Heathsville in Northumberland County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Necessity and the Mothers of Invention
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 9, 2026
1. Necessity and the Mothers of Invention Marker
During the Civil War, it was too dangerous to travel to Baltimore to shop. If a woman wanted new straw hats for herself and her daughters, she had to get creative. The most practical substitute for straw was the corn-husk. If you have ever shucked corn, you know how husks are the green outer leaves of an ear of corn. Below the husks lies the corn silk and together they protect the corn kernels.
In the early fall, women would remove these green leaves. They set them aside to work on during cold winter nights beside the fire. By that time, the husks were stiff and dry. Soaking them in water made the husks flexible. Long strips were woven together and sewed around and around to form the hat and brim. Often the hat was trimmed with a feather plucked from the barnyard rooster!
Erected by Northumberland Public Library.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil • Women.
Location. 37° 54.917′ N, 76° 28.169′ W. Marker is in Heathsville, Virginia, in Northumberland County. It can be reached
this page online
Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Northern Neck. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Tidewater, in the Chesapeake Bay Region, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Stars Are Falling! The Stars Are Falling! (here, next to this marker); Who Invented the Crab Pot (a few steps from this marker); Hooray for Steamboats! / Meet Daisy / The Amazon of Its Day (a few steps from this marker); Chesapeake Bay Watermen
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 9, 2026
2. Necessity and the Mothers of Invention Marker
Additional keywords. 🌽 🐓 👒
Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 10, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 10, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
