Fitsu
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Fitsu
This photograph depicts a Fitsu company picnic held at Fitzpatrick Park in 1927. The image raises two significant questions: What was Fitsu and where was Fitzpatrick Park?
Fitsu and Dozfit were clothing manufacturing divisions of Keet & Rountree Dry Goods Co. They produced overalls, shirts and work clothing. For many years they were located at 316 Commercial Street in Springfield. The company started with 16 machines in July 1919 and by the following February they had grown to 115 machines. The company officers were J. H. Rountree, president, George Winkleback, vice-president and George L. Campbell was the manager.
According to the Springfield Republican, the garments were sold in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. In August 1921, the Ed V. Williams store advertised the Dozfit work shirt for sale at sixty cents (while supplies lasted and only 2 per customer). The same ad listed Fitsu overall and jumpers for $1.00, claiming the wholesale price was $13.75 per dozen. Many advertisements priced the overalls between $1.50 and $1.75.
By 1925, the company was producing a quarter of a million pairs of overalls per year. The overalls were made with 220 Southern Denim. Specialty salesmen were hired to sell the products in Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado and Iowa.
Most of Fitsu's employees were women. The company treated its employees to an annual dinner in the fall or winter and a barbeque or picnic in summer, as depicted in the photograph above.
Less is known about Fitzpatrick Park. Advertisements list the park's location on the James River, 8 miles south of Springfield on the "Campbell Street Road". The 1927 Greene County land ownership map (right) lists an M.S. Fitzpatrick who owned 45 acres just south of the James River and west of Campbell Street. Marshall S. Fitzpatrick died in 1926 but his obituary does not mention the park or his occupation. His death certificate lists his occupation as a farmer.
Fitzpatrick Park offered swimming, boating, fishing, and dancing. Light lunches and soft drinks could be purchased on the grounds. The entrance fee was ten cents per day and children under ten were free. In addition to Fitsu, the Sorosis Club and the Shepherdess Guard also held picnics in Fitzpatrick Park. On July 4, 1927, the park offered a fireworks display and other entertainments included greasy pole, greasy pig, sack race, baseball, dancing and a horse shoe contest. Each paid admission was also eligible to win a free ham.
By 1935, the land was still held in Fitzpatrick's name, as show in the 1935 land ownership map (left).
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