Former Florsheim employees hold reunion

The Cape Girardeau region was a hub of shoe manufacturing in 1907 with the likes of Roberts, Johnson and Rand Shoe Co., the International Shoe Co. and Florsheim Shoe Co. About 35 to 40 people who worked at Florsheim factories across the region were on hand for a reunion Sunday at Cape Girardeau Eagles Club No. 3775.

Mary Chapman, Melba Moore and Wilma Seyer organized the event.

Although she wished more people had attended, Moore said it was good to see former co-workers again.

"Working at the factory, we were just a big family," Moore said.

A group of up to 20 gather every six weeks or so for breakfast at Ryan's restaurant, but the days vary to fit people's schedules, she said.

Eileen Tripp, Debbie Hahs and Melba Moore pose for a photo at the Florsheim shoe reunion Sunday at the Eagles Club in Cape Girardeau. (Ruth Campbell)

There were Florsheim factories in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Perryville, Mo., Sikeston, Mo., Poplar Bluff, Mo. and Anna, Ill., to name a few.

According to Southeast Missourian archives, a five-story shoe factory building on North Main Street, where Isle Casino Cape Girardeau is now, was built in 1907 for the Roberts, Johnson and Rand Shoe Co. It was later the International Shoe Co. In 1935, International was making about 12 million pairs of shoes a year with a peak workforce of 1,600. The factory was later owned by Florsheim Shoe Co. The building was abandoned in 1984 and demolished in 1990.

In the late 1960s, Florsheim built a factory where RM COCO is now, 1389 Southern Expressway.

Chapman started off as a hand-sewer and worked her way up to assistant supervisor in the packing room.

Seyer stitched shoes on the assembly line, worked her way up to supervisor, and was an assistant supervisor when the Chaffee, Mo., plant closed in 1980 after the roof fell in. For her part, Moore worked in human resources, was a switchboard operator and a receptionist.

Although they may have worked in different towns, Florsheim employees shared a bond -- employees recognized their colleagues and where they worked, even if they might not know their names, Chapman said. Moore said her and Chapman's last day was Jan. 3, 2000, although a handful of employees were left to do clean up and maintenance afterward.

Moore hired many factory employees, including her daughter, Debbie Hahs, who started off working summers for Florsheim.

"I'd start one generation and hire the next. It was a fun thing to do," Moore said.

Hahs worked in prefitting, cutting, hand sewing and lasting, where the fitted upper was placed over a last -- a wooden or metal form in the shape of a human foot -- and fitted with a sole.

Moore also hired Eileen Tripp, who worked in prefitting for 26 years.

"When you work 26 years with people they're like family," Tripp said.

Both she and Hahs had to obtain workers' permits before they could start.

"Even people in the office had to have workers' permits," Moore said.

Doris Hileman, who attended the reunion with her husband, Bob, said she worked at the Anna plant for 27 years.

"I haven't seen Melba for probably at least 20 years. She answered the phone at Cape and I answered the phone in Anna," Hileman said.

The next breakfast meeting of former Florsheim workers is set for 8:30 a.m. May 3 at Ryan's.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

321 N. Spring St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.