Margaret Fairley Wright Glendenning models a pair of long gloves that accessorize her stylish outfit. Bay Village Historical Society has a fashion display that can be at Rose Hill Museum. There also is an online component featuring gloves. Photo provided by Bay Village Historical Society

BAY VILLAGE, Ohio – At one time, gloves were an important part of a woman’s wardrobe.

Dr. Marie Albano, a local dentist and Bay Village Historical Society volunteer with an interest and expertise in historical clothing, did some research on gloves and shared her findings with the historical society. The society located some photos to accompany Albano’s information, which can be viewed in the “Glimpse of the Past” section of the BVHS website. Cathy Flament, BVHS president and Rose Hill Museum director, created a post with some of Albano’s material and called it “Fashion Diva Fun: Gloves.”

In addition, more fashions with an emphasis on the 1920s are on display at Rose Hill. Interested people are encouraged to stop by the museum 2-4:30 p.m. Sundays through December. Admission is free. Rose Hill, the former Cahoon family estate, is at 27715 Lake Road, Bay Village, in Cahoon Memorial Park.

According to Albano’s research, the word “glove” comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “glof” meaning palm. The term of measurement of a glove is the word button. It starts at the base of the thumb and is equal to one French inch, which is slightly larger than an American inch. Therefore, a one-button glove is wrist length, whereas a four- to six-button glove extends halfway to the elbow. A formal length is a 16-button glove. This is a measurement, not the number of buttons on the glove.

Sometimes the wealthy and royalty embellished their gloves with pearls and precious stones. Samples of these gloves can be viewed in museums.

Mitts, sometimes referred to as mittens, were a Victorian accessory, Albano said. Fingerless gloves were fashionable in the 1830-1840s for both day and evening wear -- short for daytime and long for the evening. These shifted in and out of fashion until the late 1880s, she said, noting that in the 1900s, they often were used as an accessory for wedding ensembles.

Throughout the Victorian and Edwardian periods, gloves were the symbol of gentility, Albano noted. She said the social status of a lady or a gentleman could be determined by the quality of their gloves.

There were 140 glove factories in Gloversville, New York in the late 1800s to supply men’s working gloves. These factories manufactured 2/3 of men’s working gloves in the country. She said the annual production was $20,000,000 from this one town.

After the 1970s, gloves diminished as a fashion accessory. However, Albano noted that a “gloved hand can be mysterious and alluring as well.”

In the Rose Hill glove collection, there are two black lace fingerless gloves in an open pattern of netting with the pattern in rows. The glove has a dot design in a triangular pattern near the fingers and diagonal lines near the top.

The museum also has a pair of rust-colored, cloth, classic length gloves featuring a triangular shape cut from the front middle hem, a plastic inset and the same inset repeated on the thumb. Beige hand-sewn top-stitching outlines the fingers on the front side, base thumb area, bottom hem and triangular detail.

Flament said the Osborn Learning Center is open the same hours as the museum. The Learning Center showcases exhibits ranging from Eliot Ness and the “Untouchables” to the Sam Sheppard murder case. It also houses various research materials from BVHS archives visitors.

She said donations and memberships help keep the artifacts preserved and accessible to all. To make a donation, visit bayhistorical.com/support-us. For more information or to volunteer call 440-871-7338 or email info@bayhistorical.com.

In addition, BVHS invites everyone to learn the true story of Johnny Appleseed during the next BVHS Osborn Learning Center Porch Talk at 2:15 p.m. Aug. 7. The Osborn Learning Center is in Cahoon Park near Rose Hill Museum.

Many people think of Johnny Appleseed as a fictional character, but he was a pioneer on the Ohio frontier. Beryl Prusinoski will talk about Johnny Appleseed and the conditions early Ohio settlers encountered.

Attendees should bring their own lawn chairs. Visit bayhistorical.com for additional information.

Rocky River Public Library is offering a variety of programs for patrons of all ages. (Carol Kovach/special to cleveland.com)

At the library: Students who have completed grades 4-6 are invited to register for a program during which they will learn how to make “Solar Snacks.” The program will be at 3 p.m. July 28 at Rocky River Public Library, 1600 Hampton Road, Rocky River. Students will build solar ovens and, weather permitting, will take them outside and use the sun’s energy to bake a treat.

Rocky River author Malcolm Wood, who has a five-novel series under contract with WordFire Press and a series of four self-published mystery/suspense novels, will discuss his writing career and share his work at 7 p.m. Aug. 4 in the RRPL Auditorium. Books will be on sale at the event. No registration is needed for this event.

Visit rrpl.org for more information on these and other events at the library.

Community meal: Clague Road United Church of Christ and Church of the Redeemer in Westlake will co-sponsor a free grab ‘n go meal 4:30 p.m. until the food runs out on July 30. Those interested in a meal should drive to the back door of Clague Road UCC, 3650 Clague Road, North Olmsted, and volunteers – masked and gloved – will bring a meal to your car. All are welcome.

Membership chair opening: Rocky River Public Library Friends are seeking a new membership chair for the board. The term runs July 2022 through August 2023. The membership chair’s duties including maintaining and corresponding with membership data in MS Excel, sending renewal reminders and communicating with the treasurer.  To learn more about the position or the Friends group, email FriendsRRPL@gmail.com.

Ladies Day: Reservations are due by Aug. 31 for the Ladies Day program presented by Westlake Community Services at 11 a.m. Sept. 7. The program will focus on the late United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

A reenactor from Women in History will portray Ginsburg, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton as the second woman Supreme Court justice.

The event includes a hot lunch of lemon basil chicken, couscous grilled vegetables, and dessert. Cost is $12.

Westlake Community Services is at 28975 Hilliard Blvd., Westlake. Call 440-899-3548.

Porter programs: Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, Westlake, will have a baby beach party at 10 a.m. July 28 for children up to age 2. There will be beach-themed stories, songs, rhymes and more. Attendees can bring beach towels or blankets and sunglasses. Registration is requested.

A similar program will be offered at 2 p.m. July 28 for preschoolers ages 3-5. Registration is requested.

A brick builders’ program for ages 5-12 will be offered at 4 p.m. July 29. Bricks (Legos) will be provided. No registration is required, but there is a capacity for the room so the program is first-come, first-served.

Don’t forget the Westlake-Bay Village Rotary Art Festival will take over the library lawn 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 30. The free event will feature dozens of artists, food and drink and music throughout the day. Parking is available next door at Westlake Elementary School.

Come Play with Me, an open playtime for children ages 2-5 and a caring adult (siblings welcome) will be offered at 2 p.m. July 31 at PPL. with a caring adult. No registration required but room capacity is limited for this first-come, first-served program.

To register for any of the programs, visit westlakelibrary.org/events.

Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. from Bay Village, Rocky River and Westlake for the West Shore Chatter column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to carolkovach@hotmail.com.

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