see what his hometown and family would have been like if he’d never been born. In the end, George understands the tremendous blessings of his life.
Growing up in the 1980s, I watched this movie – and many other classics – with my Dad. He was a movie buff who had a knack for choosing “old” movies I would like. Jimmy Stewart quickly became my favorite actor; I was probably the only 8-year-old who could make that claim! But Dad and I agreed – “It’s a Wonderful Life” is the best movie ever made.
Fast forward a few decades and I randomly heard a powerful quote that stuck in my mind (source unknown): Christmas is about preparing room. As a writer, I usually have twenty different essays rolling around in my brain. I mentally chewed on this quote for a while before specific inspiration struck: not only is Christmas about preparing room, but so is George Bailey’s story. I hammered out a blog post tying the two ideas together and shared it, but the concept wouldn’t let me go. Months later, I felt a strong pull to run with the idea that a friend (and fellow writer) had offhandedly mentioned: I could expand this blog post into a book.
And thus began the labor of love – and blood, sweat, and tears – that is writing a book. From the broad concept of my original piece, I devised a daily devotional designed to be read throughout the season of Advent. Writing a book is not entirely unlike giving birth, in a sense. This particular “baby” is called Preparing Room: An Advent Journey Through “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It’s available on Amazon.
Since the specific dates of Advent fluctuate from year to year, I settled on using the dates of December 1-25. Each day starts with one thing we prepare room for – from experiencing joy to gaining a new perspective to healing our brokenness – then has a story from the movie, a related story from the Bible, and a broad application, plus a short prayer prompt and a Bible verse. How do you tie George Bailey’s story to the story of the Apostle Paul? You’ll have to read the book and find out, but here’s a hint: they each walked their own roads to Damascus - George figuratively, Paul literally - and returned transformed. The movie is full of rich lessons if we just dig a little deeper.
Since publishing the book in 2022, I have shared an Advent series each year on Instagram (@rebeccahorvathwrites) with daily devotionals; I’ve had book signings, I’ve met readers, and I’ve been extraordinarily blessed by the stories they’ve shared and honored that they’ve made reading my book an annual tradition. I’ve realized this little book is the one I was born to write.
This year, I lost my precious Daddy; this is the first Christmas season without him. I dedicated my book to him and I’m grateful he knew it! Watching our favorite movie will be bittersweet, but also comforting – the movie is like a warm, familiar hug that never gets old. It’s the best tradition!
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Truly, it takes several people to put together something like you’ve just read. I express profound appreciation to Heidi Dulebohn and Stephanie McClellan Houk for their thoughts and encouragement.
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