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The Hutzler Experience

 

An atmosphere of nostalgia filled the Maryland Historical Society with the museum’s annual meeting's theme of remembrance, which showcased historic clips of Maryland history, one of which included “Behind the Scenes at Hutzler’s.” The costume collection team expanded upon this memorialization of the Hutzler’s department store by setting up a miniature, one night only exhibit dedicated to showcasing accessories and dresses that were all bought from the store.

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 View of shoe and glove display for Hutzler's display at the annual meeting. View of garment display. In total, the costume team displayed six separate pieces. The mannequin on the far right wears both a coat and a dress, each from a different donation. View of hat display.

The Hutzler’s department store began its history in 1858 when Moses Hutzler and his son Abram founded the company as a single storefront. Abram’s brothers Charles and David later joined the retail operation in 1867 and during the early 20th century, the store became known as the Hutzler Brothers Company. Various sources claim that Hutzler’s was an innovative institution that altered Baltimore’s business environment. Hutzler’s became the first retailer in Baltimore to introduce the concept of single-price policy, which replaced the previous system of haggling. In addition, Hutzler’s also owned a large fleet of delivery trucks and in the early 1930s, the store built Baltimore’s first escalator in its building. In 1952, Hutzler’s commenced its expansion when it opened a store in Towson, Maryland, which was later followed by eight additional suburban outlets. Despite its rapid expansion, during the 1980s Hutzler’s struggled with the economy and the declining of businesses, which eventually led to the store’s closure in 1990.

An aerial view of Howard Street in Baltimore shows that city's unique concentration of department stores – Hochschild Kohn on the left, and Hutzler's collection of connected buildings on the right. The roof of competitor Stewart & Co. can be seen across the street on the left.”

Courtesy of the Department Store Museum

http://www.thedepartmentstoremuseum.org/2010/06/hutzler-brothers-co-baltimore.html 

Last week, as the annual meeting ended and attendees began to browse the Hutzler’s display, various people recollected their experiences connected to the store. One common theme that arose with each story was how visiting was a formal affair and patrons often dressed in their finest clothes. Along with these first-hand accounts of Baltimoreans, various drawings and paintings of the department store emphasize how while the store depicted itself as a supplier of fine goods, shopping and visiting Hutzler’s was a special occasion in itself.

Below is an assortment of paintings and drawings of the Hutzler’s Brothers Company that allude to the store being a glamorous experience. Within these illustrations, the women are drawn in high fashion, yet the store’s products still remain the spotlight, showing how Hutzler’s prided itself in its high-quality goods. In one depiction, almost everything is portrayed as a pencil drawing except for the handbags and the store display, which are colored in with vibrant colors. In the painting by Theodore Dahl, women wear luxurious fur coats and well-fitted clothes for their shopping 

 

 
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Note how the artist showcased  Hutzler's products by coloring the accessories and display while leaving the women simply black and white.

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Gift of Hutzler Brothers

Once again, the artist draws the viewer's eye to the display and the goods themselves by leaving everything else black and white.

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Gift of Hutzler Brothers

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“Shopping at Hutzler’s by Theodore Dahl dated 1934

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Andrews

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Gift of Hutzler Brothers

One woman, Mary Sullivan, testified to the memorable experience of shopping at Hutzler’s. She donated to the museum her green plastic lace hat embellished with white flowers in 1994.  Several hats bought from Hutzler's reside in costume storage, but Sullivan's donation is quite unique. Not only did she donate her hat, she also donated the hat box and the original receipt that she received the day she bought her accessory.

Receipt for hat. Mrs. Mary Sullivan bought her hat for $14.36. The accessory originally cost $17.95 but there was a 20% discount. 

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View of Mrs. Sullivan's hat.

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Photograph of the hat box in which the hat arrived to the museum when it was donated.

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A similar situation occurred with a pair of pale yellow suede and leather high-heeled shoes. These shoes arrived at the museum in their original “Andrew Geller” shoe box and the retro green Hutzler's cardboard gift bag which held the shoes themselves. The importation of these shoes to the department store reflects Hutzler’s original mission of bringing items from various locations to Baltimore.

Andrew Geller shoebox.

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View of shoes.

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Cardboard bag that held the shoes and shoebox.

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Next to the accessory tables stood six separate clothing pieces. Placed upon a 1927-1928 silk dress was a 1920s velvet and silk coat, which belonged to the wife of Albert Hutzler. The velvet features floral patterns and multi-colored parrots and the coat features a fur collar, hem, and cuffs. The exquisiteness of this textiles is apparent as the gold silk lining was displayed at a silk museum in Lyons, France. Hutzler's acquired this silk for $40.00 a yard and constructed the coat specifically for Mrs. Hutzler. 

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Gift of Mrs. Albert Hutzler

It was wonderful to listen to people reminisce about Hutzler’s and have costume pieces from the museum collection encourage memories to arise.

 

References and Recommended Readings:

MdHS Underbelly Blog: FROM THE DEEPEST CORNERS OF THE MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY LIBRARY

“The (M)ad Men and Women of Hutzler's” https://www.mdhistory.org/underbelly/2014/05/29/the-mad-men-and-women-of-hutzlers/ 

“A Hutzler's Christmas”                               https://www.mdhistory.org/underbelly/2013/12/19/a-hutzlers-christmas/

“Staff Favorites: 'Behind the Scenes at Hutzler's”    https://www.mdhistory.org/underbelly/2016/10/20/staff-favorites-behind-the-scenes-at-hutzlers/

*Note: “Behind the Scenes at Hutzler's” was played at the annual meeting. Please enjoy!

 

Baltimore Heritage

“Hutzler's” by Syndey Jenkins and Theresa Donnelly  https://explore.baltimoreheritage.org/items/show/92#.WVzn5RXyuM8