This cotton string crochet dress was made by Ena Koethe from Southern Clay County in the 1930s. In rural Texas, the Depression was very different than in the larger cities. Goods for sale were very limited. Mrs. Koethe began saving the cotton string that tied up goods traded for at the Mercantile locally or brought by wagon from larger cities. She used that string to design and crochet this beautiful dress. This was an art showing the spirit of making do with materials available.

Clay County 1890 Jail Museum
116 N Graham Street, Henrietta TX 76365
(940) 538-5655
http://www.claycountyjailmuseum.com/