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Family baptismal gown crosses six generations
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| By: Rachel Westberg |
October 01, 2008 |
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New Auburn resident Dot Weyers’s daughter, Dorri Weyers, was Dot’s first child to be baptized in the dress made by her great-great grandmother. The photo was taken March 8, 1963.
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Many baptismal gowns are handed down from generation to generation, but one dress with ties to a New Auburn family has made its way through six generations and more than 130 years of christenings.
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The gown was made by New Auburn resident Dot Weyers' great-grandmother Caroline Sommers in the 1870s for the christening of her six children, including Dot's grandmother, Anna Schaefer.
Weyers is unsure if any of Anna's children-all boys-wore the dress, as her grandparents moved to Oklahoma from Hilbert. She does know, however, that the dress remained on the family farm in Hilbert, where her grandparents eventually returned circa 1915.
In December 1963, Anna passed away. As family went through her belongings, they came across the dress in a granary on the farm. Weyers' father, William Schaefer, gave Weyers the dress. A couple of months later, Weyers' daughter Dorri was baptized in the dress. Her son Erik was also baptized in the gown in 1982.
Over the last 44 years, along with some of Weyers' children, 11 of her grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren have continued the tradition and worn the dress during their baptism. Weyers has attended every ceremony except one. Most recently, Weyers' great-granddaughter Odessa was baptized Sept. 21. Weyers adds that another granddaughter is due in March and will likely ask for the dress for her new baby.
Weyers has the dress in her possession in order to clean it, but her oldest daughter, Carla Campbell, of Pulaski, typically has the dress in her keeping as it is her children who use the dress most often.
Weyers says that over the years, with the exception of some mending here and there, the dress has held up well. It is only hand washed and remains in an acid-free shoe box. The dress will remain a family tradition for generations to come.
"I've always been interested in genealogy a little bit, so I think the dress is so neat," says Weyers. "And the kids think it's great to be able to pass it on. My oldest great-granddaughter is 13 now, and I'm guessing she may want to use it."
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©The Chetek Alert 2009
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