This week's theme at Sepia Saturday is hair and as I was pouring through my many old photographs I remembered an old album I bought some time ago of people of a Trenton, NJ family. I bought this album mainly because my husband's ancestors, the Rogers and Hildingers are mostly from this location, although none of the 68 people in this album are his family, at least I don't think so as no one is identified and it would sure be a big coincidence if they were. I never got around to scanning the photos from this album which date from pre-Civil War to about 1900 so I got it out and started looking through it again and found several great photos I thought would fit this theme.
I realized as I was looking at these pictures how hair, whether on the head or face, has always been such an expression of individuality throughout time no matter what the current fad. Take a look at these gentlemen:
This good looking guy from Trenton, NJ, late 1880's, has a beautiful head of hair and he looks quite proud of it.
The distinguished gentlemen from Trenton, from the late 1860's has quite the beard, kind of looks like a giant Brillo pad!
Also from the album, these well-groomed gents, both I believe from the late 1860's, one with a crazy, bushy mustache and one with scary side-burns:
On another note, my grandmother was a hairdresser, or what used to be called a beautician, for many years. She first had a shop in Mt. Vernon, IL for a number of years (1930's - 50's) then moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL in the 1960's where she worked at her sister's shop the Curl & Swirl. I spent many hours in both places as a young girl visiting my her so I have many fond memories. When she died I found this homemade sign from her salon in Illinois which I previously posted on my blog, http://teresastangledroots.blogspot.com. I will always treasure this sign as if it were the most valuable heirloom:
To see more great hairy stories check out this week's Sepia Saturday.
What a treasure - the sign from your grandmother's beauty shop. You were lucky to find it.
ReplyDeleteNancy
Using your beard to clean the dishes, I'm not sure that will catch on :-).
ReplyDeleteYour first photo I do believe he is quite proud looking, as he is quite the handsome man. Now for the wide, long, thick and bushy sideburns, how did they do it?!
ReplyDeleteI'll bet those sideburns kept his neck warm.
ReplyDeleteYour Grandma's sign is precious. Love your choices, and I also think that first guy strikes me as someone who thinks he is rather cool.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Kathy M.
Wonder what people thought when long sideburns first appeared on the scene.
ReplyDeleteI bet that bushy moustache caught some potatoes and gravy from time to time. Your grandmother's sign is the perfect finish for this post. Wonderful keepsake.
ReplyDeleteThose men obviously paid a lot of attention to their facial hair. The sideburns on the last guy are really something. They look like a full beard with the center shaved off.
ReplyDeleteThose sideburns are something else! I much prefer a clean shaven face. The sign from your grandmother's store is such a special keepsake. Have you written a post about your memories of spending time in her shop? If you have, I would print a copy and tape it on the back of the sign for future generations.
ReplyDeleteI agree, number one has gorgeous curls! The real treasure is that handmade sign of your grandmother's though.
ReplyDeleteI would have persuaded Doris to wax the gents to within an inch of their lives, and give No 1 a haircut! I'm pleased that you found the beautician shop sign :-) Jo
ReplyDeleteA terrific quartet. The first gent looks academic, maybe even a theologian? I speak from experience that certain foods are a big challenge for beards and especially mustaches like #3. A real soup strainer!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, Teresa! I especially enjoyed seeing the magnificent mustache and the pork-chop sideburns, though I wouldn't like them so much if I were to see them in person. I can understand how important your grandmother's sign is to you; some things just really connect us to our families' history.
ReplyDeleteThe first looks as though he too liked to "curl and swirl", luxuriant. Fascinating that the facial hair in the others all have clipped edges
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wonder if men grow beads as a form of defense? Although,in Mr Brillo's case, maybe it's Attack!?
ReplyDelete