A previously uncataloged poster stamp surfaced recently. It is for the Annual Hoo-Hoo Convention in San Francisco 1910. The amusing and peculiar event title and image attracted me to it. I had no idea what “Hoo-Hoo” was or meant.
A bit of searching online provided the answer.
In 1892 two businessmen in the lumber industry met while their travel to a convention was delayed. While waiting to continue their travel, the two had developed the idea of a lumber fraternity where all lumbermen and those of affiliated trades would promote goodwill and fellowship among all those in the lumber industry.
One of the first things to be decided was the name of the organization. The “Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo” was agreed upon. The word “Hoo-Hoo” was used to describe a particular lumberman’s tuft of hair brought to a point atop his otherwise bald head. It has since described anything out of the ordinary or unusual among members.
Very peculiar, I think.
Now every fraternity needs a mascot and for that a black cat was chosen. It’s nine lives led to the prominence of the number nine. Nine men on the board of directors, annual dues are 99 cents and the annual meeting would be held on the ninth day of the ninth month beginning at nine minutes after nine. Hence the meeting date of 9.9.10 on the stamp. You might also note the cats’ tail in the shape of a 9.
It all seemed like a tall tale to me but further searching turned up pictures of “Hoo-Hoo” houses at the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition and the 1915 PPIE in San Francisco. Other photos of members at these meetings were found, including an amusing one of attendees at a beach in swimsuits with the black cat emblem on the chest.
A list of meetings from 1893 to 2016 was also found, 124 in all, with their dates and locations. While not all meetings were held on September 9th (9-9) virtually all through 1923 were, and nearly all were held in September! The list confirms a meeting in 1910 in the Palace Hotel of San Francisco…matching that on the poster stamp. –S. Greiczek
