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Clothing and Accessories
Clothing Accessories
Men's Clothing
Voigt Family Collection ➔ Hat Band
Identifier:
V1431.4Description:
This navy blue hatband is made of cotton and has horizontal brown, gray, blue, and white stripes in the center. There are hooks on the ends that would have been used to attach them to hats. There is also a label on the underside that reads "The Wick Adjustable Fancy Band, Phila, All Rights Reserved, Made in U.S.A". There is also a price tag from May's. This hat band was stored in a box from Grand Rapids retailer Mackenzie, Bostock, Monroe and belonged to a member of the Voigt family of Grand Rapids, Michigan.Date:
circa 1900 – 1960Materials:
CottonDimensions:
2"" h 24"" wCurrent Location Status:
In StorageCollection Tier:
Tier 2Source:
Gift of Kent County Council For Historic PreservationRelated Entities:
Voigt House (used by)Alternate names: Voigt Family
The Voigt family, whose home is now preserved by the Grand Rapids Public Museum, moved to the city in 1875 and resided at 133 Court Street (now Scribner Street). The Voigt family partnered with the Herpolsheimer family in the dry-good and carpet business and in a few years the partnership expanded to include two flour mills -- the Crescent and Star mills located on the Grand River. In 1902 the partnership came to a mutual end. The Herpolsheimer family retained the dry-good store and the Voigt family kept the two mills. By the turn of the century, Voigt flour under several brand names, and later Voigt Cereal, were known across Michigan and far east as New England. Due to bankruptcy and a strike, the flour milling business came to an abrupt end in 1955. In 1895, Carl G.A. Voigt hired local architect William G. Robinson to design a house on 115 College Avenue Southeast to serve as his retirement home. It was modeled after the chateaux at Chenoceaux, France. The home is a fine example of Victorian architecture and complemented the Victorian family that lived in it. It was lived in by just the Voigt family which was comprised of Carl Gustav Adolf Voigt, his wife Elizabeth Wurster Voigt and their children. They were the parents of nine children with six surviving until adulthood. The family lived in the home from 1895 to 1971. Kent County Council for Historic Preservation (donor)
The Kent County Council for Historic Preservation has several responsibilities that support the preservation and protection of our history. These include:
- Recommending designation of new historic districts
- Reviewing applications for proposed alterations within historic districts
- Enforcing the Historic Preservation Ordinance Chapter and cooperating with the state, federal and local governments in pursuance of its responsibilities
- Conducting meetings or hearings necessary to carry out these purposes
The Historic Preservation Commission consists of seven members who reside in Grand Rapids. Members are appointed by the City Commission for three-year terms (two consecutive terms are allowed). Members shall have a demonstrated interest in or knowledge of historic preservation. Two members shall be appointed from a list submitted by the Kent County Council for Historic Preservation and one member shall be an architect duly registered in the State of Michigan.
http://grcity.us/design-and-development-services/Planning-Department/Pages/Historic-Preservation-Commission.aspx
Located in Philadelphia. A. May and Sons (sold by)
Alternate names: May's, Mays Of Michigan, The Giant
A. May & Son’s, also known as May’s of Michigan, was a men’s wear store based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The store was founded as the Giant Clothing Store by German merchant Abraham May in 1883 at Monroe and Lyon Streets, Grand Rapids and was nicknamed “the Giant”. After two years at the University of Michigan, Abraham's son Meyer May and other children in the family joined their father's business and the name of the store was changed to A. May & Son’s. It was the first store in the nation to display clothing on Batts hangers, an important first in the merchandizing of clothing. Meyer May became president of the company after his father's death in 1906. Meyer May and his wife Sophie Amberg were also known for their private residence designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Today the house is operating as a museum by Steelcase Inc. A. May & Son’s remained in the family until 1967, when it was purchased by Botany Industries. Norman Talmo, a former Botany executive purchased the store in 1972. The downtown store closed in 1986 and the building was demolished for parking in 1988.
Source: Michael Hauser and Marianne Weldon. Images of America, 20th Century Retailing in Downtown Grand Rapids. Arcadia Publishing: Charleston, 2014.
