Janet's Winter Woolies
So, as we head into the cold days of winter, let’s all consider this very important question: what were Janet Carnochan’s favourite winter woollies?
Janet Carnochan was the powerhouse behind the formation of the Niagara Historical Society, and in December 1895, she was elected as its first President, a position she held until 1925. Our organization will be celebrating its 130-year anniversary in 2025, due to her fortitude, passion and vision – none of which seemed dulled by the cold winter weather of 130 years ago.
The formidable Janet Carnochan was a child of the Victorian era, and she would have grown up wearing a veritable fortress of clothing – stays, buckles, belts, and layers upon layers of the mysterious undergarments worn by Victorian women. Let’s not even think about how hard it would be to manoeuvre all that in an outhouse, especially in those cold, wintery snowy days.
Archival material and photographs from that era seem to suggest that winters were longer, the snow was deeper, and everyone routinely froze in their long johns. And they probably did.
Some of those memories are legitimate. During the 19th century and early 20th century, engineers were still discovering how to prevent massive ice jams along the Niagara River. Dramatic ice bridges became the location of community festivities and transnational celebrations. Severe winter weather conditions in 1909 caused the American Falls to almost stop flowing, with ice in the lower river reported to be 50 feet high, and boathouses between Queenston and Niagara-on-the-Lake destroyed. And the legendary ice jam of 1955 in Niagara-on-the-Lake caused thousand of dollars of damage to Niagara’s pristine shores and beachfront.
Our images of Ms. Carnochan are all ones shining with warmth and conviviality, however. No doubt her winters were made warmer by many years of wood burning stoves, hats, muffs, neck and leg warmers. And very likely Janet would have had one or two fur items in her wardrobe. During the 1800s, fur was the predominant winter wear for the affluent, with even the moderately wealthy able to purchase small items. Lucky for them the Indigenous populations in North America had been generous enough to negotiate with fur traders, eager to make fortunes. And there is no doubt Canada built its commercial enterprise on fur trade with the Indigenous peoples.
In Europe, domestic furs such as lambskin were rivalled by the introduction of chinchilla, silky sealskin, wolf and racoon. During the 1880s, warm fur accessories became affordable for more people, although full fur coats were beyond most people’s reach. And in the Edwardian era, just as Janet was stirring up the passion for the Niagara Historical Society, cheaper furs like skunk, moleskin and musquash became common winter dress items. Those pesky skunks have it easy now. They even share dinner with local NOTL tourists at popular outdoor bars, such as The Angel, or The Harp.
During the 1950s and 60s, long after Janet hung up her winter woollies, the mink coat was the most prestigious female garment until the world became aware of many inhumane culling methods. But the introduction of acrylic fibres brought about a more acceptable alternative. Today the acknowledgment of natural culling and traditional Indigenous practices, have all transformed the fur fashion industry. But this winter, as you pull on your thermal undies and your Merino wool socks, remember our fearless leader, Ms. Janet Carnochan, and tip your micro fleece hat in her direction.