PEOPLE OF INTEREST
back to 1887; a signed bank check in 1916 by “Shoeless Joe” Jackson;
two press box tickets from the 1919 World Series, where the Chicago
White Sox were paid off by gamblers to throw the championship;
and a bleacher seat from Comiskey Park that dates back to 1910.
Wrigley also enjoyed working on the Elliott’s 1800s Americana
collection that was always a favorite for locals. Reminiscent of smalltown
80
America, it was part of what’s called the Salem Collection,
which included the general store, soda fountain, a barbershop and
the apothecary shop.
She also helped pay tribute to Frances Langford, a local Hollywood
celebrity from the 1940s, by displaying many of her personal
items. Other featured locals include Hugh Willoughby, a resident of
Sewall’s Point in the early 1900s, who was best known as a pioneer
aviator who flew with Orville Wright. Willoughby’s original pilot’s
license signed by Wright, a replica of his “Pelican” aeroplane that he
invented and other items are on display at the museum.
From 2003 to 2016, Wrigley became the exhibit and collection coordinator
for the historical society. In 2006, she organized a popular
exhibit that showcased the evolution of American wedding dresses
from the 1880s to the 1950s. The exhibit featured a variety of beautiful
gowns with distinctive styles, and Wrigley had a favorite. It was
her very own.
“Mine was made from a parachute,” she points out with a smile.
When LaVaine Martini married Thomas Booth Wrigley on June 7,
1947, at St. Timothy’s Church in Philadelphia, she wore an elegant
full-length gown. It had long sleeves and a high round neck that
was embellished with delicate lace. The A-line dress had a bustle at
the waist with ruffles at the hem and a long-flowing cathedral train
descending in the back.
“It was right after the war and people were coming back from the
service with these pure silk parachutes,” she explains. “It wasn’t
Tom’s parachute but belonged to a friend of his. He said to Tom, ‘I
DONNA CRARY
Sterling Elliott, the namesake of the museum, was a prolific inventor. Many of his innovations improved modes of transportation.
DONNA CRARY
The Elliott Museum features an extensive collection of signed base-
>> ball memorabilia including nine baseball bats.