Andrea Handley
Let it never be said that the North Shore lacks in an interesting heritage. Some of you may have noticed “The Last Page” in the May 2014 TAO issue. But in case you missed it, it gives us some bragging rights with regard to having a somewhat colorful history here on the North Shore.
Tina Mae Haines….I had actually seen her name in the historical listing of past organists at First Presbyterian Church of Evanston, being on that list myself. Tina Mae was organist at First Pres Evanston from 1892-1902. I had known that. What I didn’t know is that she has the distinction of having played for a wedding in 1906 (at the Episcopal Church of the Atonement in Evanston, where she was organist at the time) that “almost broke up a marriage ceremony” because of the attire she chose to wear to the wedding. Below is the account that apparently appeared in “newspapers around the world”, according to the article in TAO.
I’ve heard of some interesting wedding stories from fellow NSAGO organists, but none quite this interesting. History can be surprising sometimes, can’t it?
Andrea Handley, Dean