Perth County Fashions 1860's (pt. 1)

While women living in Perth county in the 1860's may have felt themselves to be isolated from the fashion influences of the bigger world, the evidence suggests that the style in which our ancestors dressed was a reflection of what was happening elsewhere: a somewhat muted and conservative reflection of high fashion, but a reflection nonetheless. The differences which existed in the dresses were more likely to be a result of wealth and social class rather than a lack of awareness. The coloured engraving at the top of this blog first appeared in Godfey's Lady's Book in 1861. This periodical, which was published in Philadelphia acted as a fashion guide for its many subscribers. The early 1860s, was a period in which the crinoline-supported dome-like skirt was at its widest, and in fashion plates during 1860 and 1861 the skirt seems to project as much in front as in back. The photo of an unknown young woman in a striped dress above, was taken in London Ontario in the years before Confederation when this area was still known as Canada West. The next photo is Lois' great grandmother Eliza Fulcher taken after 1867. While Eliza's dress may be made of less expensive materials, and the workmanship and the detail of the sewing may be less complex, the full skirt, the wide tightly cinched belt, the puffed sleeves and the high neckline show that the two women are following similar fashion lines. The next picture is of Robert Ballantyne the brother of Gordon's great grandmother Agnes McEwan, and his wife Helen Smith. This is likely their wedding picture taken in 1860 when he was 39 and she was 23. The dress of the new Mrs. Ballantyne has many of the features of the dresses above but with an added feature in the formal jacket. A hoop (or possibly many petticoats) create the dome shape of the skirt, and the white collar is used to create a dramatic contrast to the black satin dress.
Finally, in case we think that hooped skirts were worn only for formal occasions. here is a detail from a well know picture of the old frame town hall in St. Marys. The woman on the right appears to be a passerby who has stopped to watch the excitement of the ongoing photo session. Not only is a large hoop creating the desired silhouette, but the skirt is short enough to allow her to walk through the mucky streets without the danger of dirtying the hem of her dress. A very wise precaution in St. Marys in 1865!

Bob Hearn's Bread Route

The bread route which sustained the Hearn family through many years of the depression began quite accidentally. It was Bob Hearn's custom to go into St. Marys on Saturday evening. While the purpose of the trip was largely social - a time to meet and chat with friends -- he also used the trip as an opportunity to pick up groceries and other supplies for the family. The neighbours, knowing that he was going into town would often ask him to buy groceries for them. Gradually people began to depend on him for their bread supply and eventually Bob established a formal bread route that became a full-time job as a bread peddler for the Thames Valley Bakery which had a shop on the north side of Queen street between Water and Wellington streets. Here is a picture of the staff of the bakery standing in front of the store. Bob is the man in the cap standing on the running board of his truck. In a typical day, Bob would drive the truck into St. Marys, pick up his bread and then head out on the route. In one leg of the route Bob went as far north as Kasterville on the edge of Ellice Township and then turned west going as far as the Fullarton Township line. By that time it would be noon hour and he would stop to have his dinner at Joe Herman's whose farm was just beyond the Cheese Factory on Black Creek. After dinner Bob would work his way back home. As soon as they were old enough, Bob's boys helped with the route. The picture above shows Kelly as a teenager standing next to his father at the home farm. In the winter when the roads were impassible, Bob peddled his bread using a horse and team. In the picture below he appears to be wearing a huge fur coat While it appears warm, one can't help but wonder whether anything could protect you against the severe weather in a typical January freeze. On such a day I am sure that that the warmth of Mrs. Herman's farm kitchen was especially welcome. Kelly continued to work with his father and when Kelly was married in 1937, his father generously gave him the bread route and Bob took a job working for Avonbank Cheese and Butter company.

Lois' Uncle George and Aunt Minnie (pt 1)

In my recollection, George Hern (the younger brother of Lois' father) was an old man who wore a suit and a tie fastened with a bar clip. He wore a wide brimmed fedora which he parked on his knee when he was sitting. At family gatherings he sat on the sidelines chatting to the others of his generation and watching the activities of the next three generations of Hearns. I don't remember him ever speaking to me directly. In truth, I suspect that I was a bit frightened of his gruffness, and his sense of fun which was to have the little kids wrestle with one another. George's wife Minnie played a more central role in the family. She was an excellent seamstress, and an energetic carpenter and decorator. George and Minnie had no children, and for some years in the middle of their marriage, they lived separately. But, of course they were not always the "old generation" and as can be seen in photographs taken about 1910 George and Minnie were handsome young people. In those years leading up to the first war, the city of Brantford was industrializing quickly, and already several members of the Hern and Fulcher families had moved there. Bart Fulcher, the younger brother of George's mother Elizabeth had made the move some time before. In the postcard above, written by Daisy Fulcher, she encourages George to move to Brantford. At some point George must have taken Daisy's advice because here, in a second card dated May 25 1911 George is writing to Minnie on his return to Brantford from a visit in St. Marys. It is obvious from the tone of the card and from the number of x's decorating the large letter B at the top of the card that George is smitten with the lovely Minnie Moore. (You remember that by double clicking on the postcards you enlarge them so they are easier to read.)