Finding Thalhimers

Handmade lace was a symbol of prestige and social status for centuries. Once it could be produced by fast-moving machines, it became available to the masses and lost its exclusivity. As it became affordable, nearly all women sought lace to craft fashionable clothing and curtains. William Thalhimer & Sons’ dry goods shop carried lace as early as 1873 when Valenciennes lace sold for 10 cents a yard. (By comparison, Thalhimer sold Japanese silks for $9 a yard that year.)

Last week, a woman named Mary Jane Wasch from Sarasota, Florida, got in touch with my father to tell him how much she enjoyed Finding Thalhimers. Her great-grandmother was Amelia Thalhimer, whose brother Isaac was my great-great-grandfather. Dad emailed me, “Mary Jane is in her eighties, but sharp as a tack. You should give her a call,” and gave me her phone number.

So I called Ms. Wasch and introduced myself. I was blown away when she said to me, “I’m so glad you called. I have some lace from Thalhimers, passed down by Bettie Thalhimer [another of Isaac’s sisters]. Would you like to have it?”

Two days later, I received the lace. Every time I look at it, it reminds me of how interconnected we are…and how my family’s business was so much more than just a store.