Son of Augustine H. Betancourt born in France & Sarah O'Brian born in Ireland.
Below furnished by Joy Cornwell;
“The Hat Man greets visitors and gets double-takes in return.”
“The original Hat Man was painted as an advertisement for C.C. Plenge, a hat, clothing, and cigar store doing business at that location starting in 1840. The artist was A. Beauregard Betancourt, who started working there in 1872 at the tender age of twelve. In about 1892 it is believed he created The Hat Man as a logo for the haberdashery, which was the oldest hat store in South Carolina. By 1910 Betancourt had assumed ownership. He was a man of eclectic pursuits who was reportedly a ventriloquist, linguist, even vice consul to Argentina. He was well known for drawing and posting in his store window cartoons illustrating current events of the day, and did so until his death in 1944. The Hat Man has appeared ever since on the same corner in various incarnations, even though the haberdashery is long gone. Charleston’s intense sunlight, heat, and humidity take their toll, and The Hat Man needs refreshing from time to time. Lore has it that generations of downtown children learned their numbers by counting the hats while passing by. Today, this beloved figure tips his hate, bidding hello to visitors and residents with a wink to the city’s jaunty bygone days.” from SOUTH CAROLINA CURIOSITIES by Lee Davis Perry and J. Michael McLaughlin, 2011
Below furnished by Joy Cornwell;
“The Hat Man greets visitors and gets double-takes in return.”
“The original Hat Man was painted as an advertisement for C.C. Plenge, a hat, clothing, and cigar store doing business at that location starting in 1840. The artist was A. Beauregard Betancourt, who started working there in 1872 at the tender age of twelve. In about 1892 it is believed he created The Hat Man as a logo for the haberdashery, which was the oldest hat store in South Carolina. By 1910 Betancourt had assumed ownership. He was a man of eclectic pursuits who was reportedly a ventriloquist, linguist, even vice consul to Argentina. He was well known for drawing and posting in his store window cartoons illustrating current events of the day, and did so until his death in 1944. The Hat Man has appeared ever since on the same corner in various incarnations, even though the haberdashery is long gone. Charleston’s intense sunlight, heat, and humidity take their toll, and The Hat Man needs refreshing from time to time. Lore has it that generations of downtown children learned their numbers by counting the hats while passing by. Today, this beloved figure tips his hate, bidding hello to visitors and residents with a wink to the city’s jaunty bygone days.” from SOUTH CAROLINA CURIOSITIES by Lee Davis Perry and J. Michael McLaughlin, 2011
Son of Augustine H. Betancourt born in France & Sarah O'Brian born in Ireland.
Below furnished by Joy Cornwell;
“The Hat Man greets visitors and gets double-takes in return.”
“The original Hat Man was painted as an advertisement for C.C. Plenge, a hat, clothing, and cigar store doing business at that location starting in 1840. The artist was A. Beauregard Betancourt, who started working there in 1872 at the tender age of twelve. In about 1892 it is believed he created The Hat Man as a logo for the haberdashery, which was the oldest hat store in South Carolina. By 1910 Betancourt had assumed ownership. He was a man of eclectic pursuits who was reportedly a ventriloquist, linguist, even vice consul to Argentina. He was well known for drawing and posting in his store window cartoons illustrating current events of the day, and did so until his death in 1944. The Hat Man has appeared ever since on the same corner in various incarnations, even though the haberdashery is long gone. Charleston’s intense sunlight, heat, and humidity take their toll, and The Hat Man needs refreshing from time to time. Lore has it that generations of downtown children learned their numbers by counting the hats while passing by. Today, this beloved figure tips his hate, bidding hello to visitors and residents with a wink to the city’s jaunty bygone days.” from SOUTH CAROLINA CURIOSITIES by Lee Davis Perry and J. Michael McLaughlin, 2011
Below furnished by Joy Cornwell;
“The Hat Man greets visitors and gets double-takes in return.”
“The original Hat Man was painted as an advertisement for C.C. Plenge, a hat, clothing, and cigar store doing business at that location starting in 1840. The artist was A. Beauregard Betancourt, who started working there in 1872 at the tender age of twelve. In about 1892 it is believed he created The Hat Man as a logo for the haberdashery, which was the oldest hat store in South Carolina. By 1910 Betancourt had assumed ownership. He was a man of eclectic pursuits who was reportedly a ventriloquist, linguist, even vice consul to Argentina. He was well known for drawing and posting in his store window cartoons illustrating current events of the day, and did so until his death in 1944. The Hat Man has appeared ever since on the same corner in various incarnations, even though the haberdashery is long gone. Charleston’s intense sunlight, heat, and humidity take their toll, and The Hat Man needs refreshing from time to time. Lore has it that generations of downtown children learned their numbers by counting the hats while passing by. Today, this beloved figure tips his hate, bidding hello to visitors and residents with a wink to the city’s jaunty bygone days.” from SOUTH CAROLINA CURIOSITIES by Lee Davis Perry and J. Michael McLaughlin, 2011
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