The Palatka news and advertiser., 1917-09-28
TWENTY YEARS IN
CLOTHING BUSINESS
Is Palatka Record of F. J..
Fearnside-A Widely
Known House.

Frank J. Fearnside, Sr., last week
celebrated the twentieth anniversary
of his entrance in the clothing and
mems furnishings business in Palatka,
business almost as we'll and favora
bly, known in adjoining counties as
here at home.
The News editor knew Mr.. Fearn-
side before he came to Palatka some
25 or 26 years ago. Previous to that
time he was in business in Madison
and was mayor Of that thriving short
staple cotton marketing town. His
business there was general merchan-
disc and was one of the successful in
stitutions of the place.
His Palatka business started in the
little room now occupied by c. J.
Smith the jeweler. 1t was a small
beginning for what the business is
today. But small as was the store
its proprietor had the good sense to
cater to the right trade-which in
cluded everybody who wore mems at
tire. He secured the handling of the
most exclusive manufacturers of
mems clothing. Re also secured the
lines that had proved the best values
for working men. He catered to the
fashionably dressed young man and
to the laborer, and every grade be-
tween. His place was typical of all
successful American merchants. That
is chief reason why the business has
been such a whooping success.
In 1901, the buness demanding
more space, Mr.. Fearnside secured the
double frame store which stood on The
site he now occupies, and which had
cnly been q short time before vacated
by McLarty's dry goods store. 1t
was in this year also that the busi
ness was incorporated. 1t became the
Fearnside Clothing Co.
In 1909 the present building was
erected by Mr.. Kupperbusch. 1t was
fitted out as to the lower floor on
plans desired by Mr.. Fearnside, and
when the Fearnside Clothing Co.
moved in, it was said that it was one
of the handsor1est stores in all Flori-
da. What was true then is still true.
1t remains one of the handsomest,
most convenient merchandise estab-
lishments in all Florida.
The company carries not only an
immense line of clothing of the best
makes, but it carries line of fur
nishing goods, shoes, hats, ETC., that
cannot be bettered in all the coun
try. Last year magnificent line of
ladies' shoes was added, one that set
the pace in that line as the company
had set the pace in other lines.
In clothing the Fearnside Clothing
Co. handle exclusively for this terri
tory the celebrated Hart, Schaffner d
Marx, Hickey Freeman, Kirschbaum,
and Style Plus makes of tailored
mems and boys clothing.
In shoes for men there is the Han
nan & Son. the Edwin Clapp, and a
dozen others of the very best, most
widely known shoes in the country,
among which is the new shoe made
expressly for the United States army,
IF which Mr.. Fearnside has been able
% secure limited number. In his
aides shoe department the celebrated
ianan makes leads. In neckwear,
shirts and other lines of haberdash
,ry, the Fearnside Clothing Co. has
secured exclusive agency in this ter
;irory of some of the most exclusive
makes.
In all Florida there is no other
nouse that out-classes the Fearnside
Co. in quality or style. 1t
las been this fact that secured to
his big store the name of the place
where style originates" This is not $
lute true. But it is true that this
louse gets a first whack at anv-
hing new in styles for men, or in
ades' shoes.