Hat City: History and Legacy of Hatmaking in the Oranges

The Oranges were once a center of the global hat industry. From 1852-1921, the area was home to as many as 50 hat factories, a large portion concentrated in the Orange Valley, located in present-day Orange and West Orange. In its peak period, these factories had the capacity to produce 30,000-40,000 hats per day. In 1892 alone, nearly 4.8 million hats were produced for global sale. Companies included some of the biggest hat manufacturers of the era, like F. Berg & Co. and the Stetson family’s "No Name" Hat Company. The hat-making sector shaped the labor market and social fabric of the Oranges, and while many of its structures have been destroyed, its legacy can still be felt today.

To commemorate this history, the West Orange Public Library (WOPL) presents Hat City, a unique exhibit that combines local history with contemporary art inspired by this chapter of our region's past. Artists were invited to interpret the theme expansively. Creators of all disciplines, ages, and experience levels were welcome to submit proposals. Amid historical information, you will find local art featuring hats of all kinds--hats worn today or in the past, hats made locally or across the globe, famous hats from literature or art, fantastical hats of the artist’s own imagination. For some exhibiting artists, the inspiration was in the materials and processes used in hatmaking, the structures in which they were made, or the lives of the people who made them.

The exhibit will be on view at the West Orange Public Library from April 6 through June 20, and can be viewed during the library's opening hours. The library is located at 10 Rooney Circle in West Orange.

On Sunday, April 27th at 2pm, library staff and University of Orange community guides will lead a historical walking tour of the Orange Valley, where many of the hat factories were concentrated. The tour will meet offsite in front of the restaurant How Delish at 55 Kingsley St. in West Orange.