This story relates to: Hiram B Ely (1896-1987) and Zelie Crosby/Porter (1899-1962)

A West Point Wedding

August 30, 1917, was a busy day for West Point cadet Hiram Ely. In the morning, he received his diploma at the academy's commencement ceremony. Then in the afternoon, he married Zelie de Lussan Porter in the Cadet Chapel before 300 guests—at the time, one of the largest military weddings ever held there.

Hi's parents and all of his brothers and sisters attended this momentous day. Hi's sister, Clara, was one of the bridesmaids. The engagement and wedding made the social columns in numerous papers across the country.

As well as a photo of the bride, an Ely family portrait was taken. 

Photo of Zelie de Lussan Porter Ely in her wedding dress. August 30, 1917


Buffalo Enquirer (Buffalo NY), Thu Aug 30, 1917:
Image of newspaper article which reads: Miss Zelie de Lussan Porter, daughter of Mrs. Josephine F. B. Porter of New York and Greenwich, will be married to Cadet Hiram B. Ely of the United States Military academy today at West Point, N.Y.

The Sun (New York NY), Thu Aug 30, 1917:
Image of newspaper article which reads: Miss Zelie de Lussan Porter, daughter of Mrs. J. F. B. Porter of Greenwich, Conn., will be married to Cadet Hiram Baldwin Ely of the graduating class of the United States Military Academy this afternoon in the Cadet Chapel at West Point. The bridegroom-elect is the son of Capt. Addison Ely, U.S.A., retired, of Rutherford, N.J.

Star Tribune (Minneapolis MN), Thu Sep 6, 1917:
Image of newspaper article which reads in part: Miss Margery Curris of Greenwich, Conn.,...was a bridesmaid Thursday at one of the largest military weddings ever held at West Point, when Miss Zelie de Lussan Porter, daughter of Mrs. Josephine Florence Buckingham Porter, of Greenwich, became the bride of Lieut. Hiram Baldwin Ely, son of Capt. Addison Ely of Rutherford, N.J. The ceremony took place in the Cadet chapel at 4:30 o'clock before 300 guests. Lieutenant Ely, who is a member of the engineering corps, received his diploma Thursday morning at the annual commencement of the West Point Military academy.

Hartford Courant (Hartford CT), Fri Jul 20, 1917:
Image of newspaper article which reads: Mrs. Josephine F. B. Porter of Greenwich announces the engagement of her daughter, Miss Zelie de Lussan Porter, to Lieutenant Hiram B. Ely, U.S.A., son of Captain Addison Ely and Mrs. Ely of Rutherford, N.J. Lieutenant Ely is one of the new officers in the army, who expect to start for France in the fall. The wedding will take place on Thursday, August 30, in the chapel at West Point.

The Los Angeles Times (California), Fri Jul 6, 1917:
Image of newspaper article which reads in part: Miss Zelie de Lussan Porter, daughter of Mrs. Josephine F. B. Porter of Field Point road, Greenwich, will be married to Cadet Hiram Baldwin Ely of the United States Military Academy at West Point, on August 30, in the cadet chapel....Miss Porter's attendants will be Misses Adelaide McLetchie, Catherine Webb, Eva Hutchinson, Margorie Currry and Claire Ely. Mr. Harold Cooney of Los Angeles will be best man. Prior to the wedding Mr. Ely, who is a member of the corps of engineers at the academy, will receive his diploma at the annual commencement.

The New York Times, Fri Aug 31, 1917:
Image of newspaper article which reads in part: Gets West Point Diploma and Weds. Lieut. Hiram B. Ely Marries Miss Zelie de L. Porter in the Cadet Chapel. Classmates are Ushers. Bride and Bridegroom walk under crossed swords at conclusion of the ceremony. One of the largest military weddings ever held at West Point was that of Miss Zelie de Lussan Porter, daughter of Mrs. Josephine Florence Buckingham Porter of Field Road, Greenwich, Conn., and Lieutenant Hiram Baldwin Ely, son of Captain Addison Ely of Rutherford, N. J., which took place yesterday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock in Cadet Chapel, in the presence of about 300 guests....

Published: 16 July 2023

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