Hoosick Grange News

It was history night at Hoosick Grange on May 8. We had Eric and Jenna Schnitzer as our guests. He is the Park Ranger Historian of the Saratoga Battlefield. They showed clothes from the years 1760 – 1780. These clothes were reproductions they sewed. They had one original piece of clothing. It was interesting to learn that men would wear the flax shirts they worked in all day and then went to bed with it on at night. The common man, if lucky, had two shirts. Tailors made most all men’s clothes. Some men wore corsets that laced up in front and back – which gave them great posture. They looked like ice cream cones. Men would wear waist coats and vests – some wool and some linen – with covered buttons.
Women wore flax shirts, also with a scoop neckline. They had to put their stockings and shoes on first, then put their corset on because they could not bend over. They also wore a string with cloth on it that was pockets – also a bum roll on their rear end to make it stick out. They wore three under skirts and an apron, usually checkered, and the dress, olive green, was put on last. This dress was heavy and was sewed quite differently. Can you imagine how long it would take to get dressed?
The Schnitzers showed us the breeches – to the knees – the men wore and the stockings. Sailors wore trousers, big and full to the ankle. Clothing was very valuable – nothing was thrown out; they used it over and over. Ladies wore kerchiefs around their necks. We saw the shoes, no right or left, hats, woolen and felt. Women wore white caps – even boys and girls. During 1770 they wore bonnets. They could be huge. During the 1800s women wore flat hats that tied in back. Eric showed us the men’s clothing and modeled it. Jenna showed us the women’s clothes and modeled some and put others on a form she had. It was very interesting. The Lecturer thanked them for their very interesting program. Refreshments were root beer floats and goodies.
The Grange discussed some business. The Lecturer gave out some pamphlets on Sharing the Road with Slow Moving Vehicles. Our next meeting is May 22 at 8 pm. Kendal Baker is in charge of the program. We will have the Baking Powder Biscuit Contest. We hope to have lots of entries.