Show Us Your Vintage Hat Store

[BobHufford]

Turkish Fez from Wm. H. Horstmann Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Salesroom in 1846:

Wm. H. Horstmann Company building, 723 Chestnut Street. Built in 1855.

1861 Ad:

Nowadays:

Factory building:

Display at the 1876 Worlds Fair in Philadelphia.

1883 Ad:

Part of the factory in 1916:

The factory was replaced by the U.S. Mint building.

 

[BobHufford]

I didn't win this one, but researched the store so ...

Royston straw -- a house-brand from Stix, Baer & Fuller department store, St. Louis. 1892 to 1984.

The Royston trademark was filed in August of 1925.

1926: Same hat (or very similar). Thanks to @DaveProc for pulling the ad!

The first Grand-Leader of 1892:

Renovated warehouse that was the store's location from 1897 - 1906:

1906: As the Grand-Leader, but in a new one-million dollar building. An addition was bulit in 1919 and a floor added to the old section in the 1940s.

1949:

Circa 1950:

Recent times:

 

[BobHufford]

A 1950s Knox built hat as a store brand for The Crescent department store in Spokane, Washington.

Riverside location in 1908:

1934 (Wall and Main location):

Wall and Main location nowadays:

Riverside location nowadays:

 

[steur]

Turkish Fez from Wm. H. Horstmann Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Salesroom in 1846:

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Wm. H. Horstmann Company building, 723 Chestnut Street. Built in 1855.

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1861 Ad:

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Nowadays:

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Factory building:

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Display at the 1876 Worlds Fair in Philadelphia.

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1883 Ad:

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Part of the factory in 1916:

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The factory was replaced by the U.S. Mint building.

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So satisfying to find this much information about a store and manufacturer. Great research, Bob.

 

[Mighty44]

A 1950s Knox built hat as a store brand for The Crescent department store in Spokane, Washington.

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Riverside location in 1908:

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1934 (Wall and Main location):

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Wall and Main location nowadays:

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Riverside location nowadays:

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Another amazing installment, Bob—love it!

 

[BobHufford]

Another amazing installment, Bob—love it!

Thanks David. I enjoy the research.

 

[Frunobulax]

A nice summer weight Resistol originally sold at The Metropolitan, a high end department store in Dayton. The flagship store was located on Main St. in downtown Dayton.

This shot is from 1959.

It's now a restaurant with a performance space called The Loft Theater above it.

 

[BobHufford]

1936 - 1953 (probably closer to the 1950s) Borsalino "Thirty" from Berg's in Omaha, Nebraska.

In 1902 Ollie Berg moved to Omaha and partnered with John Swanson to open the Berg-Swanson Clothing Company at 15th and Douglas streets. In 1907 it became the Berg Clothing Company after Ollie took over sole ownership.

1910:

Not sure when the move occurred, but in the early 1920s the store was at 1415 Farnam.

In 1927 they moved to the 421 South 16th Street location (at Douglas).

1938: (This was the year that the store passed to Einar Berg -- Ollie's nephew -- after Ollie's death in July of 1937 and following a probate settlement)

1939:

1940:

The store stayed in the family until its closing in 1964.

The 16th and Douglas location today:

 

[Mighty44]

Great work, Bob, and terrific photos. One of the more disappointing NOW photos.

David

 

[Blare]

1936 - 1953 (probably closer to the 1950s) Borsalino "Thirty" from Berg's in Omaha, Nebraska.

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In 1902 Ollie Berg moved to Omaha and partnered with John Swanson to open the Berg-Swanson Clothing Company at 15th and Douglas streets. In 1907 it became the Berg Clothing Company after Ollie took over sole ownership.

1910:

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Not sure when the move occurred, but in the early 1920s the store was at 1415 Farnam.

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In 1927 they moved to the 421 South 16th Street location (at Douglas).

1938: (This was the year that the store passed to Einar Berg -- Ollie's nephew -- after Ollie's death in July of 1937 and following a probate settlement)

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1939:

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1940:

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The store stayed in the family until its closing in 1964.

The 16th and Douglas location today:

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Amazing that a three level parking garage is more valuable than a 6 or 8 story building. At least the tower building and some semblance of the Orpheum sign still exist.

Serious question…. Do we not need fire escapes any more?

 

[ILB Frank]

Do we not need fire escapes any more?

I believe they have built them indoors now. Wider. Concrete & steel.
I especially miss the old tube slides on 3-4 story school buildings. In the summers we would sometimes climb up them to slide down. They eventually put a fence over the opening.

 

[BobHufford]

Another store in Johnstown, Pennsylvania (see the Resistol "Regent" from Glosser above). This time it is a Royal Stetson from Penn Traffic Company.

The Penn Traffic Company was founded in 1854 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, as a food service company for stagecoaches. It eventually became a general-merchandise department store but by the early 1960s had also returned to the food business through the acquisition of Super Value Corporation, operator of the 10-store Riverside supermarket chain. In 1982, the company sold its department stores and concentrated solely on the food and supermarket business. A series of financial troubles led to Penn Traffic's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in November 2009 and sale of assets to Tops Markets in early 2010. -- Wikipedia

This earlier version of the flagship store in Johnstown was destroyed by fire in 1905.

The existing building was built on the same site and completed in 1908.

1910s:

1920s:

1930s: The famous "Johnstown Flood" was in 1936.

1970s:

The Penn Traffic department store closed after the 1977 flood.

The building today:

 

[Mighty44]

Another store in Johnstown, Pennsylvania (see the Resistol "Regent" from Glosser above). This time it is a Royal Stetson from Penn Traffic Company.

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The Penn Traffic Company was founded in 1854 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, as a food service company for stagecoaches. It eventually became a general-merchandise department store but by the early 1960s had also returned to the food business through the acquisition of Super Value Corporation, operator of the 10-store Riverside supermarket chain. In 1982, the company sold its department stores and concentrated solely on the food and supermarket business. A series of financial troubles led to Penn Traffic's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in November 2009 and sale of assets to Tops Markets in early 2010. -- Wikipedia

This earlier version of the flagship store in Johnstown was destroyed by fire in 1905.

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The existing building was built on the same site and completed in 1908.

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1910s:

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1920s:

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1930s: The famous "Johnstown Flood" was in 1936.

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1970s:

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The Penn Traffic department store closed after the 1977 flood.

The building today:

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Fantastic, Bob—thanks for the great post! And congrats on the beautiful hat, I hope it’s your size.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Amazing that a three level parking garage is more valuable than a 6 or 8 story building. At least the tower building and some semblance of the Orpheum sign still exist.

Downtown parking comes at a premium. The Orpheum Theater is a stage theater for the performing arts & small orchestra venue. Anything big is held in the cities convention center, ballpark, etc.

 

[BobHufford]

Fantastic, Bob—thanks for the great post! And congrats on the beautiful hat, I hope it’s your size.

Thanks David. The hat does fit!

 

[BobHufford]

Wolfe's, Salt Lake City.

1924:

1925 Ad:

1926:

They were in the above location on State Street until 1947.

Then moved to the 250 South State Street location. Same side of the street, but closer to the Capitol building.

1948 Ad:

1952: Sort of lost among the signs and lights on the left side.

1978:

 

[Mighty44]

Wolfe's, Salt Lake City.

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1924:

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1925 Ad:

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1926:

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They were in the above location on State Street until 1947.

Then moved to the 250 South State Street location. Same side of the street, but closer to the Capitol building.

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1948 Ad:

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1952: Sort of lost among the signs and lights on the left side.

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1978:

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Another excellent installment that makes me wish I could time travel. thanks, Bob!

 

[Rmccamey]

Cox's (Dry Goods Store) started in Stephenville, TX (I lived there many years and still work there!) in 1916 and moved to Fort Worth, TX in 1933. As with many family stores, the heydays were the 40s thru the 60s. Cox's was sold to Dunlaps becoming Stripling & Cox in 1981 but all those stores have been out of business for many years now.



More of the history of the R. E. Cox stores.
https://hometownbyhandlebar.com/?p=30296

 

[BobHufford]

Resistol "Bronco" that was living in Ohio, but will now be back "home" near Cabool, MO. It was originally purchased from Ice's Clothing Store in Cabool, MO.

Operated by Otis and Mary Ice from 1945 until 1973. It was then purchased by Doyle Bennett and I'm not sure if it lasted long after that or was even renamed.

1952:

Post-1953 (based on the Bobbie Brooks branding):

1956:

1957:

Circa 1960 (on the left):

1967: Otis and Mary help a customer. Note the Resistol Hats display behind them.

1972:

Today:

 

[BobHufford]

Lamson Hubbard from The Outlet Company, Providence, Rhode Island.

The Outlet Company was formed in 1891 when brothers Joseph and Leon Samuels opened a department store at 176 Weybosset Street in downtown Providence. Known as The Outlet, it quickly became a Providence landmark to the point of occupying an entire city block and attracting shoppers from all over southern New England. For decades, the store remained strong with its sole flagship location and dominated the field of retail in not only Providence, but Rhode Island as a whole.

With the changing field of retail in the mid-20th Century, the company diversified with opening suburban locations as well as buying some existing stores such as Philadelphia-based Phillipsborn and Bedya, the midwestern Hughes & Hatcher chain, and The Edw. Malley Co. department store chain in New Haven, Connecticut. However, the allure of building a broadcasting empire under the leadership of company president Bruce Sundlun led Outlet to leave the retail business in November 1980. In 1981, the Outlet Company sold the original downtown retail store (and other stores) to United Department Stores and the flagship Outlet location on Weybosset Street was shuttered in 1982. The building was destroyed by fire on October 16, 1986

-- Wikipedia

1908:

1910:

1940:

1974:

1986:

Now the location of Johnson and Wales University dorms.

A short news video (from the NBC affiliate station started by the owner of The Outlet) that covers the history of the store and it's media companies: https://turnto10.com/news/70th-anniversary/wjar-traces-roots-to-the-outlet-company