Titanic Barber Shop Souvenirs

[George L. Lorton]

Chotchkies??

I've never heard of this either Bob and I'm an American or at least I think I am.

The word sounds Russian or Polish to me. In fact I did a spell check and my computer doesn't know the word either.

"brick-a-brack", "knick-knacks", or "trifles" are all English words from England I think Jason. Although I could be wrong. As I stated above I've never heard Chotchkies.

 

[Jason Schleisman]

Well, George, you're close. It's a New York Yiddish word. A more correct spelling is: "Tchotchke", although there are a variety of ways to spell it.

 

[George L. Lorton]

It's a New York Yiddish word.

Ah! Thanks Mr J-

 

[Shelley Dziedzic]

The hatband was carried around in Aunt Lou's pocketbook,forgotten- and found after the sinking when they were in New York. It was black with dull gold lettering and had the Union Jack and American flag woven in the black silk. Once I was given a belt buckle with Bon Voyage Titanic on it-sort of art-nouveau looking. It was, I was told, a copy made from the die mold of the original buckle which was supposedly sold in the barber shop. I am not sure if this was true, or if the ship really had these in the barber shop for sale. In any event, mine was stolen at a lecture at Electric Boat in Groton when Marjorie Robb and Frank Aks spoke to a packed banquet hall. I wonder if the thief still has it or has tried to sell it as a valuable relict of the disaster.

 

[Ben Lemmon]

That was yours, Shelley? If I'd have known, I wouldn't have taken it. Just kidding.

Hey Shelley, if you wouldn't mind, I would like you to take a glance at some of my writing. It concerns an acquaintance of yours, and I'm trying to create a character that has his characteristics.

Also, how would the hat band have fit on a head? Anyone can answer if they so choose. Thanks for the information, Shelley.

 

[Jason Schleisman]

Hi Ben, unless one's head was abnormally large, the souvenir hat band would have originally been able to fit around the band of one's hat. That's what it was ~ a hat band or "cap tally". It's neat that this one from the Titanic survived.

 

[Jason Schleisman]

Here's another question:

Did the second class barber shop also sell souvenirs, were they the same as first class, and does anyone know whether or not souvenirs from either barber shop have been recovered from the wreck site?

 

[Ben Lemmon]

Yes, actually. The Second Class barbershop sold many of the same items that the First Class barbershop did. Titanic: the Ship Magnificent details the Second Class Barbershop as so:

"[The Second Class Barbershop] was fitted similarly to the First Class Barber Shop . . . where the passengers could purchase goods or souvenirs, many bearing the ship's name and the White Star Line logo; this included such items as pens, wallets, caps and ribbons, flags, spoons, plates, and - ironically - pincushions resembling miniature life rings."

In a picture on the opposite page, it seems as though dolls and teddy bears were sold at the Barbershops as well. The paraphernalia in the Barber Shop often varied, so there is no real way to know exactly what was in there. However, these were the usual fares for the ships.

 

[Jason Schleisman]

Thanks Ben, I'm still waiting for my copies of "Titanic, The Ship Magnificent".

Now has any of this stuff been recovered or seen on the ocean floor?

 

[Shelley Dziedzic]

Yes, I should like to read what you have written, Ben. Those hatbands were similar to those that navy sailors wore around their hats, but I have several hatbands from later ships which must be purely ornamental and not actually intended to be used on hats. Those are thinner ribbon, a little gaudy, and were perhaps collectibles and souvenirs more than functional articles. I suppose they would look snappy on a straw boater hat!

 

[Shelley Dziedzic]

Sounds like similar circumstances indeed, Ben. Marshall's mother, a Brines from Westerly, R.I. died, as you know when Marshall was an infant. His father, William Drew, was a stonecarver from Greenport, L.I. and would come to Westerly for the local blue granite quarries. There is still a good bit of William and his brother James' work in Westerly cemeteries. The carved lily and rose motifs are the most easily recognizable. There is an enormous Celtic cross on the Brines plot. Oddly enough, Marshall's mother's ashes are not there but buried beneath a plain granite urn, right beside Marshall's ashes far away from the Brines. His father William Drew and his other spouse are very nearby. The stone for Marshall bears his own German fractur signature, is of the famous blue granite, and bears his desired epitaph, "Teacher, Artist, Friend" and at the very bottom, a silhouette of the Titanic with "Survivor, RMS Titanic"- just as he wanted. TIS erected the memorial two years after his death. Marshall was very close to his Civil War vet Uncle Henry Christian, but Uncle Henry had his hands full trying to help raise an active boy, and so William's brother James Vivian Drew and his wife, who had lost their baby son, took Marshall. Marshall adored his Aunt Lou, that's for sure. She married a Richard Opie, and the pair settled in Dunns Corners, a part of Westerly. Lou died in Watch Hill Nursing Home and is buried with Mr. Opie in Oak Grove Cemetery in Ashaway, RI. The cenotaph to James is the reverse side of the Opie stone and is beautifully carved with lilies and roses by brother William.

Nice to remember Marshall today- the anniversary of his death was just June 6th. Hard to believe 22 years have gone by since his passing. He was a remarkable and unforgettable man. I know he would be delighted to be portrayed in fiction. He so enjoyed visiting local schools and meeting youngsters who asked eager questions about the ship. They were enchanted he was about their age aboard. Those were happy days and good memories!

 

[Ben Lemmon]

Thank you very much for that story, Shelley. I enjoyed reading it. I have gone through many different characters while getting the storyline down, and the only supporting character who has remained in all the different ideas of my story has been the character heavily based on Marshall Drew. I don't know why, but when I started researching information for my story, a character based on Marshall Drew seemed like a great project to undertake. From all the information I've found about him, it seems as though we might have gotten along well. I only wish I could have met him. Thanks again for sharing your memories. It was very kind.

 

[Shelley Dziedzic]

There are some photos posted you might enjoy at a website I made a number of years ago.
http://www.revdma2.com/Marshall.html

 

[Ben Lemmon]

That's a pretty interesting website. I was just thinking of the picture of him in his biography and one of those on the website. You can definitely see the resemblance. But I digress. I'm glad you made that website. It's very interesting. I just pray that I would live such a full life. It seems like he just simply enjoyed life. Thanks again for sharing information.

 

[Shelley Dziedzic]

The picture of him in the bio here was taken just before he sailed on Olympic in 1911. He liked to tell how he had sailed on both ships. I am not sure how many other passengers had done so.

I forgot to mention he was a master at origami. When he was teaching in New York he had a large number of Japanese students once and he said being able to do origami was quite an icebreaker with the new students. He made boxes of it over the years, lots for children. My little ones were lucky recipients too-and I am glad I saved it all, and his books on origami.