Fun fact: John B. Stetson, for whom Elkins Park’s Stetson Avenue is named, is the godfather of American-style cowboy hats. He owned a mansion in Elkins Park and his Philly factory was the birthplace of the hat’s design.

The son of a New Jersey hatmaker, Stetson traveled to western North America during his youth and came back with an idea inspired by the 10-gallon sombreros worn by Mexican vaqueros. He tinkered with a few styles, including his signature “The Boss of the Plains,” a waterproofed felt hat that served as both sun protection and a miniature horse trough.

The Carlsbad model with an iconic crease followed, and the Stetson company grew to be the biggest hatmaker in the world, employing over 5,000.

With hat sales steadily declining after the 1950s, Stetson’s Philly plant closed in 1971. The buildings were donated to the City of Philadelphia in 1977.

Stetson’s Elkins Park mansion was sold during the Great Depression and subsequently razed. His only remaining building is the Stetson Hospital, now a community health center specializing in drug addiction.

You can still buy Stetson hats here. For more on John Stetson’s life and legacy, you can read BillyPenn.com’s article and StetsonMansion.com’s article. You can also watch this video by Village Hat Shop:



Images courtesy of BaldwinPhillyPark.org, StetsonMansion.com, and Village Hat Shop