A gown worn by former first lady Florence Harding is on display at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan.
Courtesy of Ann Turner-McTague
A clipping of The Lima News is included in the display, detailing some of the gown’s history.
Courtesy of Ann Turner-McTague
This clipping from The Lima News is dated 1965.
Courtesy of Ann Turner-McTague
Hanging beside an art exhibition, the Harding dress is a permanent exhibition in a color-coordinated environment.
Courtesy of Ann Turner-McTague
One of the hotel’s hallways holds a connection to Lima.
Courtesy of Ann Turner-McTague
Ann Turner-McTague and her husband traveled to the Grand Hotel last fall.
Courtesy of Ann Turner-McTague
SOURCE
This feature is a cooperative effort between the newspaper and the Allen County Museum and Historical Society.
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Area readers are always kind in sharing with us their treasured photographs for Reminisce. We continue to accept photos or story ideas of older times and people throughout the region.
If you have photos you think might be of interest to our readers, email amcgeesterrett@aimmediamidwest.com. There is always a good response to the photographs that are used in this section periodically.
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Lima native Ann Turner-McTague wrote The Lima News on Oct. 24, 2020:
“Greetings,
My husband and I are spending the week at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. While strolling through the hotel admiring the artwork, we came across this dress and small article about it from The Lima News dated exacted 55 years ago today!
The dress was worn by the former first lady Florence Harding and then donated to the hotel by her granddaughter.
Just thought it was a very unique find from my hometown newspaper of Lima for 45 years and Somewhere in time … .”
The documents in the display include a letter from Ruth Arnold, The Heritage Shop, of Marion. She wrote:
“Your ‘gown’ was mailed to you on Friday and sure hope it arrived safely. Knowing the habits of the Post Office - we insured it heavily, so managed to spend your buck.
Am enclosing the signed statement by Mrs. Harding’s granddaughter concerning the dress. I think this was the most beautiful dress we had and hated to see it go!”
The Lima News clipping shows Frank Palmer arranging an antique show and sale at Memorial Hall in 1965. The gown and a pair of shoes, owned by the Arnolds of Marion, were displayed at the show.
President Warren G. Harding was from Marion. To read more about him (and his controversies), visit http://j.mp/35zthu4.
