Civil War: Jerry Fitzgerald

Wabash Valley profiles : a series of tributes to hometown heroes who have made a difference

Description:	One typed page including photograph; biography of Jeremiah Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald saved Memorial Hall from condemnation in 1920-21. WABASHP R OFIA hometown h heroes who h difference. A seriies of ttributes tto h f ib t t h have made a diff dVALLEYL E SJer r y Fitzgeraldnative of Kerry County, Ireland, bakery owner and Vigo County Clerk Jeremiah Fitzgerald is best remembered for saving Memorial Hall from condemnation in 1920-21. Fitzgerald was 19 years old when he migrated to the U.S. in 1892, first locating in Mattoon, Ill. He moved to Vigo County two years later and wed Mary Holland of St. Marys Village in 1897. Jerry went to work as a deliveryman for Louis Gerhardts Bakery at 724 S. 12th St. The Jerry Fitzgerald (third from left) celebrates his Fitzgeralds initially resided at 61st birthday with bakery employees in 1934 605 S. 13th St., and began raising three children: Margaret, born in 1900; Joseph, born in 1904; and Raymond, born in 1906, the year Jeremiah was naturalized. In 1910, after Gerhardt was elected mayor of Terre Haute, Fitzgerald decided to establish his own bakery. Jerrys Bakery at 209 Ohio St. had a modest beginning but, by adhering to high standards, Fitzgerald soon acquired two adjoining buildings and modern oven equipment. Fitzgerald offered Kew-Bee and Pullman bread, Irish bread, rye bread, Ralston Purina whole wheat bread, raisin bread and a full line of cookies, buns and rolls. Eventually, Fitzgerald was invited to join the Quality Bakers of America, a non-profit organization which tendered memberships only to bakeries long maintaining a reputation for excellence. In 1923 Carl T. Lundstrom, formerly of Sparks Milling Co., joined the business and the two men incorporated as Fitzgerald Baking Co. Meanwhile, Jerry became a community hero by forming a citizens committee in 1920 to Save Memorial Hall, located next door to his bakery. The building now houses Kesler Law Offices. Prior to being acquired by the Memorial Hall Association from miniature artist Amalia Kussner Coudert in 1911, the former Second State Bank of Indiana (predecessor of First Financial Bank)--built between 1834 and 1836--was a collectibles shop and fell into disrepair. Though the original structures tin ceiling dome was replaced by art glass and the exterior received a complete refurbishing, the Indiana State Fire Marshal threatened to condemn it. On Oct. 21, 1921, Fitzgeralds fund-raising efforts reached fruition at the rededication of renovated Memorial Hall. The front room was converted into an auditorium and the art glass in the ceiling dome was replaced by 18 tinted portraits of significant Vigo County Civil War soldiers and past bank officers. Long active in Democratic politics, Fitzgerald was elected Vigo County Clerk in 1932. He did not complete his first term, passing away at the family residence at 1826 Ohio St. on May 27, 1935, at age 62, after a two-month illness. Active in the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and St. Patricks Church, Jerry is interred at Calvary Cemetery. His widow was named chief deputy clerk by his successor, Catherine S. Fee. The buildings that housed the Ohio Street bakery were sold to Bell Bakeries. The Lundstroms located Fitzgerald Baking Co. at 13th and Crawford streets. It eventually became Ideal-Fitzgerald Baking Co., involving other principals.AAlways Close to Homewww.first-online.com MEMBER FDICYoull find First Financial Bank in these and other cities and towns near you: Terre Haute 238-6000 Brazil 443-4481 Rockville 765-569-3171 Clinton 832-3504 Sullivan 268-3331 Marshall, Illinois 217-826-6311 Robinson, Illinois 618-544-8666
Origin:	2006-05-24
Created By:	McCormick, Mike
Publisher:	Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Source:	http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/vchs/id/1321
Collection:	Vigo County Historical Society
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/
Copyright:	Copyright Undetermined
Subjects:	Fitzgerald, Jerry, 1873-1935 Bakeries Activists People Politics Business & Industry Civil War -- Document

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