Unadilla Historical Association

This small envelope has a story to tell. This "cover" of the Unadilla Insurance Company and S.S. North, Agent features North's commercial block ablaze with a huge conflagration that eventually destroyed almost the entire commercial center of the village in 1878. Col. Samuel S. North was probably the most distinguished citizen of Unadilla before, and after, the Great Fire of 1878. (I'll tell you more about this remarkable man in further posts tomorrow.) Stay tuned!

Our extensive exhibit on the 126 year old Tie-Co, Unadilla, N.Y. benefited from a recent donation of an unusual advertising card featuring two actual examples of the company's Holdfast Shoe-Lace Ties pinned right on the card, The company's signature holdfast clip, manufactured in various sizes and applications, was first patented on May 20, 1890 and is still in production today, though not in a size suitable for lacing up Victorian ladies' high button shoes! The reverse of the card gives extensive instructions on how to modify the shoe to install the clip and how to snug up the lace. "The Holdfast requires one hand to string it. There are no vexations untying of the laces snarled knots to pick out, or inconvenience from shoes being laced too tight around the ankle..." PRICE 10 Cts. PER PAIR.