Vintage bride doll contest open for voting

BONAPARTE ? Vintage bride dolls have been dressed in 1860s clothing for a contest to be held in conjunction with Bonaparte Main Street?s Civil War Experience on Saturday-Sunday.

Sponsored by Gianna and Roy Barrow of Bonaparte, the 20 dolls are currently on display for voting in Waterfront Place in Bonaparte.

The doll that wins the most votes will be presented with a ?Miss America? doll-sized sash and returned to her designer. Second and third place also will be presented with sashes embroidered as ?Miss United States? and ?Miss Confederate States,? respectively. ?Miss Congeniality,? chosen by Gianna Barrow, also will receive a sash.

When Gianna created the doll-dressing contest, she hoped of getting eight dolls dressed by area women but was pleasantly surprised to have to locate more dolls for the 20 entries.

Costumers have had nearly a year to research, create, design, style and make the outfits for the 24-inch dolls. The dolls are in a variety of dress styles including ball gowns, traveling costumes, and day dresses as well as a nursing uniform and riding habit. Several ladies added wigs while others made hats and bonnets. Also included are hoops, bloomers, belts, bustles, leather shoes, reticules, handkerchief, jewelry, fan, muff and lace gloves.

?Each doll is so uniquely different and each designer created a little something special that sets her doll apart from the others,? said Gianna. ?I am especially thankful that the general public will be doing the voting as I love them all.?

Following the Civil War Experience weekend event, dolls designed by 4-H girls will be returned to them for summer fair competitions. But all dolls, with the exception of the first-place winner, will be sold during a silent auction Oct. 9 at the Whiteley Opera House in Bonaparte. Anyone can place a bid on the dolls at that time.

All proceeds from the voting and auction will be donated to Bonaparte Main Street Inc. for the Civil War Experience.

Anyone interested in dressing a doll for next year may contact Gianna at (319) 592-3580 or (319) 759-0153.