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Town of O
ntario Historical & Landm
ark Preservation Society P.O
. Box 462O
ntario, NY 14519-0462 www.heritagesquaremuseum.org ! Vol 4 2014
Hats have been around since the first humans pulled animal skins over their heads as protection against the elements. As time went on, head coverings became symbols of status or authority. Eventually, the hat became an essential fashion accessory.
The first hatter to come to Ontario was William Middleton who arrived here in 1810 only four years after Ontario was settled. He carried on his trade for twenty years. His hats were of the best quality made of wool and silk. The ones of wool brought two dollars, but his silk hats sold for eight to ten dollars apiece.
In the early pioneer days of Ontario, men generally wore straw hats, simple dark felt hats or caps. Women wore mobcaps – a small, white cloth cap – during the day while working in the house. They wore straw hats or bonnets to protect their faces from the sun when working outside or when going to town. The most popular hat during the 1800s was the bonnet. This brimmed cap came in a variety of styles and was tied beneath the chin. Some were very elaborate and trimmed with flowers and ribbons.
Children were also expected to wear hats – usually smaller versions of adult hats. Because children spent a great deal of time outdoors, hats protected them from the cold and the sun as well as serving as a fashion accessory to their outfits.
By the mid-1800s smaller hats, which were more fashionable than practical, became popular. Men’s hat styles have changed little over the years. Toward the
Hats Through the Years By Liz Albright, Ontario Town Historian
Continued on page 2
Viticulture, A
griculture &
History
A Finger Lakes Legacy Guest Speaker: Preston
Pierce, Ed.D.
Ontario C
ounty Historian & H
istorical Society
Wednesday, Septem
ber 24, 2014H
eritage Square Museum
6:30 p.m. -- Exhibit Barn
Rochester R
egional Library Council
Lady with hats from the Arthur Frost glass plate negative collection.
Page 2Page 11
end of the 1800s the homburg hat which was a narrow-brimmed felt hat with a dented crown, became fashionable and continued to be the style for many years to come.
Most men’s hats and caps, as well as children’s hats, could be purchased at a general store, but women’s hats were more often sold at a millinery store. The word “milliner” – a maker of women’s hats – dates back to Italy in the 16th and 17th centuries when it meant a supplier of the fancy goods, such as straw hats, gloves and other accessories that Milan was renowned for.
Etiquette and formality have played important parts in hat wearing. At the turn of the 20th century, both men and women changed their hats depending on their activity – some ladies changing their hats several times a day. According to some etiquette books of the day, it would be a disgrace for a woman to venture outside of her house without a hat or gloves. In addition to the trims of flowers, ribbons and lace, the early 1900s saw a demand for exotic feathered hats. Bird’s nests, rare feathers and even sometimes whole stuffed birds were used to decorate hats. Protests by an emerging enlightened society was one of the reasons for the creation of the American Audubon Society.According to Ruth Turner Sheahen’s history of the business district of Ontario, “the millinery business was a thriving one” during the early 1900s. After the big fire of 1885 destroyed the entire north side of Main Street, many of the businesses rebuilt. The Birdsall Block, which stood where Furguson’s Haircare now stands, was home to a delightful millinery shop run by Minnie Pintler in 1903. She sold out to the Clark sisters – Lena (Maher) and Leah (Eisentrager). According to Ruth Sheahen, who was born in Ontario in 1906, Lena made the ribbon rosettes for Ruth’s own baby bonnets. The two Clark sisters in turn sold the business to the Foley sisters – Mamie and Annaree (Vandewater). After Mamie left to attend business school, Annaree continued as a milliner until she sold the shop to Belle Covey.
The millinery business was a busy one and these ladies “designed and made many of their hats and imported others from Rochester, Chicago and New York.” Ruth remembers that the ladies allowed little girls to try on the beautiful hats and gave them scraps of ribbon, veiling and broken feathers. Belle Covey closed her shop in 1913.
Another building along the North side of Main Street also housed a millinery shop. Mrs. Richmond sold hats in one part of the shop located where Photo CHICA photography studio now stands. Her husband Nathaniel made and sold caskets in another part of that shop.
Another of Ontario’s millinery shops was located on the east side of the Grandin Block where Sue’s Hair Trends is now located. This tiny hat shop was run by Helene Grandin “who always greeted you, no matter what the time of day, with a lilting ‘Afternoon’.” Ruth remembers that she and her friends used to stop in just to hear her say it. They loved to try on the hats, some of which must have been there forever.
Continued from cover, Hats Through the Years Ontariio Memorie - School Days
Join Liz Albright, Ontario Town Historian, at Heritage Square Museum on Sunday, September 21, 2014, at 1:30 p.m. to share memories, stories, pictures and collectibles about school days – Ontario schools or memories you have from any school! This program is co-sponsored by the Historical Society and the Ontario Public Library in celebration of the Library’s 100th birthday. Light refreshments will be served. Please register with the library at 524-8381 or www.ontariopubiclibrary.org
Board of Directors 2014 – 2015President ! Jim Switzer! 585-750-2277! [email protected]
Vice-President! Ann Welker! 315-524-9330! [email protected]
Secretary! Alayna Di Santo! 315-589-9884! [email protected]
Treasurer! Jean Tsepas! 315-524-9661! [email protected]
Trustee! Bill Slocum ! 315-524-4841! [email protected]
Trustee! Jim Codding! 315-524-7837! [email protected]
Trustee! Carol Boughton! 315-524-8487! [email protected]
Trustee! Billie Lochner! 585-265-3863! [email protected]
Trustee Nancy Cleveland 315-‐524-‐8119 [email protected]
Trustee Judy Lynd 585-‐271-‐4925 [email protected]
Town Historian Liz Albright 315-‐524-‐9127 [email protected]
Page 10 Page 3
The late Bob Beach recalled that it was here that his father Clayton, who worked in the grocery store on the west side of the Grenadine Block, met his future wife, May, who helped run the millinery shop on the east side of the building.
The building on the northwest corner of Main Street and Furnace Road also was home to another of Ontario’s hat shops. Mrs. Dora Stark ran a millinery where in 1904 she was selling some of her hats at a bargain sale for 25 cents. Her store closed in 1907, but several years later was again a millinery then run by Fanny Eaton and later Anna and Katie Myers who carried on until the end of the First World War.
By the mid-1920s, women’s new-found freedoms and short hair styles dictated a more casual and comfortable style of hat. The cloche, which hugged the head like a helmet with a very small brim, became the fashion.
Movies and the glamorous starlets of the screen greatly influenced the hat styles of the 1930s and 1940s. The 1950s saw a renewal of the ultra-feminine hats with lots of floral trim. Cocktail hats were very popular.
By the late 1950s and 1960s hats began to lose favor. Hats were considered restrictive and “establishment.” Hairstyles were more important and considered a symbol of freedom and personal expression. There continued to be pockets of hat wearing especially among older women and church-goers, particularly in ethnic communities.
Almost no hats were worn in mainstream fashion during the 1970s and 1980s although they did enjoy a brief resurgence due to the popular Diana Princess of Wales’ enthusiasm for wearing hats.
Hats when worn today are either worn for a special dressy occasion such as a wedding or to make a casual statement such as wearing a baseball cap the wrong way around or wearing a cap emblazoned with a favorite sports team or company logo. Individuals continue to wear hats for protection such as fur or knit hats in the winter or sunhats in the summer. Those who would never wear a hat have unwittingly adopted a hat form built into a garment such as the popular “hoodie.”
Be sure to check out the wonderful new hat display in the Meeting House at the Heritage Square Museum.
My MessageVisitors & volunteers are the common themes for our museum in
June, July & August !!
Rather than present an extensive message (no doubt, disappointment from many !!), my emphasis is on
encouraging you , your friends, families and neighbors, to attend and enjoy the exciting activities
planned in September & October.
Dates & details are available in this issue about the Ontario Memories
(September 21) (100th Anniversary - Ontario Public Library), the fall barn sale (September 18th, 19th & 20th) and the fall
arts & crafts festival (October 4th). Several groups will tour our grounds and buildings.
We extend condolences to the family of Wilson Johncox, a founding member and past president of the
society, who passed at age 99 in July. He & his late spouse, Miriam, were responsible for enlisting my
help and membership in the society 40-plus years ago !! They contributed substantial time, energy and
resources to our formative years.
Many thanks to the many, many hours of time and talent by so many persons that are responsible for
the success of our events.
Do Stop by the Ontario Town Hall lobby & "Look Up" at the items on display from our museum.
Thanks to so many members who have quickly responded to our ticket sales for Pony Bingo.
Best wishes for the remainder of summer; see you at the square !!
Jim Switzer, President
Continued from page 2, Hats Through the Years
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First Time Ever Big Dog Country Radio Live Remote
From Heritage Square Museum Fall Festival and Craft SaleThe Town of Ontario Historical and Landmark Preservation Society
will be hosting an Arts and Craft Sale at the Fall Festival on Saturday, October 4th, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (rain or shine). Artists and crafters from all over Monroe and Wayne Counties will be displaying their wares, such as decorative painting, woodcrafts, jewelry, photography, floral arrangements and more.
Big Dog Country Radio (103.5) will be broadcasting live from the grounds of the museum from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. There will be free giveaways from the radio station during the festival. Come, enjoy and be part of the experience.
The Blue Ridge Country Ramblers will perform from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm in our “amphitheatre” between the Warner Farmhouse and the Apple Dry House. Bring a chair for your listening comfort.
In addition to the arts and crafts sale there will be a baked goods sale in the Train Station. Chili and hot dogs will be available for purchase. Kids can ride on the Ore Bed Express. The Little Dude Ranch will be offering pony rides for the kids ($3) and pony bingo (previously known as Bossie or Horsey Bingo) will be held in the field..
Visit the Warner Farmhouse where local renowned author, Sally Valentine, will be signing copies of her books from 11 am to 1 pm.
If you haven’t toured the museum this summer, now is your chance. Free, guided tours of the museum are scheduled for 11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm during the festival. Listen to our own Katie McNally play the Seraphine at 11:30 am in the Warner House…. A real treat!
Heritage Square Museum is located at Brick Church Corners, 7147 North Ontario Center Rd, Ontario, New York. This 13-acre site includes nine historic buildings such as a one-room schoolhouse, log cabin, ore miner’s house, Warner Farmhouse, Baptist meetinghouse, jail, apple dry house, exhibit barn, train station and gift shop. The museum is staffed entirely by volunteers from The Town of Ontario Historical and Landmark Preservation Society.
From Rochester travel 104 East, turn left (north) onto Ontario Center Road and continue to the corner of Brick Church Road. Look for the sign on the left.
Attend as a family and enjoy this last event for the season. Free parking behind the Hojack Train Station by entering from Brick Church Road west of Ontario Center Road.
Sunday, October 5, 2014 1:30-4:00 pm will be the last day for museum tours for the season. We will reopen May 2015 with our Spring Barn Sale. For more information or to schedule a private group or family tour by appointment contact Ann Welker, 315-524-9330 or visit our website www.heritagesquaremuseum.org
Help Needed!!We are looking for an individual who would like to assist with the
newsletter. After many years, Vera Graves is stepping down from this position as she no longer has the time to devote to this job. There are usually five issues a year and it usually takes two weeks to produce each issue.
The person who would like to fulfill this position needs to be proficient on the computer. The job entails soliciting articles from members, transferring them to one common font and size, e-mailing them to Herm Auch who does the layout, proofing the copy from Herm with the rest of the newsletter committee and making sure that the newsletter is e-mailed to those members who so desire it that way.
Herm Auch is in charge of that part of it. Herm also sends it to Staples to be printed and someone from the committee arranges to pick it up and delivers it to Carol Boughton for mailing through the postal system. If you are interested in this position, please call either Jim Switzer 585-750-2277 or Ann Welker 315-524-9330.
Fall Barn Sale Coming Right UpHopefully everyone has been saving lots of wonderful things all
summer to donate to the Fall Barn Sale. Now is the time to “bring it on down” to the barn. Drop-off days are September 4 from 6 -8 p.m. and September 6 from 9a.m. to noon. If these dates do not work for you, call Ann Welker at 315-524-9330 or e-mail her at [email protected] to arrange for a drop-off. The sale will be September 18 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., September 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and September 20 from 9 a.m. to noon, $3/bag. Please remember that all proceeds go to maintaining Heritage Square, and there is a lot of maintenance!
In Passing Our condolences are extended to the family and friends of
Bonnie Scharles, who passed away June 30th
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“Look Us Up “In the Lobby atThe Town Hall/Public Library
Be sure to “Look Up” at the Spinning Wheel, Yarn Winder & Quilt Display in the east corner/upper lobby and at the metal Toy Allis-Chalmers’ Tractor/Wagon & the Old Style Baby Carriage on the beams. A coverlet has joined the existing 2007 Town Bicentennial Quilt from the Ontario Quilter’s Society on the upper north lobby wall.View the framed building photos @ Heritage Square in the “Corridor Gallery” @ the town hall meeting room.
Plan To Enjoy The Following Summer – Fall Events
At Heritage Square MuseumThursday – Saturday (Noon) – September 18, 19 & 20 – Open @ 9:00 a.m. – Fall Barn SaleSaturday, October 4th – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Fall Arts and Crafts Festival
Tours of Buildings and Displays At Heritage Square Museum Are Available On Weekends June 7th to October 5th from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. or by appointment @ 315-524-9330 (Ann). Use of some buildings for weddings, reunions or meetings is also available at a nominal fee.
New Display at the Baptist Meeting HouseHats were an important part of a person’s wardrobe during the 1800s and 1900s. Visit the Baptist Meeting House and view the “Hats through the Decades” display of men and women’s hats worn during that time. Also on display are various sizes and shapes of hat boxes which were used to carry and store hats.
Pony Bingo! The ponies from Lil’ Dude Ranch are all excited about their important
role in raising money for our society. They have been practicing all summer, and are looking forward to chomping down some nice fresh grass over at the Square. If you haven’t sent in your Pony Bingo tickets yet, they must be in our hands by October 1st so the grid can be laid out with the appropriate number of squares. The ponies will be led on to the field at 11 a.m. and will have an hour or so to leave their “chips”. After the prizes are announced (and after the clean-up), the proud ponies will give rides to the children ($3). Bring the kids and grandkids to cheer the ponies on, and enjoy the rest of the festival as well.
WantedThe Museum is in need of an electric miter saw. If anyone has one in
working order that they would like to donate to the wood shop/ work shop at Heritage Square, please give Jim Codding a call at 315-524-7837.
Thanks to Building StewardsAs fall approaches, it is time to reflect on the activity that permeated
Heritage Square during the summer months. Many visitors toured our grounds and commented on the quality of the buildings, the displays and the information told by the guides.
It is with sincere appreciation that the Board of Directors recognizes the efforts of all the volunteers who continually make Heritage Square an outstanding and impressive Museum.
As Building Steward Coordinator, I want to thank all of the dedicated stewards who worked to keep our 9 buildings in tip top shape. Thanks to:
Pat and Jim Codding…. the LockupJohn and Judy Lynd……. the School HouseShirley and Ed Kushall and Sue Yantch….. the Ore Miner HouseCarolyn Rittenhouse and Mary Sfikas……. the Warner FarmhouseBillie Lochner and Alayna DiSanto……. the Exhibit BarnRichard and Bonnie Denison….. the Apple Dry HouseDuke and Mabel Risley…. the Ruffell Log CabinDawn Chelini and Girl Scouts….the Baptist Meeting HouseThe Dombrowski Family….the Train Station
There will be a need for Stewards of the Ruffell Log Cabin for next spring. If interested, please contact me at 315-589-9884 or [email protected].
Alayna DiSanto
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Proud Supporters of theHeritage Square Museum and
the Town of Ontario Historical Society We would like to publicly acknowledge and thank the following businesses who renewed their memberships and to the new businesses that have joined in supporting the Society and Heritage Square Museum. Please patronize them whenever possible.
Alfried Pardi, Architect,! 465 Ontario Dr., Ontario, ! 315-524-7651Concord Insurance Agency, ! 6270 Dean Parkway, Ontario,! 585-265-6060Crown Electric Supply Co. ! 75 Route 104, Ontario, ! 585-265-2480Don & Jon Lawn & Tree Service ! LLC P. O. Box 5, Ontario, ! 585-737-9891Exelon Generation – Ginna Plant ! 1503 Lake Rd., Ontario, ! 585-771-5220Furguson’s Hair Care! 2005 Ridge Rd., Ontario, ! 315-524-8983Gilson & Tobin DDS ! 6200 Slocum Rd., Ontario! 315-524-2433Joe Bishop Auto Sales, Inc.! 114 Route 104, Ontario! 585-265-0400Joe’s Meat Market! 6845 North Slocum Rd., Ontario! 315-524-8252Konstantinou’s Liquor LLC ! 2024 Route 104, Ontario! 315-524-3015Konstantinou’s Restaurant ! 2030 Route 104, Ontario ! 315-524-8238Lakeside Restaurant, ! 6270 Lakeside Rd., Ontario! 315-524-3092Lakeside Roofing & Siding Materials Inc.! 6296 Lakeside Rd., Ontario ! 315-524-9420Lyons National Bank, ! 6256 Furnace Rd., Ontario! 315-524-9661Mama Lor’s Union Hill Café ! 1891 Ridge Rd. Webster ! 585-545-4895Murphy’s Funeral & Cremation Chapels, ! 1961 Ridge Rd., Ontario, ! 315-524-4621Phil’s Automotive of Route 104, Inc. ! 1364 Route 104 Ontario, ! 315-524-8129Sparky’s Cans & bottles, ! 631 Ontario Center Rd., Ontario, ! 315-524-2267Sue’s Hair Trends, ! 2015 Ridge Rd., Ontario, ! 315-524-2766The Original Door Store, ! Ontario, ! 315-524-3776
New in the Gift Shop!
Just arrived and now in our Gift Shop is the new book by our very own, JoAnn Meaker. The title of the book is Four Branches and is a sequel to My Dear Emma. The cost is $11.80. Stop in and pick up your copy. My Dear Emma is also available for those of you who have not as yet purchased it.
