History and Evolution of Massachusetts Hat Culture and Styles

The History of the Massachusetts Hat

The state of Massachusetts has a long and storied history when it comes to hats. In the 17th and 18th centuries, hat making was a major industry in Massachusetts, with cities like Salem, Lynn, and Danvers being centers of hat production. The term "Massachusetts hat" refers to the iconic top hats and tri-corner hats popular during the colonial era and into the early days of the United States.

One of the most famous Massachusetts hats is the Bostonian cocked hat, also known as the tri-corner hat. This hat style, with its distinctive triangular brim pinned on three sides, became a symbol of the American colonists during the Revolutionary War era. The tri-corner hat was popular among American patriots like Paul Revere and George Washington. The hats were often made of beaver fur felt, which was durable and could hold a hat's shape. Hatters in Massachusetts towns like Salem and Danvers became well-known for their fine beaver felt hats.

The Hat Industry in Colonial Massachusetts

During the 1600s and 1700s, Massachusetts was at the forefront of the American hat making industry. Skilled craftsmen called hatters plied their trade in bustling hat shops, producing all manners of hats from materials like fur, wool, and straw. The most prolific hat making cities included:

• Salem - By the late 1700s, Salem was exporting over 300,000 hats per year to places as far away as the West Indies. The Salem Hat Company is one of America's oldest hat firms, established in 1819.
• Danvers - Home to a thriving leather industry, Danvers hatters specialized in leather hats and helmets. The wooden helmet worn by the Salem Witch Trials judges was made in Danvers.
• Lynn - Known as the "City of Sinews" for its shoe production, Lynn also developed a vigorous hat making industry. Dozens of hat shops lined Lynn's Central Square in the late 18th century.

These cities benefited from having access to abundant natural materials for hat making, including furs from the forests inland and straw from the fields along the coast. As skilled craftsmen honed their techniques, Massachusetts hats gained fame for their exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

The Fall of the Hat Industry

By the mid-19th century, Massachusetts began losing its dominance in the American hat trade. A number of factors contributed to this decline:

• Westward expansion meant fur traders began supplying cheaper felt from further inland, undercutting Massachusetts hatteries.
• Mechanization in the early 1800s allowed hat production to be done more efficiently in factories, lessening the need for skilled craftsmen.
• Fashion changes like the introduction of silk hats drew business away from traditional felt hat makers.

The hammer blow came in 1857 when New Jersey hatters created the first mass-produced paper hat made of fur felt shaped by steaming, blocking and ironing. The inexpensive, uniform hats made by machinery effectively rendered obsolete the handcrafting skills of generations of Massachusetts hatters. By World War I, the hat industry in Massachusetts was essentially extinct.

While no longer a hub of hat production, Massachusetts left an indelible stamp on hat history thanks to the skill of its colonial era craftsmen. Felt tri-corner hats and top hats remain icons of early American revolutionary style.

Modern Massachusetts Hat Culture

While Massachusetts no longer has a major hat industry, hats remain an important part of fashion and cultural identity in the state. Here are some ways Massachusetts residents wear and celebrate hats today:

Boston Sports Teams Hats

One of the most ubiquitous Massachusetts hats these days is the baseball cap displaying the logo of Boston's beloved sports teams. The curved brim Boston Red Sox cap with the B and red socks logo is worn by Sox fans young and old across New England. Diehard fans of the Patriots, Celtics and Bruins also proudly wear fitted caps repping their teams.

Cape Cod Baseball Hats

Cape Cod's laidback seaside resort style has spawned its own distinctive hat - the Cape Cod baseball hat. These hats feature canvas crowns and visors in colors like navy, khaki and pastel pinks and blues. Often featuring anchors or nautical flags, Cape Cod hats are popular with New England tourists and locals alike looking to shade their faces with breezy Cape style.

Pilgrim Hats

No Massachusetts hats are more iconic than the solemn black pilgrim hats worn by the early settlers of Plymouth Colony. Every year at Thanksgiving, pilgrim hats make an appearance as a reminder of the state's Puritan and Pilgrim roots. While not the most fashionable headwear, the distinctive buckle pilgrim hat remains a symbol of early colonial Massachusetts.

Witch Hats

The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 left a legacy of infamy in Massachusetts history. Today, witch hats, sometimes called "Salem hats," nod to this dark chapter. These tall black conical hats are commonly worn by children on Halloween and by Wicca practitioners honoring Salem's witch trial victims. The witch hat remains a popular costume accessory evoking a uniquely Massachusetts tradition.

Harvard and MIT Beanies

As home to Harvard and MIT, Massachusetts has deep academic roots. Students at these elite universities often wear knit wool hats known as beanies or watch caps sporting their school colors. Harvard's famous crimson hats are a staple for students braving New England winters and cheering on the Crimson sports teams, while MIT's stylish red and gray hats distinguish their academic rivals.

Hat Making and Hat Tips in Massachusetts Today

While no longer the hat producer it once was, Massachusetts does still have connections to the headwear industry and hat culture today:

• New England felt company New England Felting still produces wool and fur felt fabric in Lawrence, MA from domestically-sourced materials.
• Boston hat maker J.J. Hat Center in downtown Boston continues the tradition of custom hat making, producing made-to-order fedoras, caps and women's hats.
• "Mad hatter" Adam DeLaurentis draws on old hat making techniques to produce avant-garde hats at his custom hattery Plumdebonair in Worcester, MA.
• The town of Adams, MA hosts an annual hat parade dedicated to the town's hat making history. Paraders don outrageous homemade chapeaux.
• While not common today, saying "Hat tip to you" as an expression of praise originated in 19th century America when men would physically tip their hats as a sign of respect.

So while Massachusetts' heyday as a hat producer faded over a century ago, evidence of its rich hat history remains. Much like the tri-corner and top hats of old, contemporary Massachusetts hat styles endure as distinctive cultural symbols of the state's heritage.

FAQs

What was the hat style most associated with Massachusetts in the 1700s?

The tri-corner hat, also known as the cocked hat or three-pointed hat, became synonymous with Massachusetts and the American Revolution era. Made of felt, these triangular brimmed hats were part of the iconic outfit of American patriots.

What factors led to the decline of Massachusetts' hat industry in the 1800s?

The rise of cheaper felt from fur traders out West, industrialization of hat production, and fashion shifts away from felt hats all contributed to the demise of Massachusetts as America's hat producer by the late 1800s.

What Massachusetts hat has become iconic of Cape Cod?

The Cape Cod baseball hat, often in navy blue or khaki and featuring nautical motifs, has become the hat most associated with Cape Cod seaside style and summer tourism.

How are witch hats connected to Massachusetts?

The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 involved accused women being forced to wear tall black "witch hats." These conical hats remain symbols of that period of Massachusetts history.

What modern Massachusetts hats represent pride in Boston sports teams?

Fitted baseball caps in team colors and logos are ubiquitous gear for fans of the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins.