Collection at Manson Library through August
by Loni Rahm – photos courtesy of Betty Pettit
Manson resident Judie Gembala is displaying her beautiful collection of vintage aprons, kitchen linens and ladies’ handkerchiefs at the Manson Library through the end of August.
Judie has always enjoyed aprons as they bring back memories of grandmothers wearing them to protect their clothing when they worked in their homes. Her beautiful aprons were all homemade with great care. Over the years she has been building her collection with items she has purchased along with others that have been gifted to her.
Many of the items in the collection are considered vintage art – a few, however have been made more recently using vintage patterns. Local resident Betty Pettit, whose photos we are using to illustrate this story, laughs at the term “vintage”.
“I am so old that “vintage” to me means the everyday aprons made from feed sacks,” she said. “Everyone in Manson and Chelan wore those in the 40’s”.
Aprons in the 50’s and 60’s were more than just practical, they were designed and crafted as a fashion statement and wardrobe accessory. Two sets of the aprons on display are mother-daughter…you can almost see a mom teaching her daughter how to roll pie dough or bake bread while wearing them.
Stop by whenever the library is open to enjoy this charming exhibit. Judie works part time at the library as a substitute librarian – she would be delighted to tell you the stories behind her collection.
The library is located above the fire station at 80 Wapato Way (corner of Wapato Way and Manson Boulevard) in downtown Manson. Hours are:
- Monday, 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, 10:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday, 10:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
