Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
| (13 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[Image:Rosenberger trunk logo.jpg|right|150px]] | [[Image:Rosenberger trunk logo.jpg|right|150px]] | ||
'''Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk''' | '''Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk''', formerly '''Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk Factory''', was a family-owned retailer specializing in luggage, leather goods and travel items. The company was founded in [[Birmingham]] in January [[1897]] by [[J. D. Rosenberger]] Originally just a manufacturer, located at 315 [[19th Street North]], the company expanded and opened a showroom at 1909 [[2nd Avenue North]] in the 1920s. | ||
J. D., who died in [[1945]], passed the company to his son, [[Mel Rosenberger|Mel]]. He opened the company's first suburban stores, first experimenting with temporary holiday shops in [[Homewood]] and [[Crestline]] before opening a full-time showroom at [[Mountain Brook Village]] in [[1950]]. The company also opened stores in [[Roebuck]] and [[Eastwood]]. | |||
Mel's wife, [[Mae Rosenberger|Mae]] joined the business in [[1955]] and took over when her husband died in [[1971]]. Mae and her son, [[Ken Rosenberger|Ken]] operated the business until shortly before her death in June [[2010]] | |||
They opened a third store at [[Brookwood Village]] when the mall opened on [[August 6]], [[1974]]. Reigning [[Miss Alabama]] [[Pam Long]] helped celebrate the store's grand opening by drawing names for luggage sets offered as door prizes. | |||
Rosenberger's opened another location at the [[Riverchase Galleria]] in the 1980s. The Galleria store moved to [[The Summit]] in [[2006]]. | |||
In January [[2013]] Ken and his wife, [[Ann Rosenberger|Ann]] consolidated operations to a smaller showroom adjoining the firm's warehouse at 2712 [[19th Street South (Homewood)|19th Street South]] in downtown [[Homewood]]. The business closed in February [[2017]]. | |||
==Alabama Crimson Tide== | |||
As early as [[1905]], Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk used a silhouetted image of an elephant with a foot resting on one of its trunks as a logo, often in red. | |||
One version of the [[Alabama Crimson Tide#Traditions|origin]] of the [[Alabama Crimson Tide]]'s [[Big Al|elephant mascot]] is that J. D. Rosenberger, whose son was then a student at the university, outfitted the [[1926 Alabama Crimson Tide football team]] with red celluloid elephant-shaped "good luck" luggage charms for the train trip to Pasadena, California for the [[1927]] Rose Bowl. Reporters greeting the team on their arrival took note of the distinctive tags. | |||
When the [[1930 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1930 team]] returned to the Rose Bowl, Rosenberger's supplied leather suitcases, paid for by the Alumni Association, for each team member. The firm's association with Alabama football continued into the [[Bear Bryant]] era as the legendary coach provided the members of his [[1961 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1961 championship team]] with Hartmann cowhide suitcases from Rosenberger's in lieu of rings. | |||
==Locations== | ==Locations== | ||
* 315 [[19th Street North]]: | * 315 [[19th Street North]]: 1897– | ||
* 1909 [[2nd Avenue North]]: | * 1909 [[2nd Avenue North]]: 1920s– | ||
* [[Mountain Brook]]: | * [[Mountain Brook Village]]: 1950s–1974 | ||
* [[Roebuck Marketplace]]: [[ | * [[Roebuck Marketplace]]: 1960– | ||
* [[Eastwood Mall]]: [[ | * [[Brookwood Village]]: 1974–2013 | ||
* 2712 [[19th Street South Homewood|19th Street South]], [[Homewood]]: | * [[Eastwood Mall]]: 1981– | ||
* [[Riverchase Galleria]]: 1980s–2006 | |||
* [[The Summit]]: 2006–2013 | |||
* 2712 [[19th Street South Homewood|19th Street South]], [[Homewood]]: 2013–20017 | |||
==Gallery== | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:Bham Trunk Factory.jpg|Birmingham Trunk Factory c. 1910s | |||
Image:Rosenbergers on 2nd Ave.jpg|Birmingham Trunk Factory on 2nd Avenue North in 1939. Photo by W. B. Phillips. | |||
File:Rosenberger's charm.jpg|One of Rosenberger's red elephant "charms" | |||
</gallery> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* Williams, Roy L. (May 8, 2005) "On the record: Mae Rosenberger, CEO, Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk." {{BN}} | |||
* "[http://jeffcohistory.com/images/2009-10.pdf Origin of the University of Alabama's elephant mascot and logo]" (October 2010) Newsletter of the [[Birmingham-Jefferson Historical Society]] | * "[http://jeffcohistory.com/images/2009-10.pdf Origin of the University of Alabama's elephant mascot and logo]" (October 2010) Newsletter of the [[Birmingham-Jefferson Historical Society]] | ||
* Drexel, Keysha (May 16, 2013) "Trunk Show: In Its 116th Year, Rosenberger's Moves to Homewood." {{OTMJ}} | |||
* Cromwell, Sidney (November 22, 2016) "Rosenberger’s considers closing after 120 years." {{HS}} | |||
* Davis, Lee (December 14, 2016) "Closing the Trunk: Rosenberger’s to Close After 120 Years." {{OTMJ}} | |||
[[Category: | [[Category:Former manufacturers]] | ||
[[Category:Former retailers]] | |||
[[Category:19th Street South Homewood]] | |||
[[Category:1897 establishments]] | [[Category:1897 establishments]] | ||
[[Category:2017 disestablishments]] | |||
[[Category:19th Street North]] | [[Category:19th Street North]] | ||
[[Category:2nd Avenue North]] | [[Category:2nd Avenue North]] | ||
[[Category:Roebuck Plaza Shopping Center]] | |||
[[Category:Eastwood Mall]] | [[Category:Eastwood Mall]] | ||
[[Category:Brookwood Village]] | [[Category:Brookwood Village]] | ||
[[Category:Summit]] | [[Category:The Summit]] | ||
Latest revision as of 10:29, 1 September 2023
Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk, formerly Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk Factory, was a family-owned retailer specializing in luggage, leather goods and travel items. The company was founded in Birmingham in January 1897 by J. D. Rosenberger Originally just a manufacturer, located at 315 19th Street North, the company expanded and opened a showroom at 1909 2nd Avenue North in the 1920s.
J. D., who died in 1945, passed the company to his son, Mel. He opened the company's first suburban stores, first experimenting with temporary holiday shops in Homewood and Crestline before opening a full-time showroom at Mountain Brook Village in 1950. The company also opened stores in Roebuck and Eastwood.
Mel's wife, Mae joined the business in 1955 and took over when her husband died in 1971. Mae and her son, Ken operated the business until shortly before her death in June 2010
They opened a third store at Brookwood Village when the mall opened on August 6, 1974. Reigning Miss Alabama Pam Long helped celebrate the store's grand opening by drawing names for luggage sets offered as door prizes.
Rosenberger's opened another location at the Riverchase Galleria in the 1980s. The Galleria store moved to The Summit in 2006.
In January 2013 Ken and his wife, Ann consolidated operations to a smaller showroom adjoining the firm's warehouse at 2712 19th Street South in downtown Homewood. The business closed in February 2017.
Alabama Crimson Tide
As early as 1905, Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk used a silhouetted image of an elephant with a foot resting on one of its trunks as a logo, often in red.
One version of the origin of the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot is that J. D. Rosenberger, whose son was then a student at the university, outfitted the 1926 Alabama Crimson Tide football team with red celluloid elephant-shaped "good luck" luggage charms for the train trip to Pasadena, California for the 1927 Rose Bowl. Reporters greeting the team on their arrival took note of the distinctive tags.
When the 1930 team returned to the Rose Bowl, Rosenberger's supplied leather suitcases, paid for by the Alumni Association, for each team member. The firm's association with Alabama football continued into the Bear Bryant era as the legendary coach provided the members of his 1961 championship team with Hartmann cowhide suitcases from Rosenberger's in lieu of rings.
Locations
- 315 19th Street North: 1897–
- 1909 2nd Avenue North: 1920s–
- Mountain Brook Village: 1950s–1974
- Roebuck Marketplace: 1960–
- Brookwood Village: 1974–2013
- Eastwood Mall: 1981–
- Riverchase Galleria: 1980s–2006
- The Summit: 2006–2013
- 2712 19th Street South, Homewood: 2013–20017
Gallery
Birmingham Trunk Factory c. 1910s
Birmingham Trunk Factory on 2nd Avenue North in 1939. Photo by W. B. Phillips.
One of Rosenberger's red elephant "charms"
References
- Williams, Roy L. (May 8, 2005) "On the record: Mae Rosenberger, CEO, Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk." The Birmingham News
- "Origin of the University of Alabama's elephant mascot and logo" (October 2010) Newsletter of the Birmingham-Jefferson Historical Society
- Drexel, Keysha (May 16, 2013) "Trunk Show: In Its 116th Year, Rosenberger's Moves to Homewood." Over the Mountain Journal
- Cromwell, Sidney (November 22, 2016) "Rosenberger’s considers closing after 120 years." The Homewood Star
- Davis, Lee (December 14, 2016) "Closing the Trunk: Rosenberger’s to Close After 120 Years." Over the Mountain Journal