Romaine Johns-Ausman of Macon. Illinois will be the guest for the 4th Annual Vintage Style Show "Today, Yesterday and Tomorrow" for the Mount Pulaski Township Historical Society. One article once called her a "modern day Mary Poppins" because of her being a pilot of her own six passenger Cessna 210 and her collection of parasols.

She has also been a collector and entrepreneur In the wedding fashion industry since the 1960's by designing, creating and artfully restoring hundreds of wedding gowns. Romaine has over 300, yes, 300 wedding dresses in her own private collection! Romaine hunts for fabrics to replace the worn and frayed fabric. The gowns range from the 1870's to the styles of today and the Historical Society will have a selection modeled during their "Today, Yesterday and Tomorrow" Vintage Style Show. "These older dresses really are a work of art. The craftsmanship, the skill that went into a dress 100 years ago is incredible," Ausman claims. "And if the excitement of the special day and those 17-20" corseted waists weren't enough," says the Historical Society's President, Jane DeWitt, "we now know why fainting couches were a necessary place of furniture!" The antique gowns, once white, are now a lovely shade of ivory.

Romaine spoke to Jane by phone relaying the story of her husband Evan's grandmother. "She was a pioneer woman who traveled to North Dakota to teach the Sioux. She fell in love with another teacher and they were married over 117 years ago. DeWitt claims this would make a lovely made-for-TV romance movie. Romaine just laughed saying "I don't know how romantic she would have thought it was to marry in the school with all the Indian children peeking in the windows wanting to see what these crazy people were up to." But still you to have admit, what a history."

On a personal note, Romaine graduated from the University of Illinois with a Home Economics Degree and studied Fashion Design. She attended a pattern making class and her Professor states she had never seen anyone so capable of making a pattern just by looking at the dress! (Before, dresses had to be ripped apart.) Her career began making her own wedding dress, and then for friends and then daughters of friends. Romaine's handy work is in demand by museums and she does a lot of work for private parties. "For some families, there is a sentimental value and for others it's a family tradition." A family she knows, every bride wears the same dress and has since the 1800's. And considering the costs of a wedding dress in today's market be prepared for sticker shock. The dresses she's worked on has been valued up to $20,000. In 1997, Ausman was the guest speaker at the Arizona Costume Institute of the Phoenix Museum. When she stopped with wedding dresses she began a new obsession with parasols. And she only has a collection of around 250 adult and children styles. Many need restoration and are waiting for a little TLC. Some of Romaine's parasols have bean used in weddings and some are props in museums. Romaine has made the personal observation that "no book is available on antique parasols." I bet the next project up for Romaine Johns-Ausman...AUTHOR!

"Today, Yesterday and Tomorrow" will be a commentary and informative program by Romaine Johns-Ausman with a touch of humor and will include little known historical facts about wedding customs, styles and traditions. This years show will be held at a new address. It will be held at the new Christian Church "Family Life Center" located on Washington Street. Tickets are $20 a piece or a table of eight for $150 - perfect for Red Hat Societies or family members. Purchase your tickets at Salt Creek Attic on the west side of the square in Mount Pulaski or by mailing your request and check along with a self-addressed envelope to Mount Pulaski Township Historical Society (or abbreviate with: MPTHS), 102-104 East Cooke Street, Post Office Box 181, Mount Pulaski, Illinois 62548-0181. Doors will open at 1:45 p.m. for a "Promenade of Tables." Beautifully decorated tables will be on display before seating. Written by Jane DeWitt