New Hudson's Memorabilia

Ever since my recent Hudson's presentation at Independence Village, my interest in the great department store has been rekindled, and I've begun research again.  

In 2014 I purchased four Syracuse china platters from E-bay.  Syracuse china, Dorsett pattern,  was used in Hudson's dining rooms.  Syracuse China featured the china in their 1946 catalog with the tables set in Hudson's 13th floor Early American Dining Room.  I was thrilled when I acquired these pieces.

[Page from 1946 Syracuse Catalog]

Recently while looking on Etsy, I came across two butter pat dishes in the same pattern.  

On the back of one was an aged note that had been glued to the back indicating it was from J.L. Hudson's in 1953.  Since these dishes were used for restaurant service and not retail, the only conclusion is that the diner tucked them in a pocket or purse as a keepsake/souvenir.  I purchased them from the Etsy seller and happily added them to my Hudson's dining collection.

In July 2017 I attended an exhibit at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn titled, "Hudson's Historic Windows to the Past."  Mike Hauser [former Hudson's employee and Detroit's foremost Hudson's historian] and Paul Balog [a window dresser at the flagship store from 1957 until it closed in 1983] put the exhibit together with fabulous photos and memorabilia.  One photo in particular caught my eye - a photo of the 13th floor Georgian dining room.

It was for sale for $50 but because the exhibit was ongoing I couldn't purchase it that night.  I contacted Paul about buying it, but circumstances weren't convenient for us to meet and time slipped away until I forgot about the photograph.

I recently wrote a post to the J.L. Hudson Department Store Facebook page and Paul responded.  It jogged my memory and I contacted him to ask if he still had the photo. Amazingly he did, and he lives in Wyandotte - my hometown!  My hubby and I drove down to meet him this past Tuesday, and I now have the treasured photograph in my possession. He kindly reduced the price to $30.

[Paul and Me]

The Georgian Dining Room is the only photograph Paul had of Hudson's eateries, so a photo of the Mezzanine Tearoom is still elusive.

Paul handed me a notebook of his photos to look through and when I finished he told me to pick one photograph I'd like to have because he was giving it to me.  The photo I chose was from a 1941 window display of two mannequins donning clothing most likely from The Woodward Shop. Because one of them was wearing a mink boa/wrap like the one I was recently given, that's the photo I chose.

Paul was most generous because he also gave me two Hudsonian magazines from March and April 1953 for my collection.   They're fun reads.

I posted my visit to Wyandotte and my meet-up with Paul and his photographs on the 'All Things Wyandotte' Facebook page, and I never cease to be amazed at the draw Hudson's still has.  My post which was just published 10 hours ago has received 296 likes/loves, 76 comments and 10 shares. The store evokes such pleasant, nostalgic memories from a time that is now history.  I'm enjoying reading the comments made by people and thinking a Hudson's presentation at Wyandotte's Bacon Memorial Public Library might be in order.

While my hubby and I were in Wyandotte we went to lunch at Major Biddle's, drove by the home I grew up in [which we periodically do when we're there] and stopped for a frozen custard at Bob-Jo's which was right behind my house.  Such a temptation for a kid growing up!  ;-)

Jerry and I both ordered their Traverse City Chicken Wrap.  It was yummy!  The building behind the above sign is an apartment building not the restaurant.  

My 1,030 sq. ft. childhood home with only one bathroom and we managed just fine! ;-)

Then we got on the expressway and headed north for home.  It was a very enjoyable day!