As I mentioned in an earlier article, until the building of the causeway, the long distance to Rochester Center from North Rochester meant that North Rochester developed its own community which included factories. One of these was a hat factory which opened in the early 1800’s when the production of fir and felt hats became a profitable venture. For centuries, women have worn both hair coverings and hats. Fashion and custom dictated that female heads should be covered and until recent decades, hats were often as important to their wearer as the coat or dress that they matched. A well- dressed man would often be seen sporting a fedora.
A two-story building was erected in North Rochester during this time period to serve as a hat factory. It was on the east side of Snipatuit Brook near the site of the North Rochester School which was on North Avenue across from the Bennett Farm. At some point, the factory was moved opposite the Coombs Tavern at the intersection of Snipatuit and North Avenue. At that time, Captain Asa Coombs ran the business.
Mr. Waldron, who as a boy lived across from the factory corner, said that the huge copper boiler, the hat blocks, pressing irons and other implements of the trade were a wonder to behold. Watching the hats and the plaster molds on which the hats were stretched and formed fascinated him.
It was in this factory that Joseph Purrington, Fred Gerrish’s uncle learned the trade. He then set himself up in business near the residence of George Gerrish on North Avenue across from the cemetery. His business continued until 1818. At the Museum, we have many hat forms like the ones pictured here.
By Connie Eshbach