Business: Early Loyal Millinery Shops

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Gwin, Gieger, Matthers, Davel, Voight, English

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Another important place was the millinery shop. This was not a collection of readymade hats in its heyday. Ladies of fashion selected the proper hat frame and a choice of covering plus decorations. Styles ranged from ribbons, plumes and flowers according to what was IN.

Along with hats were hat- pins. The long firm pins with ornate heads were treasured gifts. These hat pins were also the source of wonder for many little boys in church, just wondering if it really hurt to have the pin stuck in your head or just now far it went in. Later the tales of a hat pin in self-defense were just as amusing.

Among the milliners were Mrs. Gwin in the 1890's. Mary Gieger, Mrs. Matthers and Mrs. Anna Davel, Mrs. Fred Voight. Mrs. Mildred English had a hat shop at the south end of the business district about the time Mrs. Voight, at the north end, sold her building for Emma's Beauty Shop which is still in operation. In the past 30 years there has been no hat shop.