By Nancy Covert
More than three dozen ladies of Washington Territory gathered at the home of Col. Silas Casey on Feb. 19 to celebrate the engagement of Casey’s daughter, Abigail, to Capt. Lewis Hunt.
The re-enactment party was the theme for the Fort’s 2011 annual “Tea with Mrs. Casey.”
Re-enactors from Historic Ft. Steilacoom and the 4th U.S. Infantry, along with young ladies from Ft. Nisqually, participated in the annual event.
Miss Cassie Young, portrayed Abigail Casey and Miss Melissa Ng portrayed her younger sister, Elizabeth (Bessie).
Historic quilts, including several from the Steilacoom Historical Museum Association Collection, several provided by Mrs. Charles Collier of Historic Ft. Steilacoom, and one from the Day Island Historical Association, were displayed during the Tea.
Re-enactor Erin Dorries demonstrates paper quilting. Photo by Nancy Covert.
Erin Dorries, a member of the 4th U.S. Infantry association, demonstrated the art of paper piecing, a technique used to create early quilts. Ms. Dorries pieced together a design known as “Grandmother’s Flower Garden.”
The wedding of Miss Casey and Capt. Hunt took place on Dec. 28, 1860.
Additional information about the first American military fort in the south sound region, along with details about fort personnel, can be found at www.historicalfortsteilacoom.com.
A Civil War re-enactment is scheduled for the last weekend in April.