Odds and Ends From The MUSEUM!
By Trudy Wyman, Curator, Millinocket Society Museum
Millinocket in 1924 had at least four businesses catering to men’s wear. In those days, those owners were referred to as “clothiers” and their businesses were called “haberdasheries.” Millinocket’s menswear stores were featured in The Old Town Enterprise’s April issue’s Millinocket section. All were located on Penobscot Avenue.
J.A. Gonya & Sons was the “sole agent for the famed Emerson shoe and the Florsheim shoe.” The article stated that the stores patrons were “enthusiastic and appreciative of the quality” of merchandise. A large stock was displayed the latest styles and superior quality. At that time, many well-off gentlemen in town went to a local tailor for their “best” clothes and Gonya’s store had one in-house. The tailor would take measurements and show samples of his work. Gonya carried the latest in men’s hats and caps, in many patterns and colors. In addition, in stock was a “fine line trunks and traveling bags.” In a separate department, Gonya served as an agent for Buick cars!
Other Millinocket men shopped at Dan Simpson’s clothing store. “Some Millinocket men rely entirely on Mr. Simpson’s judgement of materials when ordering a made to measure suit from him as experience as proven to them that when Mr. Simpson recommends a certain cloth, the purchaser, if he follows his advice, is always well pleased with the selection.” Simpson was an agent for Ed. E. Strauss & Co, Inc. of Chicago. At Simpson’s, a Millinocket gentleman could also get clothing repairs, pressing and dyeing and Simpson had a regular list of patrons “who depend on him to see that their clothes are kept in immaculate condition.”
G.B. Moran advertised that he had been a local “clothier” for 20+ years. This well-stocked store carried both men’s and boys’ clothing. He advertised “superiority of goods and workmanship.” There, men would find top coats and heavy overcoats, hats and caps, underwear, hosiery plus plain and fancy shirts and neckwear. As did Gonya, Moran sold trunks and “classy” luggage. His business ran until his death in 1951.
Most know of the H.A.M. Rush’s store on lower Penobscot Avenue and its men’s clothes. In the 1920’s, it also advertised Taylor Made to Order Clothes. Was there an “in-house” tailor or were measurements taken and the suits etc. made elsewhere? Either way, after the suit was chosen, the rest of the gentlemen’s “furnishings” were all selected in store. Shirt’s, collars, neckties, hosiery and underwear plus the nobby hat that is right-up-to-the -minute in style.” The Rush store carried “a fine stock of shoes and also traveling bags. At that time, H.A.M. Rush had been in business for over 20 years.
In those days (and for many years after), most men had two types of clothing, their work clothes and their “out-in-public” clothes. A suit and tie were worn for church, public events and visiting relatives, friends and neighbors. Today’s “casual” style wouldn’t arrive until years later.
(Photo shows H.A.M. Rush Store with bowed front)
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