Myrtle Washburn

Miss Washburn’s Hat Shop, Colborne St.

Myrtle Washburn’s mother Louise, moved to Fenelon Falls sometime around 1877, where she worked as a carpet weaver—in that era, most of the goods that people used in their everyday lives were produced locally. By the 1890s, Fenelon Falls was becoming a prosperous village, as younger generations enjoyed luxuries that their pioneer parents or grandparents might not have even dreamed about. Progress was an ideal in the Victorian era and it was important to many people to show their prosperity. Though most clothes were homemade, men would often invest in a tailored suit—though some would just have their ‘Sunday best’ and one other outfit. Many women’s dresses were homemade, yet they might purchase a beautiful hat. To meet these demands, Fenelon Falls was home to tailors, stores selling men’s “furnishings,” fabric retailers, and milliners.

Myrtle Washburn, center, in front of her millinery shop

 In 1897, Myrtle returned to Fenelon Falls after living in Guelph and took a job as a milliner working for Mrs. R. McDougall. By 1902, Myrtle had taken over management of the business. From then until the business closed in 1928, she worked alongside Rachel McFarland—they were also good friends outside of work as they went to the Baptist Church together. She would travel to Oakwood and Little Britain to show her hats. About half of the stock was made on site, and Myrtle went to Toronto to fill out the inventory with common hat patterns of the era. In 1917, the business moved to the Cunningham-Fraser block (which was later demolished to make way for an expansion of the IGA, now Red Apple). In an era when many people had strong ideas of what was women’s work and men’s work, she was one of the few women in the village who operated her own business.

Myrtle and Rachel showed their patience, skill and artistic talent making striking hats for their customers. Fashionable ladies from Fenelon Falls looked forward to visiting the millinery shop to see their latest creation. For ladies in that generation, much care and concern went into having just the right hat for the occasion. At fashionable outings like a tea, social or garden party many ladies would wear a beautiful hat. For Fenelon Falls residents, Myrtle and Rachel’s hats were prized possessions that they would carefully look after that might last for the rest of their lives.