Estelle married Pembroke Gwaltney on April 17, 1901 in Suffolk, Virginia. The marriage record found at the courthouse in Suffolk gives her name as Florine Estelle Darden.
I was given a copy of this wonderful write up on their marriage and do not believe I could do any better than this, plus, this report gives us a view of the times. The following scrapbook article (newspaper report, not dated, nor name of newspaper indicated) of the wedding of Estelle and Pembroke was found at the Isle of Wight County Museum by two of my Darden cousins:
"A Tableau Wedding
Union of Mr. P.D. Gwaltney, Jr. and Miss Florine Estelle Darden.
The most notable social event of the season was the marriage of Mr. Pembroke Decatur Gwaltney, Jr. of Smithfield and Miss Florine Estelle Darden of Suffolk, which took place at the residence of the bride's mother, Mrs. Lucie A. Darden, No. 30 Bank St., on Wednesday, April 17, 1901 at 4 o'clock p.m.
It was a tableau and was one of the most unique affairs ever witnessed here. The shutters were drawn and the parlors were lighted by wax candles and banquet lamps. The back parlor, in which the tableau was formed, was decorated in green and white and presented a typical tropical appearance with a grand array of handsome palms and ferns and calla lillies.
As the time for the ceremony drew near the bridal tableau was formed, the participants being as follows: the bride and groom, facing Rev. R. H. Potts, pastor of the Main Street Methodist Church; Dr. John S. Marshall of Smithfield, best man and his wife, sister of the bride, dame of honor; Mr. J. Herbert Darden, a brother of the bride, who gave her away; Miss Jean Maxwell of Norfolk, a niece of the groom and Miss Ellen Riddick of Suffolk, flower girls; Miss Katherine Pinner of Suffolk, ring-bearer; Mr. J. Waverly Thomas of Smithfield and Dr. J. Caesar Darden, a brother of the bride, ushers.
Miss Florence Harvey of Suffolk College presided at the piano and as she played Mendelssohn's "Wedding March," the folding doors were opened and the guests in the front parlor were greeted by a scene of rare beauty and artistic elegance. As the ceremony proceeded, Miss Harvey played "Promise" by C. Chaminade and upon its conclusion she rendered the bridal chorus from Lohengrin.
The bride was gowned in a white satin duchess, entraine, with thread lace trimmings and wore a handsome veil, which was fastened with a diamond brooch, a present from two of her brothers. She carried a bouquet of handsome roses. The dame of honor wore a hand-made chiffon with liberty satin and lace trimmings.
After receiving the congratulations of their friends the bride and groom donned traveling costumes and then drove to the S. A. L. railway station where they took the 5:13 train en route to Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York. They will be at home in Smithfield after April 26, 1901.
The groom is a prominent merchant of Smithfield and is the son of Mr. P.D. Gwaltney, who is called the "Peanut King of America". The bride is a young lady noted for her rare qualities of head and heart and is one who possesses those graces and virtues which form the highest type of womanhood. She is an active Christian worker and will be greatly missed in religious, social and literary circles, in all of which she is highly esteemed.
The bridal presents were numerous and exceedingly handsome. Among them was a check for a thousand dollars from the groom's father.
At noon an elegant luncheon was served at the home of the bride's mother, the menu embracing all of the delicacies of the season.
Among the out-of-town guests present were Mr. and Mrs. P.D. Gwaltney, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Warren and Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Chapman of Smithfield; Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Maxwell of Norfolk; Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Whitley and Mrs. J. M. Darden of Zuni; Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Darden of Belvidere, N.C."
Pembroke built his bride a spectacular home at 304 S. Church Street, Smithfield, Virginia. This house was placed on the National Historic Register January 27, 1999 as an great example of a Queen Anne Victorian style home. He built this house about 1901, and it reportedly took about 2 years to build. On the ceiling of their bedroom he had a cherub painted, carrying a love letter, addressed to Estelle.
Photos of Estelle and her family with Pembroke can be found in the work, "Smithfield Ham Capital of the World", by Patrick Evans-Hylton, Images of America by Arcadia, 2004.
Estelle married Pembroke Gwaltney on April 17, 1901 in Suffolk, Virginia. The marriage record found at the courthouse in Suffolk gives her name as Florine Estelle Darden.
I was given a copy of this wonderful write up on their marriage and do not believe I could do any better than this, plus, this report gives us a view of the times. The following scrapbook article (newspaper report, not dated, nor name of newspaper indicated) of the wedding of Estelle and Pembroke was found at the Isle of Wight County Museum by two of my Darden cousins:
"A Tableau Wedding
Union of Mr. P.D. Gwaltney, Jr. and Miss Florine Estelle Darden.
The most notable social event of the season was the marriage of Mr. Pembroke Decatur Gwaltney, Jr. of Smithfield and Miss Florine Estelle Darden of Suffolk, which took place at the residence of the bride's mother, Mrs. Lucie A. Darden, No. 30 Bank St., on Wednesday, April 17, 1901 at 4 o'clock p.m.
It was a tableau and was one of the most unique affairs ever witnessed here. The shutters were drawn and the parlors were lighted by wax candles and banquet lamps. The back parlor, in which the tableau was formed, was decorated in green and white and presented a typical tropical appearance with a grand array of handsome palms and ferns and calla lillies.
As the time for the ceremony drew near the bridal tableau was formed, the participants being as follows: the bride and groom, facing Rev. R. H. Potts, pastor of the Main Street Methodist Church; Dr. John S. Marshall of Smithfield, best man and his wife, sister of the bride, dame of honor; Mr. J. Herbert Darden, a brother of the bride, who gave her away; Miss Jean Maxwell of Norfolk, a niece of the groom and Miss Ellen Riddick of Suffolk, flower girls; Miss Katherine Pinner of Suffolk, ring-bearer; Mr. J. Waverly Thomas of Smithfield and Dr. J. Caesar Darden, a brother of the bride, ushers.
Miss Florence Harvey of Suffolk College presided at the piano and as she played Mendelssohn's "Wedding March," the folding doors were opened and the guests in the front parlor were greeted by a scene of rare beauty and artistic elegance. As the ceremony proceeded, Miss Harvey played "Promise" by C. Chaminade and upon its conclusion she rendered the bridal chorus from Lohengrin.
The bride was gowned in a white satin duchess, entraine, with thread lace trimmings and wore a handsome veil, which was fastened with a diamond brooch, a present from two of her brothers. She carried a bouquet of handsome roses. The dame of honor wore a hand-made chiffon with liberty satin and lace trimmings.
After receiving the congratulations of their friends the bride and groom donned traveling costumes and then drove to the S. A. L. railway station where they took the 5:13 train en route to Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York. They will be at home in Smithfield after April 26, 1901.
The groom is a prominent merchant of Smithfield and is the son of Mr. P.D. Gwaltney, who is called the "Peanut King of America". The bride is a young lady noted for her rare qualities of head and heart and is one who possesses those graces and virtues which form the highest type of womanhood. She is an active Christian worker and will be greatly missed in religious, social and literary circles, in all of which she is highly esteemed.
The bridal presents were numerous and exceedingly handsome. Among them was a check for a thousand dollars from the groom's father.
At noon an elegant luncheon was served at the home of the bride's mother, the menu embracing all of the delicacies of the season.
Among the out-of-town guests present were Mr. and Mrs. P.D. Gwaltney, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Warren and Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Chapman of Smithfield; Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Maxwell of Norfolk; Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Whitley and Mrs. J. M. Darden of Zuni; Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Darden of Belvidere, N.C."
Pembroke built his bride a spectacular home at 304 S. Church Street, Smithfield, Virginia. This house was placed on the National Historic Register January 27, 1999 as an great example of a Queen Anne Victorian style home. He built this house about 1901, and it reportedly took about 2 years to build. On the ceiling of their bedroom he had a cherub painted, carrying a love letter, addressed to Estelle.
Photos of Estelle and her family with Pembroke can be found in the work, "Smithfield Ham Capital of the World", by Patrick Evans-Hylton, Images of America by Arcadia, 2004.
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