BRJMarch23Flipbook - Flipbook - Page 9
luck, or in the case of a mourning wreath, to symbolize the ascent
into heaven.
Intricate and time consuming, it took Anna Trimmer (b. 1866)
five years to complete the magnificent hair wreath that is in the
collection of the Washington Township Historical Society Museum and Headquarters in Long Valley, New Jersey. Started when
she was around 19 years old, Anna finished her wreath, which was
made from family members’ hair, in 1890, shortly after she married Peter Kice (1862-1936) and added some of his curls to her
hair creation.
Anna was the daughter of Mary Petty and Nathan Trimmer,
whose ancestor John Trimmer arrived in Philadelphia in 1738.
Her husband, Peter W. Kice, who was a telegraph operator and
later a station agent on the railroad, was the grandson of a Revolutionary War veteran, and the son of William Kice and Ellen
Lutz. Both families were early settlers of the Washington Township area and are chronicled in Chambers’, Early Germans of New
Jersey (1969, Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore). The
wreath was donated to the Historical Society by their daughter,
Mildred Kice Wilson, in 1965. “It’s one of my favorite artifacts!”
commented Historical Society trustee, Eileen Stokes. “It is particularly fine because of its size, most are a quarter the size,” she
added.
Art created from human hair or “hairwork” reached its peak
in the late 19th century, shortly after Anna Trimmer Kice finished
her wreath, but there is still a niche market for hairwork collectors
and many fine examples like Anna’s can be found in museums
and historical societies. So, if you get the chance, put your hair
heebie-jeebies aside and explore this fascinating and sentimental
form of Victorian folk art.
75 Years
Learn to Fly
150 Airport Road Road
Bedminster, NJ
908-722-2444
somersetairport.com
The Washington Township Historical Society Museum is located at 6 Fairview Avenue, Long Valley, NJ 07853. Museum
Hours are: Sundays 1 - 4 p.m. or by appointment. There is no admission fee but donations are appreciated. To make an appointment, please email info@wthsnj.org or phone (908) 876-9696.
BRJ 2023
9
