������Ƶ

Vintage dress available to borrow for prom

Emma Harris modeling the dress in the 2015 Prom Dress Fashion Show.

The Manchester Ladies holds a free prom dress boutique every year, providing Manchester girls an opportunity to “shop” for free for a prom dress right here in town. In addition to the 100+ current dresses available, the Ladies Society has possession of a very special vintage prom dress.

Donated at the Library front desk last year was a beautiful vintage lavender lace dress. Attached to the dress was a note explaining that this dress was worn by Ellen Haeussler, now Ellen Grossman, who attended Manchester High School in 1956. That was the year that the “new” high school, now the middle school, was completed.

Ellen Haeussler dancing in the dress in a 1955-1956 MHS yearbook photo.

Unlike the rest of the dresses–which the girls who take have the option of cleaning and re-donating or keeping after prom is over–the Ladies Society is asking that this dress be returned after prom so that it can be loaned out every year.

Last year the dress was claimed right away and worn to prom, but this year no one took it home so it is still available. The Ladies Society would still like someone to wear this special dress this year. If you are attending prom and interested in borrowing it, email manchesterladiessociety@gmail.com or talk to Hollie Kolcz at the Manchester High School. In today sizes it is a size 0-2. You do not have to be attending Manchester High School prom, any prom will work.

Emma Harris modeling the dress. Photo by Theresa Herron – 2015

by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.