The haberdashery carried everything for the gentleman. As you look around the shop you will see shirts, pants, vests, ties, hats, coats, razors, boots, shoes, shoe polishes and brushes, overcoats, watches and watch fobs, and many other items.

In the umbrella stand by the door you will see the large collection of canes. Not only were canes used by those who needed help walking, but also by the sophisticated gentleman who might walk with the cane swinging rhythmically as he strutted down the street, attracting the eyes of the young ladies also out for a stroll. The mannequin by the door is wearing a black swim suit—it’s not underwear! The sportsman could also find limited sporting goods here, as the tennis racquets and the 1901 golf putter indicate.

The menswear advertisement on the wall to the left is from Feldt & Skroder who were in business in Greenville from 1901 until 1924 when they sold to J.H. Ritzema. The large mirrored cabinet was the centerpiece of three display pieces at Ritzema’s Men’s Wear. (The other two display cabinets are located on the main floor and feature our changeable exhibits.) Spats on display were worn over men’s shoes to protect them from the soil of muddy streets. The adjustable wooden hat stretcher would be used to resize a gentleman’s hat.

In the middle of the room is a cast iron, forked object called a bootjack, used for pulling off one’s boots. Standing on the jack with one foot, you push the heel of the other boot into the fork and pull the foot out. Otherwise, pulling off those knee-high boots could be very difficult otherwise

Among items on the windowsill are a fancy cane from the Middleton family c.1898, and a silver collar-box which protected the stiff. stand-up high-point collars worn at the turn of the century over 100 years ago. Note also the deer-hide leather postcards from 1906 and the Gibson advertising blotters.