Figure 1.-- A boys best suit would often be a daek blue serge suit. We note a an example of a blue serge suit with other common boys' items offered by a clothing store, Stafford & Trainor in a newspaoper advertisement. The ad for confirmation suits appeared in the 'Wilkes Barre Times Leader' for May 20, 1921.

A boys best suit would often be a daek blue serge suit. We note a an example of a blue serge suit with other common boys' items offered by a clothing store, Stafford & Trainor in a newspaoper advertisement. The ad for confirmation suits appeared in the Wilkes Barre Times Leader for May 20, 1921. The clothing store was Stafford & Trainor at 26-28 South Main Street. The ad shows a boy in a knicker suit (above-the-knee style) with large flap pockets on the side and belted. The boy is wearing long stockings and low-cut shoes. It gives us a fair idea of what boys from about 11 to 13 wore for their confirmations at church in the spring of 1921. Confirmation probably refers to the Lutheran Church. Presumably there was a large German community in Wilkes Barre. A new suit was commonly purchased for confirmation. A dark blue suit could be subsequently worn as the v\boy's best suit. for many other occassions. The ad also includes quite a few boys' furnishings, not all of them relevant to the ceremony of confirmation. Free basebal bats are given away for every suit purchased. Here is the text: "Mothers, Look over our specials for Friday and Saturday. We are all ready to fit out the boys with becoming, durable Confirmation Suits and Furnishings. boys' Blue Serge Suits--$7.95 to $20.00. White Windsor Ties 65 cents. Bell Brand White Waists $1.15. Serviceable Suits that will stand the wear and tear and ups and downs of boy life--$6.50 Suits in fancy patterns. $4.95. Specials: Boys' Straw Hats 95 cents to $3.00 Jockey Caps 45 cents Boys' Waist Union Suits [union suits with waist buttons and attachment for hose supporters] 85 cents Sport Blouses and Shirts 95 cents Overalls--blue and white stripe and khaki 95 cents Wash Hats, all colors 50 cents Boys' Extra Pants [probably knickers] 95 cents Boys' Khaki Pants $1.15 Childrens's Middy Blouses, tan and blue $1.95 Extra Special: Wash Suits For the Little Fellows 95 cents Free--Base Ball Bat withy every Suit Purchased. Stafford & Trainor, 26-28 South Main Street."

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Created: 7:53 PM 3/4/2008
Last updated: 7:53 PM 3/4/2008