Accession Number

998.038

Description

black coloured, machine printed, fancy script on front of card, no other ornamentation; centred, 'Mrs. Dunsmuir, At Home, Wednesday; July first, nine P.M. to one A.M.'; 'Fairview' is printed in the bottom left corner; nothing on the reverse side.

Narrative

This invitation was for an "At Home" at the Robert and Joan Dunsmuir house Fairview, which sat at the corner of Quebec and Menzies Streets. The card specifies "Wednesday, July 1" which means that the event took place in 1885 or in 1891. 

If 1885 is the year that this "At Home" took place, then it was Mrs. Robert Dunsmuir who was hostess at the wedding reception for her daughter Mary Jean Dunsmuir and Henry Croft. The wedding took place in Fairview on July 1 at 8:00 pm, and it was followed by wedding a reception and supper which started at 9:00 pm. The bridal couple left the residence shortly after 1:00 am and took the steamer Alexander to Tacoma.¹

If 1891 was the year that this "At Home" took place, then it could have been Mrs. James Dunsmuir that was hostess. In 1891, she and her husband and children were living at Fairview while their new house "Burleith" was being completed.

1. The Daily Colonist. July 3, 1885, page 3.

History of Use

This invitation was collected by Castle Society founder James K. Nesbitt prior to 1975.

Date

1885 – 1891

Dimensions

7.8 x 10.7 cm

Material

Paper, cardstock

Medium

Ink

Support

Cardstock