Thursday,
December 26, 2019
2:15pm
As we enter a new decade, it is tempting to wonder what the future might hold. New year, new you, new Worthington-- the possibilities are endless! But they say hindsight is 20/20, so let’s kick off 2020 with a look back on the '20s (the 1920s), a decade remembered for a distinct culture of fashion, flair and speakeasies. The Roaring '20s culture in the United States left a high-heeled flapper footprint on the collective memory of the decade, and Worthington followed several of the country's trends. So step inside this month's exhibit, old sport! We're in for a roaring good time!
Style is practically synonymous with the 1920s. While the image of a young woman clad in a flashy, beaded dress and feathered headband is most commonly associated with the '20s, more common, everyday style made the rounds in Worthington. Women in Worthington, like those around the country, focused on dressing stylishly with the times, as shown by a "Worthington News" article from 1929. The piece describes a style clinic offered to local girls, stating, “The high school girl's interest in football is only surpassed by her interest in being well dressed… and to satisfy this interest and desire to know how to be smartly and appropriately dressed on her available income, is the object of this style review." With all the fashion tips offered by the review, those attending could make their wardrobe the cat's pajamas! One common style choice during the decade was the bob hairstyle with sculpted wavy curls, which Worthington's Molly Brown and Helen Robinson sported. Men's style in '20s Worthington also appears indicative of the time. One image of the city's 1925 boys basketball team shows off men's style during the decade. The young men would not look out of place in a silent film from the era, appearing in jackets and ties, while some even carried pork pie hats and driving caps.
Also roaring in the 1920s were engines, thanks to mass-produced automobiles, motor bikes and buses. Motorists could fill their tanks at Snouffer Brothers Garage and Filling Station near the corner of High Street and New England Avenue. Several photographs of vehicles from the 1920s included in Worthington Memory feature machinery used on the Brown Fruit Farm. From Model-T trucks to tractors, pesticide tankers and motor bikes, the farm, located on state Route 23 north of Worthington, capitalized on the decade's swanky tech.
Worthington followed '20s lifestyle trends with its penchant for gardening. A 1929 "Worthington News" article remarked on the pastime's popularity, noting the American Association of Nurserymen recorded 943 flower shows nationwide the previous year. Worthington established its own gardening club in 1929, kicking off its inaugural season with a flower show that brought many together to admire local horticultural success. The Worthington Garden Club initially held meetings in members' houses around the Old Worthington area, cultivating a love of plant life in the community.
The 1920s offered style and fun, allowing many in Worthington to have a dandy time. So as we ring in the new '20s, we hope you've enjoyed a look back at the roaring '20s!
