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On May 5, 1830, John Batterson Stetson, American hat manufacturer, was born in Orange, New Jersey (d. 1906). From the article:
"John B. Stetson - The Wild West
John Stetson was the famous designer of the "Trademark" western hat that bears his name -- the "Stetson".
He was born in Orange, New Jersey on May 5, 1830.
His "Stetson Hat" (also known as "Stetsons") has defined the look of the cowboy for many years. Stetson came from a family of Hatters (people in the hat business) and went out west for the first time for health reasons.
However, in 1865 he opened a one-man hat factory in Philadelphia, but sales were poor so rather than just copy other hat styles, he started to design his own.
He was forced to make another trip out west for health reasons, and wound up in Colorado. This led him to design a western hat, after he saw the distinctive hats worn out west.
He then returned to Philadelphia and his plant began to manufacture "Cowboy Hats". The business grew and by 1906 was producing two million hats a year.
Stetson was also a philanthropist who gave a lot of money to Baptist Churches and causes.
He died in DeLand, Florida on February 18, 1906, and by that time had taken such an interest in the DeLand Academy, in the form of buildings and money, that they changed the name of the institution to the John B. Stetson University."
"John B. Stetson - The Wild West
John Stetson was the famous designer of the "Trademark" western hat that bears his name -- the "Stetson".
He was born in Orange, New Jersey on May 5, 1830.
His "Stetson Hat" (also known as "Stetsons") has defined the look of the cowboy for many years. Stetson came from a family of Hatters (people in the hat business) and went out west for the first time for health reasons.
However, in 1865 he opened a one-man hat factory in Philadelphia, but sales were poor so rather than just copy other hat styles, he started to design his own.
He was forced to make another trip out west for health reasons, and wound up in Colorado. This led him to design a western hat, after he saw the distinctive hats worn out west.
He then returned to Philadelphia and his plant began to manufacture "Cowboy Hats". The business grew and by 1906 was producing two million hats a year.
Stetson was also a philanthropist who gave a lot of money to Baptist Churches and causes.
He died in DeLand, Florida on February 18, 1906, and by that time had taken such an interest in the DeLand Academy, in the form of buildings and money, that they changed the name of the institution to the John B. Stetson University."
John B. Stetson - The Wild West
Posted from thewildwest.org
Old West
American History
World History
Manufacturing
Stetson University
Posted >1 y ago
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MSG Stan Hutchison
Get one now. A good hat is as important as a good pair of boots. A person should not scrimp on either.
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Inside Stetson's 150th Anniversary
The story behind our heritage hat company and the man who started it all, John B. Stetson as we celebrate our 150th anniversary in 2015.
Thank you, my friend SGT (Join to see) for making us aware that May 5 is the anniversary of the birth of son of his father Stephen the hatter John Batterson Stetson who from an early age demonstrated an interest in being a hatter. He became ill and was sent to Colorado until his health improved. After his health improved he returned East in 1865, settled in Philadelphia and opened a hat repair business in a one-room shop on the north-east corner of 7th and Callowhill Streets.
Inside Stetson's 150th Anniversary
The story behind our heritage hat company and the man who started it all, John B. Stetson as we celebrate our 150th anniversary in 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EqkGyXAPm4
Background from stetsonmansion.com/john-b-stetson-biography
John B. Stetson was one of 12 children of Stephen and Susan Balderson Stetson. He was born in 1830 in Orange, New Jersey. His father was a hatter and John left school early to learn the hatter's trade. He soon became ill and was sent to Colorado until his health improved. While in the West he was impressed with the local style of a 10-gallon hat. In later years the manufacture of "The Boss of the Plains," as he called this version, was his signature hat.
Young John returned East in 1865, settled in Philadelphia and opened a hat repair business in a one-room shop on the north-east corner of 7th and Callowhill Streets. In a short time his talent for trimming led him to manufacturing hats. Insisting on a policy of "none but that of sterling quality," his business improved so rapidly that he needed larger quarters in just over a year. He moved his business to 4th Street above Chestnut and in no time his hats were being sold in most of the retail establishments in Philadelphia.
His novel idea of using traveling salesmen in 1869 created the need for more space to manufacture more hats. Another novel idea of his, to move his factory to the quiet northeast area of the City, gave him the space he needed. Eventually those 12 acres held five and six story hat factory buildings and the Stetson Hospital.
His aim "to do good work at fair prices" as well as his taking good care of his employees, their families and the factory neighborhood non-employees, separated this man form the usual manufacturers of the time.
To start with, his factory buildings were built of brick, had automatic sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers on every floor and many other safety devices. His manufacturing equipment was of superb quality making his plant the best hat manufacturing facility in the world.
He then set up one of the most liberal apprenticeship programs of that day. Mr. Stetson paid above scale wages and bonuses tied to attainment levels. He provided quite a few rooms in his factory for his employees to use for their religious, social and other activities. Because of Mr. Stetson's patriotic bend, he organized a military company of young male employees. He had them outfitted and trained and even set up an armory.
His concern for his employees' well-being showed itself in his establishing a dispensary which later grew to take care of neighborhood people also. It contained the newest equipment and was staffed by highly skilled professionals. For those unable to pay, the minimal charge of $1.00 for three months' service and treatment, it was provided free of charge. As the need grew larger, Mr. Stetson built a free hospital on the land adjacent to his factory building. Another major assistance he provided for his workers was to establish John B. Stetson Building Association which gave them below-market rate loans.
In 1885 Henry Deland convinced his friend John Stetson to visit Persimmon Hollow, now Deland. Mr. Stetson spent the next 20 winters in the blossoming town. He became an active business and community leader.
Outside of his own business world he was an important contributor to the YMCA and many other Philadelphia charities. In 1888 he endowed an academy in DeLand, Florida which later changed its name to Stetson University. The college offered liberal arts, music and business curriculums. At present it has a college of law in St. Petersburg, Florida, also. John B Stetson died in 1906 in his DeLand mansion home. He is interred in the family Mausoleum in the Ashland section of West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, PA.
After his death, his son G. Henry Stetson ran the company until styles of dress changed so much that hat sales declined. The plant was closed in 1971. In 1977 the buildings were given to the City of Philadelphia. During the Depression his Elkins Park Estate was sold and mansion razed. A road in the area carries the Stetson name.
Prepared by Lois H. Hirsch."
FYI LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SFC William Farrell SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke 1stSgt Eugene Harless SGT James Murphy SP5 Jeannie Carle
Inside Stetson's 150th Anniversary
The story behind our heritage hat company and the man who started it all, John B. Stetson as we celebrate our 150th anniversary in 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EqkGyXAPm4
Background from stetsonmansion.com/john-b-stetson-biography
John B. Stetson was one of 12 children of Stephen and Susan Balderson Stetson. He was born in 1830 in Orange, New Jersey. His father was a hatter and John left school early to learn the hatter's trade. He soon became ill and was sent to Colorado until his health improved. While in the West he was impressed with the local style of a 10-gallon hat. In later years the manufacture of "The Boss of the Plains," as he called this version, was his signature hat.
Young John returned East in 1865, settled in Philadelphia and opened a hat repair business in a one-room shop on the north-east corner of 7th and Callowhill Streets. In a short time his talent for trimming led him to manufacturing hats. Insisting on a policy of "none but that of sterling quality," his business improved so rapidly that he needed larger quarters in just over a year. He moved his business to 4th Street above Chestnut and in no time his hats were being sold in most of the retail establishments in Philadelphia.
His novel idea of using traveling salesmen in 1869 created the need for more space to manufacture more hats. Another novel idea of his, to move his factory to the quiet northeast area of the City, gave him the space he needed. Eventually those 12 acres held five and six story hat factory buildings and the Stetson Hospital.
His aim "to do good work at fair prices" as well as his taking good care of his employees, their families and the factory neighborhood non-employees, separated this man form the usual manufacturers of the time.
To start with, his factory buildings were built of brick, had automatic sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers on every floor and many other safety devices. His manufacturing equipment was of superb quality making his plant the best hat manufacturing facility in the world.
He then set up one of the most liberal apprenticeship programs of that day. Mr. Stetson paid above scale wages and bonuses tied to attainment levels. He provided quite a few rooms in his factory for his employees to use for their religious, social and other activities. Because of Mr. Stetson's patriotic bend, he organized a military company of young male employees. He had them outfitted and trained and even set up an armory.
His concern for his employees' well-being showed itself in his establishing a dispensary which later grew to take care of neighborhood people also. It contained the newest equipment and was staffed by highly skilled professionals. For those unable to pay, the minimal charge of $1.00 for three months' service and treatment, it was provided free of charge. As the need grew larger, Mr. Stetson built a free hospital on the land adjacent to his factory building. Another major assistance he provided for his workers was to establish John B. Stetson Building Association which gave them below-market rate loans.
In 1885 Henry Deland convinced his friend John Stetson to visit Persimmon Hollow, now Deland. Mr. Stetson spent the next 20 winters in the blossoming town. He became an active business and community leader.
Outside of his own business world he was an important contributor to the YMCA and many other Philadelphia charities. In 1888 he endowed an academy in DeLand, Florida which later changed its name to Stetson University. The college offered liberal arts, music and business curriculums. At present it has a college of law in St. Petersburg, Florida, also. John B Stetson died in 1906 in his DeLand mansion home. He is interred in the family Mausoleum in the Ashland section of West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, PA.
After his death, his son G. Henry Stetson ran the company until styles of dress changed so much that hat sales declined. The plant was closed in 1971. In 1977 the buildings were given to the City of Philadelphia. During the Depression his Elkins Park Estate was sold and mansion razed. A road in the area carries the Stetson name.
Prepared by Lois H. Hirsch."
FYI LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SFC William Farrell SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke 1stSgt Eugene Harless SGT James Murphy SP5 Jeannie Carle
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