Dress historian and author Jacqueline Field will give an illustrated lecture to open a three-day exhibition entitled, "Fashions in Damariscotta 1880-1920," on Wednesday, April 15 at 6 p.m. at the Damariscotta River Association Round Top Farm House on Route 1, Damariscotta. The exhibition will continue on April 16 and 17 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. both days.

The event is being sponsored by the Damariscotta Historical Society, along with the Newcastle and Nobleboro historical societies, with support from the DRA.

Field's talk will focus on silk in America. Besides publishing numerous articles on dress and fashion, she was co-author of the book, "American Silk 1830-1930," which includes the history of the Haskell Silk Company in Westbrook.

She be showing vintage dresses and fashions dated from the late 1800s to the early 1920s, including a delightful collection of clothing discovered in a trunk at the Norris-Huntington house on Water Street in Damariscotta. Also on display will be fur scarves, muffs, fans and hats (one hat made by Mrs. Nash of Damariscotta), along with miscellaneous items from that era. The dresses were worn at the turn of the century by the Yeaton and Huntington families of Damariscotta, Hallowell and Augusta.

The lecture and exhibition are free. Donations received in support of the Damariscotta Historical Society's future plans will be appreciated.