Civil War visits the Valley: North Bend woman upcycles U.S. history

Published 3:59 pm Wednesday, April 8, 2015

“When I get involved in things, I really like to get involved,” Denise Stone stated in her North Bend home, where she’s been hand-sewing 15 Civil War-era gowns and long-tail tuxedos since March.

Stone’s living room has transformed into a haven for dated dresses, drapes, bed ruffles and hoop skirts, which she’s repurposing into period garb for 15 family and friends, ranging from 8 to 55 years old, to wear to an April 18 militia ball, though they aren’t all willing participants.

“I had to bribe some people,” she laughed. “My daughter had a surgery and I told her, ‘For my taking care of you, you’re going to have to go and be the belle of the ball.’”

She said she bribed her husband with “favors” and her son with gas money. Her son signed a contract for a 50 percent payment up front and 50 percent after the ball, the deal being he’s going as a Union officer and bringing his girlfriend.

For dress forms, Stone made makeshift mannequins from her steel, knights in armor she’s wrapped in muslin. She said she doesn’t use patterns, does all of the designing in her head and her sewing experience comes solely from a “home ec.” class she took in eighth grade.

Stone, a Seattle native, is a retired special agent law enforcement officer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as of January 2014.

Civil War inspiration struck Stone last November 19, when she read a Washington Civil War Association brief in the Valley Record, titled, “Battle of Snoqualmie is on for next summer.” She clipped and saved the story.

The planned re-enactment is scheduled at Meadowbrook Farm August 29 and 30.

While she was finding out more about that event, she subsequently stumbled upon information about the board meeting-turned-potluck and Civil War Militia Ball on Saturday, April 18, at the Sallal Grange.

“What drew me to it, is it was a period of time in life that I supposed I can romanticize… As much as I’m enthusiastic, I want to be accurately depicting what I can,” Stone stated, referencing the Civil War books she’s using as costume sources.

Rich Bright, chairman, of the Washington Civil War Association, said the association holds most of its board meetings in the North Bend and Fall City libraries, as they are central locations for the group’s 500-active members, who are mostly based in Seattle and Spokane.

“North Bend’s a great fit… It’s just far enough away to be pleasant,” Bright stated over the phone.

Stone attended her first Civil War re-enactment more than a decade ago at Marymoor Park. Since the Pacific Northwest isn’t home to any Civil War battle sites, she said the enactment is a way to bring to life a sensory history, involving the grit and grime of early America and rustic camping with a romantic twist.

“It’s like an interactive way where you learn so much more by going in… By bringing it to life, per se, it reaches more of the sensory.”

The Washington Civil War Association Militia Ball starts with a members-only potluck at 5 p.m., followed by a Victorian dance with a caller at 7 p.m. The dance is open to the public, as is the Battle of Snoqualmie re-enactment in August.

To find out more about Washington Civil War Association events, visit www.wcwa.net.

Surrounded by some of the Civil War-era costumes she’s completed in her home, Denise, Stone considers a piece of fabric.

Stone frequently consults these reference books for inspiration while sewing her costumes, from repurposed materials.