History of Levi's 501

When I retired I treated myself to the lifestyle choice of only wearing Levi's 501 Original Shrink-to-Fit. 

For really dressy occasions I have a black pair. 

Sure saves on closet space & time getting ready in the morning. The last time I bought a pair, they were still made in the USA. Not all Levis, just the good old kind I've been wearing all my life.

Here's a bit of history.....
 

In 1853, the California gold rush was in full swing, and everyday items were in short supply. Levi Strauss, a 24-year-old German immigrant, left New York for San Francisco with a small supply of dry goods with the intention of opening a branch of his brother's New York dry goods business. Shortly after his arrival, a prospector wanted to know what Mr. Levi Strauss was selling. When Strauss told him he had rough canvas to use for tents and wagon covers, the prospector said, "You should have brought pants!," saying he couldn’t find a pair of pants strong enough to last.

 

Denim Blue Jeans

Levi Strauss had the canvas made into waist overalls. Miners liked the pants, but complained that they tended to chafe. Levi Strauss substituted a twilled cotton cloth from France called "serge de Nimes." The fabric later became known as denim and the pants were nicknamed blue jeans.

 

Levi Strauss & Company

In 1873, Levi Strauss & Company began using the pocket stitch design. Levi Strauss and a Reno Nevada-based Latvian tailor by the name of Jacob Davis co-patented the process of putting rivets in pants for strength. On May 20, 1873, they received U.S.Patent No.139,121. This date is now considered the official birthday of "blue jeans."Levi Strauss asked Jacob Davis to come to San Francisco to oversee the first manufacturing facility for "waist overalls," as the original jeans were known as.

The two-horse brand design was first used in 1886. The red tab attached to the left rear pocket was created in 1936 as a means of identifying Levi’s jeans at a distance. All are registered trademarks that are still in use.
 

By Mary Bellis, About.com Guide

 

 

 

 

Poultry Keeping in 1867

I think we're going to be adding a couple of hens this summer on behalf of our close neighbors who can't keep their own due to work/travel schedules.  It seems kind of cruel to keep just one bird when chickens are such social creatures., ven though Lucy, the Rhode Island Red, gets lot's of free range time in the garden. I'd like to add a heritage breed that would be appropriate for Northern Arizona and also learn about poultry keeping practices from the previous century.  Discovered this book (from the bloglink below) and ordered it -- it's been digitalized. 

Poultry Keeping in 1867 in England

The illustrations of different popular chicken breeds are wonderful.

Folk Arts Fair

Spent last Sunday volunteering in the "Farm & Fiber District" at the Sharlot Hall Museum.  Always the first weekend in June, we're now seeing grown-up children bring THEIR children to learn how to make cornhusk dolls, grind corn, dip candles, churn butter &  eat Dutch-oven biscuits, watch weaving, spinning & dyeing demostrations. punch tin, pan for gold, or just play checkers under a shady tree while folk musicians perform...This is the second year that I've sat at a friend's wonderful millinery display in the Transportation building where tatting, lacemaking, crocheting & quilting is demonstrated.  Just outside are the poultry, goats & a sheep shearing demonstration.

It gave me a good seven hours to work on Quilt Scrap Jacks as my needlework, even though I need to come up with a better system since I kept dripping jackrabbit body parts as I would jump up to take visitor's photos, or answer questions...anything to make the steady stream of wonderful visitors feel welcome...

The lady that demonstrates the lacemaking has voluteered at this event for 38 years...wow!