In 1865, a developer named Melville Mead purchased eight acres on the road for $3,500, and subdivided them to make room for two dozen building lots, according to Historical Society documents. In 1872, Mead rented out full trains and brought in prospective buyers from Stamford and Norwalk to view the lots; the day-long excursions also featured music on the green and a banquet, according to documents. There's the 1868 dress that represents the lady of 23 Prospect Ave.; the 1876 dress that would be worn by a woman residing in 19 Prospect Ave.; the 1890 dress for 20 Prospect Ave.; the 1898 gown for 30 Prospect Ave.; the 1901 piece for 3 Prospect Ave.; and the crown jewel of the exhibit, the 1867 dress that represents the mistress of 5 Prospect Ave. The lavender dress is the only of the seven to feature the hoop skirt, which was the style at the time, before the variations of bustles seen elsewhere in the exhibit came into fashion. The women have to do a lot of tweaking with the mannequins, stuffing the dresses to represent the way a woman's body would have looked in that particular style. There's the S-curve stuffing for the 1901 dress, and fixing others to show the way a woman's figure would have curved and filled out different bustles and corsets, White said. Once the fabrics and other materials are gathered, there's the challenge of adding them to the dresses or replacing pieces in a way that doesn't compromise the historical integrity of the garment.