Isn’t this a lovely young woman – with almost a smile on her face!  What drew me to purchase this photo was the dress – definitely an 1890’s style, but I also like the small pattern in the material – in addition to the ruffles and lace.  You can also see she wears a small comb in her hair.  The extremely high collar is consistent with the 1890’s, as well as the thick gatherings in the bodice.  The small puff sleeve at the shoulders, with fitted sleeves down to the wrist, and an extra ruffle at top, date this to the early 1890’s, before the huge leg-o-mutton sleeves of the later years of the decade.

This photo was taken by Lochman Photography at 707 Hamilton Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania.  With a little research I found a Benjamin Lochman in an 1861 city directory, a photographer, at 9 W. Hamilton.  By 1880 he was located at 707 Hamilton.  Benjamin was born in 1825 and died in 1912.  His wife was Catherine, and children, Eugene, William Jerome and Ellen.