Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - April 26, 1986
By Susie Dewey
Vigo County Historical Society

Fighting Florida's heat
Hand fans preceded air conditioning

This souvenir fan from St. Augustine, Fla., is a romantic, evocative reminder of another era before cars, air conditioning and junk souvenirs.

The paper fan, 13 inches tall, consists of gold wood sticks embossed with a gold design. The paper is glued to the sticks. A design of St. Augustine's resort hotels of the day is lithographed on quality paper. The back of the fan is royal purple, also glued to the sticks.

On the face of the fan, artists' renditions of fine hotels show the large and opulently landscaped grounds, as well as the buildings. The hotel buildings were reminiscent of French chateaus and trianous. The pictures are all done in detail, showing elaborate carvings at the formal entrance.

The Hotel San Marco, the Hotel Ponce de Leon, the Hotel Cordova, the Hotel Alcazar and Fort Marion bear the names of important historical events, persons or locations in Florida.

An inconspicuous, small advertisement on the back of the fan tactfully urges visitors to "Winter at Hotel Alcazar, St. Augustine, Florida," and to "Summer at 104 Belleview Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island." Such a notice leads to the conclusion that the fan was a free or inexpensive souvenir of the Hotel Alcazar for its patrons.

The fan also was sold at Fuller's Art Novelty Shop in St. Augustine.

At each end of the fan are examples of the exotic flora and fauna of the state. The alligator, truly a frightening and rare animal to northern visitors, is baring his horrible teeth as he lazes in the Florida swamps. Two large egrets with their white plumage and yellow legs sail over sand and water. A delicate red flower border frames several of the hotel pictures.

Interestingly, the state bird of Florida, the mockingbird, and the state flower, the orange blossom, are not shown on the fan. Coconut trees, complete with coconuts, cactus plants, palms and bamboo shoots are shown.

As well as introducing the wonders of the state to northern tourists, the fan represents a particular era in American lifestyles. Before the Hotel Ponce de Leon, amid the fountains and gardens, horses and buggies are approaching the entrance.

The hotels were luxurious because the few tourists who escaped the rigors of winter in northern stated demanded and expected luxury. The affluent few who could afford a southern vacation were not interested in budget quarters or facilities.

Although the hotels were luxurious, they were not air conditioned. And, the humidity was the same then as now. Electric fans were spun in ceilings of large rooms and a few luxury suites were equipped with ceiling fans.

Hand fans kept the air moving before the faces, but did not bring in any cool air or expel any heated air.

Churches, auditoriums and theaters provided cardboard hand fans for patrons. Well-dressed ladies carried personal hand fans that often were artistic and elaborate. The fan was a part of the ensemble and matched the color and fabric of the costume.

The hand fan was an acceptable gift from a young man to an unmarried young lady. Many hand fans were imported from France for gifts at Christmas and holidays.

The treasure this week in the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley came to the Vigo County Historical Society as a gift from Betsy Ross Merrill, a member of the society.

The fan's arrival in Vigo County can be traced from the Gilbert-Blake-Ross family tree. Curtis Gilbert, a Vigo County pioneer, lived in Florida during the winters in his last decade of life. His granddaughter, Helen Gilbert Blake, went to Florida to visit relatives several times before her marriage to John C. Ross in 1910. On one of these trips, she must have returned with this useful memento, making the fan a turn-of-the century piece of memorabilia.

This paper fan was an appropriate and valued souvenir of a state not lightly visited by many people. It showed the wonders and unique qualities of the state flora and fauna. It showed the opulent and beautiful accommodations available for the refugee from winter. It cooled the face and provided breezes when the temperature rose. But best of all, it reminds us of an earlier, simpler and less populated Florida.

Located at 1411 S. Sixth St., the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday.