The Making of a Book
Dorothy Biddle Service /
Blue Ribbon Flower Holder Co.
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On the way back from New York, we stopped by the Dorothy Biddle
Service in Greeley, Pennsylvania. Here they sell flower
frogs and many other items related to flower arranging.
The building also houses the Blue Ribbon Flower Holder Co. Now
owned by Lynne Dodson, the business began with her grandmother,
Dorothy Biddle and continued with Lynne's Dad, Rodney Johnson,
who purchased the Blue Ribbon Flower Holder Co. in 1959 from
Ida Sinclair. |
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Dorothy Biddle (Mrs. Walter Adams Johnson) traveled all over
the United States lecturing and demonstrating the art of flower
arranging to garden clubs and women's groups. She was the first
editor of the magazine Arts and Decoration and went on to edit
several other gardening magazines. She also co-authored several
books and articles with her daughter, Dorothea Blom. |
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Dorothy's son, Rodney B. Johnson (right), often accompanied
her on her flower arranging tours. After the demonstration he
would sell flower holders and books written by his mother on
flower arranging. Dorothy's favorite arranger was the Blue Ribbon
hairpin flower holder patented by Ida Sinclair in 1936. In combination
with the lecture tour sales Rod managed to build up a flourishing
mail order business while still in high school. |
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In 1959 Rod bought the Blue Ribbon Flower Holder Co. from
Ida Sinclair, moving it from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, to Hawthorne,
New York. In 1981 he moved the business to Greeley, PA.
That's Ida Sinclair on the right with her Blue Ribbon flower
holders in front of her. She patented the design in 1936 and
manufactured the Blue Ribbon Flower Holder until 1959 when she
sold the business to Mr. Johnson.
Blue
Ribbon patent Be sure to push your browser's back button
to come back to this page. |
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The ladies at left are Ida's manufacturing crew. |
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And here I am with Amy (middle) and Lynne Dodson (right). Lynne
went to work with her Dad in 1973. When he retired in 1986, she
took over the business. Lynne continues to make the Blue Ribbon
Flower Holder right here in Greeley, PA. The manufacturing process
hasn't changed at all since it began in 1936. In fact Lynne still
uses much of the original equipment that her father purchased
from Ida Sinclair. |
