Family donates cherished christening gown to historical society
On Oct. 28, 1902, Albert and Anastasia Krenik delivered a beautiful baby girl named Adeline at their Lanesburg Township farm. On a crisp fall day, the new parents carried their newborn to the city of New Prague and climbed the three wood steps to enter the wood framed St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church to christen their new daughter, Adeline Helen. Having anticipated this important day, a beautiful white cotton christening gown was lovingly sewn and hand embroidered.
The wood framed church heated with a wood burning stove has been gone for more than a century, replaced by the brick and stone edifice we see today. Although the wood church is long gone, the lovely white gown the infant wore is still beautifully preserved.
The granddaughter of that child, Diana Jasan Koehen, presented the gown to the New Prague Area Historical Society on Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. The nearly 120 year old garment will be used for display and education.
The gown was carefully...
To see more on this story pick up the February 25, 2021 print edition of The New Prague Times.