Miss Bertha Mayhew ran her own millinery shop on the main street of Carleton Place in the late 1800’s. She had learned the trade from her older sisters who ran “The Misses Mayhew” hat and dress shop in Pakenham.
After falling in love with and marrying the shopkeeper next door, barber and tobacconist Henry Schwerdtfeger, she closed her shop and Henry took over the entire main floor for his businesses. The couple continued to live upstairs with their daughters Gladys and Hazel before buying a large red brick home on Lake Avenue West.
Bertha continued to work out of her home, and years later, when daughter Hazel died in 1988, executors discovered boxes and boxes of hats and millinery supplies in the attic. Many taxidermy birds, lace, netting, beadwork, chenille flowers and buttons are still in their original packaging. With great foresight, this collection was donated to the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum by the Hazel Schwerdtfeger Estate. Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum 2014
Miss M. A. Mayhew, who has been in poor health for several months, passed away somewhat unexpectedly Monday afternoon. Her trouble was a heart failure. Miss Mayhew was a daughter of the late Ephriam Mayhew of Athens, Ont., and was 65 years of age. She came to Carleton Place with her sister Sophia in 1879, the two embarking in business here as milliners and dressmakers. Sophia died in 1887, and Adeline continued the business until three years ago, when she retired. They were successful, and built the block known by their name on Bridge street. May 8th 1903 Almonte Gazette
Bertha Mayhew was 20 years younger than her sister Mary Adeline and 23 years younger than her sister Sophia. In 1879 the sisters moved to Carleton Place from Pakenham and set up shop on Bridge Street, as noted in the Carleton Place Directory listing: “Mayhew, Miss Adeline (S. & A. Mayhew)”. ((Sophia and Mary Adeline)
In the late 1800’s Bertha ( Bertie) Opa Mayhew of Carleton Place,Ontario was running her sister’s milliner on Bridge Street right next to dashing Henry Schwerdtfeger who ran the local tobacco store. The two sisters had been listed as Milliners & Dressmakers in Pakenham, Ontario, but it looks like the oldest Mary Adeline came to Carleton Place and set up the business first.
Sophia was listed as living in Pakenham and spending most of her time in Carleton Place. read-Before the Schwerdtfeger Sisters – There was Aunt Sophia
Bertha O Mayhew
Birth
10 August 1865
Death
5 November 1939-
Bertha Mayhew
Marriage Date:
29 Jan 1890
Marriage Place:
Canada, Carleton Place, Ontario–
Bertha looks like she was a late child of the Mayhew family and was sent to live with her sister in Carleton Place and learn the business. Mary Adeline owned the building with Sophia and as the sisters died off it was gradually passed down to Bertha upon the death of Mary in 1903. Henry Schwerdtfeger ran the local tobacco store where the Good Food Co was and after he married her, she closed down the business and expanded his tobacco business in there and likely took care of her affairs which included being the proprietor of the building. The Schwerdtfeger ‘s had two daughters: Hazel and Gladys.
In the 1891 census the newlyweds are living with Mary and I imagine they were still all living together until Mary died.
| Mary A Mayhew | 52 | Head |
| Henry A Schmondfeger | 27 | Lodger |
| Bertha Schmondfeger | 27 | Lodger |
After their parents Henry and Bertha died, sisters Hazel and Gladysl, (who never married) lived together in the old family home on Lake Ave West. Hazel became a registered nurse and the sisters lovingly kept all their mother’s millinery sundries and later donated the collection to the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum. A large portion of Hazel’s estate was willed to the Victorian Order of Nurses in Carleton Place, and as a tribute, the former V.O.N. building on Campbell Street was named Hazel House with a portrait of her and her sister hung in the foyer
Henry Schwerdtfeger had left his daughters a monthly stipend, but as the cost of living got higher it just was not enough to live on. Once in awhile when money ran low they used to go buy furniture at Home Hardware on their late fathers account and then return the merchandise for cash the next day. No one ever said anything about their habits as they were extremely loyal customers.
According to the late resident Carmen Lalonde who worked for EADES Home Hardware on Bridge Street; he remembered the two sisters very well. Some considered the two quite odd, with one sister always leading the way at a quick gait, and the other one huffing and puffing behind her.
One summer day a man attempted to enter the Schwerdtfeger sisters home through a basement window and alarmed the sisters. Soon the locking of doors and windows became routine, and when repairmen entered they found themselves locked inside the house with the sisters until the job was done. The daughters of milliner Bertha Mayhew Schwerdtfeger will always be fondly known by their pillbox hats–one wore red, and the other one blue.
Bertha Mayhew
Gladys Adeline Schwerdtfeger
Hazel Mae Schwerdtfeger
United (Pine Grove, Maple Wood, St. Fillan’s), Lanark, Ontario
| Name: | Bertha Schwerdtfeger |
|---|---|
| Birth Date: | 10 Aug 1865 |
| Death Date: | 5 Nov 1939 |
| Cemetery: | United Cemeteries |
| Burial or Cremation Place: | Beckwith, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada |
| Has Bio?: | N |
| Spouse: | Henry Norman Schwerdtfeger |
| Children: | Infant Son SchwerdtfegerGladys Adeline SchwerdtfegerHazel Mae Schwerdtfeger |
| Name: | Bertha Mayhew |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Female |
| Origin: | Scottish (Scotish) |
| Age: | 7 |
| Birth Date: | 1864 |
| Birth Place: | Ontario |
| Residence Place: | Pakenham, Lanark North, Ontario |
| District Number: | 80 |
| Subdistrict: | c |
| Division: | 02 |
| Religion: | Methodist |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Neighbours: | View others on page |
| Household MembersAgeSophia Mayhew30Adeline Mayhew27Walter Mayhew17Bertha Mayhew7 |
1871 Census
1911 Census
| Name: | Bertha Schwerdfeger[Bertha Schwerdtfeger] |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Female |
| Racial or Tribal Origin: | Canadian |
| Nationality: | Canada |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Age: | 56 |
| Birth Year: | abt 1865 |
| Birth Place: | Ontario |
| Residence Date: | 1 Jun 1921 |
| House Number: | 90 |
| Residence Street or Township: | Lake Ave |
| Residence City, Town or Village: | Town of Carleton Place |
| Residence District: | Lanark |
| Residence Province or Territory: | OntarioOntario |
| Residence Country: | Canada |
| Relation to Head of House: | Wife |
| Spouse’s Name: | Henry Schwerdfeger |
| Father Birth Place: | Ontario |
| Mother Birth Place: | Ontario |
| Can Speak English?: | Yes |
| Can Speak French?: | No |
| Religion: | Methodist |
| Can Read?: | Yes |
| Can Write?: | Yes |
| Municipality: | Carleton Place |
| Enumeration District: | 97 |
| Sub-District: | Carleton Place (Town) |
| Sub-District Number: | 51 |
| Enumerator: | Norman Williamson |
| District Description: | Polling Division No. 6 – Comprising that part of the town south of the 12th concession line and west of Rochester street and Franktown Road |
| Neighbours: | View others on page |
| Line Number: | 10 |
| Family Number: | 92 |
| Household MembersAgeRelationshipHenry Schwerdfeger56HeadBertha Schwerdfeger56WifeGladys Schwerdfeger19DaughterHazel Schwerdfeger17Daughter |
Mayhew family
Inscription
Inscription: [Edit]
In Memory Of
Ephraim Mayhew
Who Died
Nov. 19, 1884
at 77 Years
In Memory Of
Polly Middleton
Wife Of
Ephraim Mayhew
Who Died
Feb. 12, 1869
at 59 Years.
In Memory Of
Mary Adeline Mayhew
Who Died
May 4, 1903
At 55 Years.
In Memory Of
Sophia Mayhew
Who Died
June 13, 1887
At 54 Years,
5 Mon. & 9 Da.
Gravesite Details This Stone is in it’s own fenced in Plot on the Eastern side of the Lyndhurst (Abandoned) Cemetery.
Lyndhurst CemeteryLyndhurst, Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario, Canada
| Name: | Mary A Mahen[Mary A Mayhew] |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Female |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Age: | 52 |
| Birth Year: | abt 1839 |
| Birth Place: | United States |
| Residence Date: | 1891 |
| Residence Place: | Carleton Place, Lanark South, Ontario, Canada |
| Relation to Head: | Head |
| Religion: | Methodist |
| Occupation: | Milliner |
| Number of Employees: | 7 |
| Can Read: | Yes |
| Can Write: | Yes |
| French Canadian: | No |
| Father’s Birth Place: | Ontario |
| Mother’s Birth Place: | Ontario |
| Neighbours: | View others on page |
| Household MembersAgeRelationshipMary A Mahen52HeadHenry A Schmondfeger27LodgerBertha Schmondfeger27Lodger |
1891 Census
| Film No 186296 Vol 18 – 21Ephraim Mayhew 64 Edwardsburg Lewis / Sarah Anne Livingstone 62 Edwardsburg Henry Gale / Polly June 19, 1872 Yonge 348 |
Related reading
Before the Schwerdtfeger Sisters – There was Aunt Sophia
The Unusual Schwerdtfegers — Genealogy
1907
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