In the late 1800s and early 1900s, violets were the flower of choice, especially  for the well to do.   Dutchess County was the violet belt of the country and Rhinebeck was its buckle. Around 400 greenhouses could be found in Rhinebeck, in backyards  as mom and pop businesses, as well as in many larger commercial operations. Rhinebeck became known as Crystal City (thus the name given to Crystal Lake)  as a result of the gleaming greenhouses. At Easter, the height of shipping season, millions of blooms were sent around the country. Eventually they fell out of fashion, though Eleanor Roosevely tried to revive them, wearing violet corsages including at FDR inaugurations. Violets are often found cropping up around Rhinebeck to this day even though the last greenhouse closed in 1979.  

A 1934 Centennial Parade held in Rhinebeck included a float on the violet industry. 

Our young ladies delivering the violet messages are actually dressed for the wedding of an  E. Hoover. The one at right is Albtertina Traver,. The Travers are a family that go long back in Rhinebeck - with JE Traver Farm being located on Violet Hill Road  and from whose property George Saltford bought a tract of land and jumpstarted the violet industry. Today, a member of the Traver clan,  John Traver,  is an  owner of beloved  Samuels!

WHERE TO LEARN MORE:  

https://www.scenichudson.org/viewfinder/the-hudson-valley-violet-capital-of-the-world/

https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/2022/07/26/j-e-traver-farm-rhinebeck-a-part-of-violent-history-village/65381892007/