PARIS – There were about 30 heads in the room, but more than 200 hats.

On Friday, Cynthia Hamlin of Freeport, formerly of Waterford, showed off her hat collection to onlookers at the Paris Hill Historical Society. Some of those displayed dated back to the 1800s.

The event was a fundraiser for the society to buy new archival supplies, said Julie DeMont, co-president of the society.

Hamlin said she started collecting hats when her great aunt died. She left the family her home in Waterford, which was full of 1900s décor.

Included in the house were plenty of hats. This is where Hamlin’s fascination began.

She continued to collect hats when she traveled, and also at antique stores and yard sales.

On Friday, she shared the history of the hat with guests at the society. She explained how the styles changed with the times.

“Hairstyles indicated hat styles,” Hamlin said.

During the Great Depression, hats got smaller due to lack of materials, Hamlin said during her presentation. When cars were invented, hats were designed with ties or to be snug around the head to keep them from blowing off.

Hats are coming back into style, Hamlin said.

“Whenever I go out in public people flock to me telling me how much they love my hat,” Hamlin said.

And, of course, she loves to wear hats. Whenever she finds one: “I try it on in every direction if there’s no obvious way for it to be worn. Then I wear it the way it looks best on me,” she said.

Some of her hats have personal stories attached to them. She keeps several of them as memories of friends or family members who have passed away.

Hamlin’s granddaughters Autum Hagar, 12, Alicia Hagar, 9, and Jaylie Hagar, 3, all of Waterford, modeled the hats while she spoke.

Guests were invited to wear hats to the event. They ranged from fun – Bob the Builder – to fancy.

The society aims to capture the history of Paris Hill. It collects information on families who live there and the history of the architecture, said co-President Cynthia Burmeister.