Three generations of wedding dresses were recently donated to the museum by Claire Smith. The first dress was worn by Etta Barkley when she married James Stephenson on August 7, 1908, in Allen County, Indiana.
Their son, Reverend Paul Stephenson, wed Ernestine Pask on June 30, 1938, in Millville, New York. The new Mrs. Stephenson wore the second gown. Rev. Stephenson served as pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church in Portland around 1970.
Paul and Ernie’s youngest child, Claire Ann Stephenson married Gary Eugene Smith on June 11, 1977, at Asbury United Methodist Church in Portland, by her father and the Rev. Darrel Taggert. Claire wore the third dress..
These three generations of wedding dresses are currently on display at the museum.