Show Us Your Vintage Hat Store

[BobHufford]

Luxtone Genuine Panama from Hugh J. Lowe, 109 W. Fourth Street in Santa Ana, California.

1933 earthquake: On the left.

They had to replace the facade. The store is just behind the scaffold.

Circa 1948: Between Woolworths and Rankin's. Now with "& Sons" appended.

1950s: On the right.

1958:

The 1910 cash register in the widow: Certainly not the 1910 prices.

The location today:

 

[dkstott]

Hopefully this is appropriate.

Just visited Delmonico Hatter in New Haven CT. They're having a 15% off holiday sale & I received a coupon for an additional %10 off as a long time customer. Purchased a cap and photos to follow.

But here's some photos of the store for anyone who hasn't been there. They've got a lot more hats and caps stored in the basement as well as a storage facility next door.

 

[Mickey Q]

Those poor hats, caught in the fire...

Literally makes me sick to think about it

 

[BobHufford]

1900 - 1915 Stetson low-crown derby from Wood Bros. in Waco, Texas.

Wood Bros. was founded in 1890 by brothers T. Hansel and Dero M. Wood and was located at 422 Austin Avenue (or Street depending on the advertising) in the R.T. Dennis building (next to Chris's Cafe).

They were so successful that they purchased a five-storey building and opened a store in Los Angeles in 1903 (which they sold in 1924).

They would remain in the 422 location until 1935 when they moved across the street to 417 Austin Ave.

1946: The famous lion sculpture out in front of the first two store locations. Used in much of their advertising and moved to a prominent location on an interior wall of the new store in 1955).

In 1953 a tornado hit downtown Waco and destroyed the original building at 422 -- which was now a theatre next to Chris's Cafe.

Note this earlier photo with the word "CAPS" still showing on a window of the second floor above the theatre sign at the old 422 location.



You can see the new location across the street and a "ghost" sign of Wood on the back of the now destroyed location.

 

[BobHufford]

... continued.

In 1955 the store moved down the street to 509 Austin (the former location of Sachs clothing -- after a major remodel). You can see Sachs in this earlier photo with Wood Bros. sign at 417 in the background past the First National Bank / ALICO building.

This article references four locations over the years, so there must have been one prior to the 422 Austin Ave. store. Probably in the 1890s.

1970: Two doors down from Zales -- the dark colored storefront.

1971: The brown and black storefront just above the middle women's head.

The 417 location was removed in the 1960s for "urban renewal" and a hotel built on that spot.

The 417 location today:

The 509 location today:

Advertising:

1904 ad that hints that the low-crowned Stetson derby might be a clergy hat.

1912 ad with the lion:

Shout out to @DaveProc for the assist on ads.

 

[Mighty44]

As always, Bob, wonderful research and presentation—thanks! Amazing what a tornado can do. And clearly time and “progress” are even more powerful…

 

[BobHufford]

As always, Bob, wonderful research and presentation—thanks! Amazing what a tornado can do. And clearly time and “progress” are even more powerful…

Thanks David! Yes ... progress can be more destructive. I thought I had posted this store some time back and when I ran across a photo of the lion statue today I discovered that I had only gathered info ... not posted it.

 

[BobHufford]

Old 7" x 5" western from White & Davis of Pueblo, Colorado.

1889: Asbury White and Samuel Davis open their store. They had worked together at Nusbaum Clothing.

Early 1890s: 221 Santa Fe Avenue. On the left.

In 1894 they moved into the Nusbaum Building on the corner of Santa Fe and 3rd Street. On the left.

Around 1896 they moved to the location on Main at 3rd.

1921: Main between 4th and 3rd.

Aftermath of the flood of 1921:

Post card from 1920s: On the left.

They moved to their final location on Main at 6th Street in 1931. They closed in the late 1960s.

Early 1950s: Center of photo past the Colorado on the left. The Kress is located in the former Main & 3rd location (after an extensive remodel).

From the other direction: On the right.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Old 7" x 5" western from White & Davis of Pueblo, Colorado.

Pueblo was an early blue collar steel mill town (Colorado Fuel & Iron). Because of that the whole town got electricity early.

PS: can’t resist adding this; when Creede, CO was just a young silver mining camp & the railroad was being built thru, the camp would basically close up during the winter & all the inhabitants would pull back to Pueblo. There was a shortage of rooms in Pueblo & so it wasn’t uncommon for two men to share a room for the winter. There is a story that Robert Ford (killer of Jesse James) who then owned a saloon in Creede, & Edward O’Kelley (lawman & eventual killer of Ford) shared a room one winter. O’Kelly always wore a diamond ring & it came up missing that winter. He always thought Ford stole it. The story can’t be verified & so it’s unknown if that contributed to his hatred & killing of Ford. Even though O’Kelly was from Harrisonville, MO it is unlikely he ever knew Jesse James personally & carried out the killing of Ford as revenge.

 

[BobHufford]

1920s Stetson (Select Quality?) from Tully's of Omaha, Nebraska. Not my hat ... sadly.

The store started out as the retail outlet for the Omaha Hat Factory (established in 1890) by the Kaplan family. On the left at the 1321 Douglas location.

In 1925 Sam Kaplan handed off the store to his younger brother Tully.

1927 ad:

1928 ad:

Around 1930 Tully's moved to Douglas and 15th (the location of the old Rialto Theatre -- which at this point was a bus station, nightclub and other retail stores). In 1932 the old location was destroyed when the Turf Cigar Store (now at 1321 Douglas) was bombed during a wave of gangland terrorism.

1936:

1930s postcard:

Circa 1940:

1945: The bus station replaced with a bowling alley.

1950: Tully's as the primary tenant. Note the large sign has replaced "Hats" with "For Men".

1961:

 

[Mighty44]

Old 7" x 5" western from White & Davis of Pueblo, Colorado.

View attachment 483416

View attachment 483417

1889: Asbury White and Samuel Davis open their store. They had worked together at Nusbaum Clothing.

View attachment 483422

Early 1890s: 221 Santa Fe Avenue. On the left.

View attachment 483418

In 1894 they moved into the Nusbaum Building on the corner of Santa Fe and 3rd Street. On the left.

View attachment 483427

Around 1896 they moved to the location on Main at 3rd.

1921: Main between 4th and 3rd.

View attachment 483420

Aftermath of the flood of 1921:

View attachment 483425

Post card from 1920s: On the left.

View attachment 483424

They moved to their final location on Main at 6th Street in 1931. They closed in the late 1960s.

Early 1950s: Center of photo past the Colorado on the left. The Kress is located in the former Main & 3rd location (after an extensive remodel).

View attachment 483423

From the other direction: On the right.

View attachment 483421

Fantastic!

 

[BobHufford]

Fantastic!

Thanks David.

 

[BobHufford]

Bob, Your article needs these.....if you can, copy and include them in your article and I will delete this post.
(I think I may have at lest one other from Tully's)
View attachment 484163
View attachment 484166

Thanks Mark! I had that postcard and other images, but the Lounge limits uploads to 10 when posting. Not sure why as I can copy and add -- which I did.

This similar card on eBay seems to put a 1930 date to it. https://www.ebay.com/itm/364046461700

 

[M Hatman]

Thanks Mark! I had that postcard and other images, but the Lounge limits uploads to 10 when posting. Not sure why as I can copy and add -- which I did.

This similar card on eBay seems to put a 1930 date to it. https://www.ebay.com/itm/364046461700

Interesting....B&W reproduction......date would be about right........wonder where they got theirs? And they left off the back......Hmmmmmm

 

[Blare]

Thanks Mark! I had that postcard and other images, but the Lounge limits uploads to 10 when posting. Not sure why as I can copy and add -- which I did.

This similar card on eBay seems to put a 1930 date to it. https://www.ebay.com/itm/364046461700

For some reason the postcard images (I think) are not showing in your post after Mark deleted his post.

 

[M Hatman]

For some reason the postcard images (I think) are not showing in your post after Mark deleted his post.

Ok, will just post it again and leave it. For Bob's Article: Circa 1930

 

[BobHufford]

Ok, will just post it again and leave it.

Thanks for the assist Mark!

 

[FOXTROT LAMONT]

A spectacular thread. Quite insightful.

 

[BobHufford]

Late 1950s Stetson 3X Open Road from The Vogue in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The Vogue was the successor to the W. M Woodruff & Co. business in 1911 and was incorporated in January 1912.

They were located at 240 N. Main. Seen here across from the Zinzendorf Hotel. Just past the Western Union on the left.

Part of a full-page 1913 ad:

Around 1919 or 1920 they moved to the Courthouse Square at 316 N. Liberty. The first business to the right of the Belk-Stevens Co. department store.

In 1929 or 1930 they moved to a corner, ground floor location of the newly built Nissen Building (300 W. Fourth).

1930:

Then in 1934 they moved to the 120 W. Fourth St. (at Trade) location.

Early 1940s: Behind the signal light.

1952 Ad:

Note that they got good use out of that logo for nearly the entire run.

By 1958 they were closed.

The only remaining location is the Nissen Building.

 

[Mighty44]

Late 1950s Stetson 3X Open Road from The Vogue in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

View attachment 485276

View attachment 485275

The Vogue was the successor to the W. M Woodruff & Co. business in 1911 and was incorporated in January 1912.

They were located at 240 N. Main. Seen here across from the Zinzendorf Hotel. Just past the Western Union on the left.

View attachment 485278

Part of a full-page 1913 ad:

View attachment 485357

Around 1919 or 1920 they moved to the Courthouse Square at 316 N. Liberty. The first business to the right of the Belk-Stevens Co. department store.

View attachment 485279

In 1929 or 1930 they moved to a corner, ground floor location of the newly built Nissen Building (300 W. Fourth).

View attachment 485281

1930:

View attachment 485283

Then in 1934 they moved to the 120 W. Fourth St. (at Trade) location.

Early 1940s: Behind the signal light.

View attachment 485280

1952 Ad:

View attachment 485284

Note that they got good use out of that logo for nearly the entire run.

By 1958 they were closed.

The only remaining location is the Nissen Building.

View attachment 485282

Very cool, Bob—thanks!