1900-1910

Anna Jane Bodine and her children, Mildred and Frank, in the early 1900s. Anna's blouse is simple but frilly, as was the style in the early 1900s, and includes a high neck.

John Snider and Daisy May Young with their baby, possibly Irving J. Snider, in October 1904. Daisy can be seen wearing a blouse with a high neck and simple bosom, as was customary of the time.

Daisy Young's child (possibly Irving J. Snider) and his friend, around 1909. Though this picture centers on Daisy's child, the woman in the background is wearing a shirtwaist and loose skirt, making it easier for her to move around; helpful when watching children!

Women in shirtwaists.

Bessie Morriss and Hattie Hagerman with an unknown friend in 1906. These women can be seen wearing shirtwaists and skirts, covered with jackets and gloves. They are also wearing hats. The woman on the left can be seen wearing a tie with her shirt, which was a common accessory with shirtwaists.

Changes in Society and Fashion

The Victorian Era reached an end by the early 1900s, and so too did the female fashion trends of the previous few decades. The silhouette was now completely slender, being slim at the hips and the back. Skirts no longer had bustles or exaggerated frills, and any ruffles and fullness would occur below the knee. Dresses were decorated with ruffles on the hem, buttons, and lace. The low bodice of these dresses would extend below the waist and included high necks and undefined bosoms. Sleeves were fitted from the shoulder to the elbow, and they became fuller around the wrist. Some dresses had a double-sleeved effect, where a second sleeve would emerge from underneath the first sleeve at the wrist.

Corsets were still in style, though in 1900 Mme. Gaches-Sarraute designed the "Health Corset," which no longer put pressure on the waist and diaphragm. This corset created an S-figure in women, though, by pushing the bosom forward and the hips back. Women would also wear long, heavy, and frilly skirts with puffy and lacy blouses. Women's fashion changed again in 1908, when tailored suits, blouses, and skirts appeared. Prior to 1908, blouses were very frilly and puffed over the waist, but after 1908 the frills were removed. S-shaped corsets were still worn, however. Exercise was also still important during the early 1900s, and women often took leisurely bike rides in their tailored blouses and skirts.

A major new fashion staple that emerged during this era was the shirtwaist. The shirtwaist was a long-sleeved blouse that nipped in at the waist, which allowed it to be tucked in. It was common among the working class, because it was simple and not very costly. A woman could own one skirt but various shirtwaists, making it appear as though she had many outfits. Women would wear a practical skirt with the shirt that allowed them to move freely, as the shirt-skirt combination was often worn to work. Shirtwaists were common and considered practical, but they were not fashionable. Shirtwaists allowed freedom of movement while also allowing a flattering look, and they were also easy to wash and iron. Shirtwaists were made of cotton and consisted of simple pleating. There were fancier shirtwaists that were made of silk, linen, lace, taffeta and sateen, and these were often worn as evening outfits; but for the most part, shirtwaists remained simple. Working women could not afford jewelry, but they would often wear ties or bowties to accentuate their shirtwaists. Shirtwaists very quickly replaced the tight bodices of the previous decade, and they lasted well after 1910.

Shirtwaists were mass produced in factories, making them easier to purchase. But, these factories did not always have the best working conditions. In 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City burned down, and 146 women working in the factory died as there were no safety codes or easy exits. This tragedy resulted in the creation of safety regulations for factories, one of many reforms to come of the Progressive Era.

The first decade of the 1900s was the beginning of an impressive era of social reform, known as the Progressive Era. As discussed in the previous page, women in the workforce began working towards labor and social reform, wanting to bring an end to long work hours, harsh conditions, and low pay. Women also began working for suffrage as well, though it would be many years before this passed.

There were other attributes to the Progressive Era as well, including many economic, social, political, and moral reforms. There were efforts to outlaw alcohol, regulate child labor and sweatshops, manage natural resources, naturalize immigrants and restrict immigration, and regulate trusts. There was also a focus on ending corruption in the government and regulate business practices. The public became aware of the need for reform due to the efforts of muckraking journalists. These journalists exposed the horrific conditions in factories, the unsanitary conditions in the food processing industry, and the corruption within businesses and government. Progressive reform happened at all levels of the U.S. Locally, Progressives improved sanitation, education, housing, built playgrounds, and reformed municipal government. Labor laws were enacted at the state level, which included regulating factories, restricting child labor, improving conditions for women, and creating a minimum wage. Nationally, Congress passed laws regulating the meat, drug, and railroad industries, lowering tariffs, and improving working conditions.

Life in Mahwah

As mentioned in the previous section, Mahwah was mostly an agricultural town in a time of massive industrialization - but this does not mean that Mahwah experienced zero industrialization. The development of the railroad brought much outside change to the town, and industrialization truly began in 1900 when the Ramapo Iron Works established a foundry in Mahwah. In 1902, brake shoe manufacturers from Chicago, Corning, New York, and Bloomfield, New Jersey combined with the Ramapo Foundry Company to form the American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company in Mahwah. This company eventually grew and opened numerous plants throughout the U.S.

The opening of the American Brake Show Company brought significant change to Mahwah, attracting various immigrants to the town to work in the factory. The number of Eastern European immigrants living in Mahwah increased from thirty-three in 1905 to five hundred in 1915. Workers from Paterson and New York also traveled to Mahwah for factory employment. Working conditions in the Brake Shoe factory were not ideal, however, as the pay was extremely low, there was little lighting or clean air, and there were few safety precautions. In 1909, a worked named Steven Voranyak almost burned to death when melted iron was accidently poured over him, and in 1910 another worked, Charles Pierce, lost several fingers. Around 1916 and 1917 there were many strikes at the factory, though the outcome of these strikes is unknown. These incidents reveal that the issues present throughout the U.S. were also present in Mahwah, and that Mahwah was not exempt from the Progressive Era.