June 1, 2022
Edwin Vinald (E.V.) Mitchell (1850-1917) was the grandfather of my mother, Suzanne Mitchell Bryce, better known by everyone as “Sue.” No Mrs. anything, just “Sue.” In her youth, she was also known as “Sue the Swimmer” for her trophies; once she received a congratulatory note addressed simply to “Sue the Swimmer, Hyannis, Mass.
I recently returned to Medfield for a visit and met up with some of the Mitchell family. Kirk Knowlton is the grandson of Helena Mitchell (E. V.’s daughter). Also joining us were Jason and Ashley Mitchell. Their father was Robert Curtis Mitchell, my first cousin. They are E.V.’s great-great grandchildren. David Temple was kind enough to open up the Medfield Historical Society for us and to pull some of the Mitchell memorabilia for us to enjoy.
In reading Richard DeSorgher’s books, I learned more about this side of my family than from anyone else. E.V. owned the E.V. Mitchell Company, which, in the early 1900’s, was the second largest hat factory in the country, the largest being in Foxborough. E.V. also owned a lumber business, a large grist mill. and one of the largest poultry farms in the country, all located right here in Medfield.
He sounds rich, huh? He was for a long time…but not when he was young.
He was born and raised in Sangerville, Maine but moved to Westboro, Massachusetts and then finally to Medfield, where he learned the hat manufacturing business. After he moved to Medfield as a young man, he married the boss’ daughter, Blanche Eugenia Curtis, whose family owned the local hat factory, known then as Excelsior Straw Works (now the site of the Montrose School). E.V. was a good businessman, and business flourished!
In Richard DeSorgher’s book, he writes about my great grandfather. Here’s a link to a summary of E.V.’s Medfield history.
When he married Blanche, her father gave them a house. That was the Mitchell mansion at 58 North Street, the site of today’s post office. Some wedding gift, huh? Some of you may remember when the tank tore this house down in 1961; here’s a link to the video.
We hope the history of Medfield and the contributions E. V. made (yes, he had a dark side too) will continue to thrive and remembered in Medfield’s history. I wish I had written down more of what my mother told me about the Mitchell family.