From Hula Hoops to High Fashion: G. Fox in the 1950s

The Woodbury Public Library, The Woodbury Senior Community Center, and the Old Woodbury Historical Society are teaming up with the Connecticut Historical Society (CHS) to bring you “From Hula Hoops to High Fashion: G. Fox in the 1950s” on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 2:00 pm at the Senior Community Center.

In the 1950s, just about every major city had a landmark department store.  In Connecticut, it was G. Fox & Co.  Elizabeth Abbe, director of public outreach at the Connecticut Historical Society, will lead you down memory lane with a look at Connecticut’s favorite department store. She will take you back, floor by floor, to the days when G. Fox was the largest privately-owned department store in the U.S.  We will recall Fox’s heyday as we go from floor to floor and remember the store’s departments ranging from accessories on the “street” floor, the mezzanine, The Connecticut Room and the informal Luncheonette on 2, shoes on 7,  the “Connecticut House” on 9,  and ending at Toyland on 11.

For most Connecticut residents, the words “G. Fox” hold powerful associations. They remember a tall department store on Main Street in Hartford that was filled with every imaginable garment, home furnishing, or domestic necessity. They recall the broad front windows decorated for Christmas or shopping trips for back-to-school clothes. They remember cream cheese on date-nut bread with mother in the Connecticut Room.  Elizabeth herself, who grew up in Wethersfield, says she remembers how special it was to take the bus “uptown” to spend the day shopping with her mother at Fox’s.

Elizabeth will also give you some insight into the woman who made every shopping experience a joy – Beatrice Fox Auerbach. In addition to a substantial collection of clothing, furniture, and photographs tied to the story of G. Fox, the Connecticut Historical Society houses some of Mrs. Auerbach’s personal records including correspondence between the G. Fox President and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.  You’ll learn about Mrs. Auerbach and the employees at G. Fox who lived by the motto: “it’s not the selling of merchandise, but the fulfilling of needs” that made the company so great.

So revisit G. Fox, where the customer was always right!  Bring your memories along with your favorite purchases from G. Fox.  We will have some tables for a display of your G. Fox treasures and time for you to share a favorite G. Fox story.  For more information, please call the Woodbury Public Library at 203.263.3502.