The Marysville Historical Society’s sixth annual Spring Tea March 29 will include both a vintage fashion show and a new location, at the Tulalip Resort Hotel.
This year marks Autrey Steilling’s first as an organizer of the event, and he explained how the Spring Tea began as an exclusive function for Historical Society members, before being expanded to include local business members. Although the event’s seating is limited to 25 tables, and admission is available by ticket only, the $20-per-person tickets are now open for sale to the general public.
“We used to be in the opera house, but this year, the Tulalip Resort Hotel has done a wonderful thing,” Steilling said. “They’ve stepped forward as a sponsor and allowed us the use of one of their ballrooms, scot-free. They’re going all-out, providing facilities, drinks and linens, and even offering to serve the tables. We said we’d do that, but they’ll still be supporting us, and they’ll even be cleaning up afterward.”
Steilling praised the Tulalip Resort Hotel for helping the people of Marysville as a whole, by supporting an event which will channel almost all of its proceeds into operation costs to continue the Marysville Historical Society, as well as funds to build a new Historical Society museum.
“Finding funding is almost impossible right now,” Steilling said. “Grants that we’ve gone to in years past are simply no longer there, which is understandable, given the current economy.”
The Historical Society is looking for individuals to host tables, in addition to the tables which will be hosted by Society members. A prize will be awarded to the best-decorated table, and a menu of cookies, cakes, breads, tea sandwiches and desserts, along with coffee, hot tea and hot chocolate, will be made available to all attendees. A silent auction and raffle will offer baskets and other items intended to be appropriate during the spring season, but the Historical Society is still seeking donations of items for the auction and raffle.
The Seattle Goodwill will be presenting the vintage fashion show, featuring a variety of period wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses, and in keeping with the “Think Spring” theme of the event, attendees are being encouraged to dress in their “Sunday best,” complete with optional, but welcomed, “fancy hats.” Prizes will even be awarded for best hat and best outfit.
LuAnne Fehrle, a volunteer with the Historical Society, recalled last year’s Spring Tea, during which a past president of the Society was taken aback to see one fashion show model wearing a Women’s Army Corps uniform.
“That uniform stirred up great emotions in her, since she was part of the same Women’s Army Corps unit,” Fehrle said. “A lot of other women really relate to the old gowns and dresses.”
“She wore that uniform to a tee,” said Marysville Historical Society President Ken Cage. “It’s really neat to see those World War II uniforms, and the ladies enjoy being fussed over by the men. It’s a good social event, because you get to see a lot of people you might not see that often during the rest of the year.”
To purchase tickets, you can call Sue Eitel at 360-657-2383, or visit the Marysville Historical Society at 1508-B Third St., Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Payments are required with reservations. To host a table, call Eilene Zachary at 360-659-2798, and for more information, call Autrey Steilling at 360-653-6274.
