June 2, 1999
Victorian elegance revisited
By Garret Leiva
Herald staff writer
Sparkling silver services, scads of scones, elegant attire and Earl Gray by the gallon were among the savories and atmosphere served up Wednesday afternoon during the eighth annual Victorian Lilac Tea at the Traverse City Opera House.
Sponsored by the Wequetong Chapter of the Questers antique study group, the annual tea provides a chance for granddaughters and grandmothers alike to play dress up. The underlying purpose, however, is that proceeds from the event benefit the restoration and preservation of a downtown landmark: the City Opera House.
"Because we treasure the past, we have donated quite a bit of money for this particular building," noted Vivian Harrison of Traverse City; a member of the Wequetong Chapter of the Questers and long-time tea attendee.
Others attending the afternoon tea also showed a devotion for the past as they donned hats heavily adorned with flowers and dainty white gloves for an afternoon of Victorian delights. Finger sandwiches, chocolate covered strawberries and cookies were consumed along with captivating conversation and a few juicy bits of gossip.
Along with food and fellowship, the Victorian tea also featured a prize drawing that included a gold bracelet, gift certificates, a garden ornament - even a Victorian dollhouse pop-up-book. Properly attired participants were awarded for wearing an array of Victorian and 19th century formal wear. To ensure that tea-goers didn't go home empty-handed, even the floral center piece on each table was put up as a prize.
While pouring tea from a silver pot is about paying homage to the past, Marilyn Flaherty also knows it provides a fulfilling future. As chairman of the City Opera House Heritage Association, Flaherty noted that restoration of the Front Street building has moved into Phase II which includes: creating a working catering kitchen, a full-size elevator and increasing the size of the auditorium. Other immediate plans include a new boiler system and the addition of air conditioning; a welcome relief for those trying to remain dignified while wiping their sweaty brow with a linen napkin.
"The building is structurally sound, what we want to do is make it structurally friendly," said Flaherty of Traverse City, who noted that Phase III work will include creating a component-style stage, opening the balcony area and restoring the painted canvas panels adorning the ceiling.
On this day, however, socialization and stirring in your sugar remained the only orders of business. Although not considered a "high tea" - which consists of a meal of bread, meats and vegetables - the gathering at the City Opera House was indeed a formal affair. There was no two-fisting your finger-sandwiches or slam dunking your scones in your cup of Earl Gray.
"At a Victorian tea, you would have linen napkins, silver tea service, bone china cups and saucers, sterling spoons and spoon holders and flowers on the table - but absolutely no elbows on the table," said Flaherty, who originated the idea of an annual tea fund-raiser for the City Opera House Association.
"This is the sort of thing that ladies do, what they have always done. Ladies talk better than they do anything else," she noted.
For many attending the Victorian Lilac Tea, the yearly event is about bringing back cherished childhood memories. Some, like Traverse City resident Sally Draeger, hope it provides a chance to make new ones. While she fondly remembers attending teas as a young girl, she wants to share those special moments of white gloves and flower-filled hats.
"I'm looking forward to bringing my granddaughters, they're 5 and 6-years-old and they will just love it. Grandma will thoroughly enjoy it too," said Draeger.