Christian & Alice Berg
45 wedding presents
The wedding of Christian Peter Berg to Alice Lilium Stidolph took place in her parents’ home on Lambton Quay in 1898. The Rev Mr Glasson officiated the ceremony. Alice’s sister Edith was her bridesmaid and Mr Hudson was best man. There were 45 wedding presents and they were described as being of ‘a very handsome and useful description’.
Christian was born in Denmark in 1859. He was a ‘mate’ on ships in NSW in the late 1880s and he later came to New Zealand where he was granted a letter of naturalisation in 1893. He left a widowed mother and two sisters behind in Denmark.
Christian was an active member of the Scandinavian Society in Wellington and would assist with organising their balls or acting as MC for their events. He would usually attend in the national dress of Denmark. Most of the ladies who attended wore their hair in two plaits ‘in the true Scandinavian fashion’.
Alice was the eldest daughter of Sydney and Sarah Stidolph. She was born in Wellington in 1877. Her father worked as a clerk and later owned a butcher’s shop before becoming bankrupt. He later worked for the Gear Meat Company. The wedding photo was taken at 193 Lambton Quay, which is also the address of the Gear Meat Company. Presumably the family lived in accommodation behind the shop (the upper storey was reserved for offices).
In 1895 Alice attended the Scandinavian Society’s Ball with her mother at the Princess Theatre. Perhaps this is when she met Christian. The stage was arranged as a drawing room and at the back was hung a large picture of Vikings. The sides were adorned with pictures of the Kings and Queens of Sweden and Norway. The ball was opened with a Scandinavian national dance in which everyone took part, including the guests.
In 1896, Alice entered the Elocution Contest at the Wellington Industrial Exhibition. She recited ‘By the Grave of my Child’ in the Pathetic Recitations category. All competitors received a free admission pass to the Exhibition on completing their performance. Mr Hall won with ‘Trouble in Amen Corner’.
In the early years of their marriage, Christian and Alice lived in Elizabeth Street and Christian worked as a labourer. Later they moved to Hay Street and Christian was a waterside worker. Together they had a family of nine children, all but their first lived to adulthood. Christian died in 1933 aged 73 at their Hay Street home. Alice died in 1961 aged 84.
Karori Cemetery Plot: *Public/L/26
Christian Peter Berg and Alice Ellen Lilium Stidolph in their wedding clothes. Taken at the home of the bride, 193 Lambton Quay, Wellington. Photographer unidentified. France, Thelma Edith Minnie, 1907-2000 : Photographs. Ref: 1/2-117163-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23188216
Alice Berg nee Stidolph
Christian Berg
Gear Meat Preserving and Freezing Company of New Zealand Ltd, Lambton Quay, Wellington. Tyree Studio: Negatives of Nelson and Marlborough districts. Ref: 1/2-011653-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22303375
Note the number ‘193’ on the building. Detail from: Gear Meat Preserving and Freezing Company of New Zealand Ltd, Lambton Quay, Wellington. Tyree Studio: Negatives of Nelson and Marlborough districts. Ref: 1/2-011653-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22303375