tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post4679324614691653532..comments2023-11-27T21:41:30.009-08:00Comments on The Daily Postcard: The Endicott Johnson Shoe FactoryChristine H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09786732494496282743noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-92223873225819332772015-11-27T13:05:43.853-08:002015-11-27T13:05:43.853-08:00My father worked for IBM and in 1967 transferred t...My father worked for IBM and in 1967 transferred to Rochester, MN. The next year, when I turned 18, I came back to Endicott. A girlfriend and I whet to EJ to apply for a job. Pay was the worst (by piece) and I was warned by one older woman to watch out for another, that she was crazy and stole others work. I couldn't get out of that building fast enough. Men whistled at us out the windows as we were leaving. While I remember the carousel, band stand and swimming pool at EnJoy (sic) park, working there would have not been a picnic.Susan Klotzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11734253097099142350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-26556267639270120112013-12-05T12:14:32.353-08:002013-12-05T12:14:32.353-08:00Funny how people like to remember things as better...Funny how people like to remember things as better than they were. First off...yes, there were windows in the factory. PAINTED BLACK so as not to distract the workers. That just wouldn't make for a nice postcard, now, would it? And yes, they did do a lot of things like build parks, etc. To distract the workers from that fact that they were working extremely hard for very low pay. The would bring over the poorest of families from Europe because they would be happy for whatever they got.<br /><br />There is also a reason why most children of EJ workers did NOT work for EJ when they grew up.jkfan87https://www.blogger.com/profile/13190127749935754993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-74190863850691074522013-12-05T12:08:12.414-08:002013-12-05T12:08:12.414-08:00Oh please...make no mistake about it....the condit...Oh please...make no mistake about it....the conditions at EJ factories are only marginally better than other sweatshops at the time. And far WORSE than today. People were happy just to have ANY job back then, and the Binghamton area stupidly put all their eggs in one basket with EJ so they took what they got and were glad to have it.jkfan87https://www.blogger.com/profile/13190127749935754993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-69387196561997476272011-10-02T21:04:55.604-07:002011-10-02T21:04:55.604-07:00I lived on North Street (near Seward) about 1937-3...I lived on North Street (near Seward) about 1937-38<br />and played with George Pennell's daughter Jeannie.<br /><br />Does anyone know if she's still alive? Or any of the<br />Dodge Powell children? My Dad rented an apartment<br />from Mr. Leadbetter before moving to an apartment<br />complex (closer to Main Street) where the Klotz and<br />Bruger's lived.<br /><br />Larry Bursch - San Jose, CA.<br />larrybursch@att.netAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-68424344730367164892011-09-12T22:35:06.351-07:002011-09-12T22:35:06.351-07:00Lay Hoon,
You're so right. I wonder if it was ...Lay Hoon,<br />You're so right. I wonder if it was the fashion or if it was the only hairstyle that ensure the hair wouldn't get caught in the sewing machines.Christine H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09786732494496282743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-67646017354627093472011-09-12T19:15:57.851-07:002011-09-12T19:15:57.851-07:00I adore these worker/factory postcards, just found...I adore these worker/factory postcards, just found one showing quitting time in Dayton. Will post soon.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11954692169914973706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-60765770490859329352011-09-12T17:31:57.142-07:002011-09-12T17:31:57.142-07:00Seems that every woman hav the same hair style.Seems that every woman hav the same hair style.Lay Hoonhttp://travelpostcard.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-31884000121946846782011-09-12T13:54:05.612-07:002011-09-12T13:54:05.612-07:00Before I'd even reached the part about Endicot...Before I'd even reached the part about Endicott-Johnson treating their workers well, I decided they looked very cheerful.<br /><br />sorry to hear about the floods.Sheila @ A Postcard a Dayhttp://apostcardaday.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-61798831898977959382011-09-12T02:48:47.378-07:002011-09-12T02:48:47.378-07:00nice to see that some companies were treating peop...nice to see that some companies were treating people decently, setting an example.<br />:)~<br />HUGZBruno Lalibertéhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09607511642101907283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-91068826561292562072011-09-11T19:25:15.198-07:002011-09-11T19:25:15.198-07:00Nice to have a photo of the actual work place your...Nice to have a photo of the actual work place your people worked in, although I was thinking of the smell too. Tough times in those towns now with all the jobs going elsewhere.Kristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06413795611563683135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-24885151277872413092011-09-11T17:51:19.023-07:002011-09-11T17:51:19.023-07:00Wow, neat postcard. can you imagine sitting in tho...Wow, neat postcard. can you imagine sitting in those hard wood chairs all day. They were sturdier stock than I am, for sure.Krissyhttp://thecedarchestblog.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-49193904119712897612011-09-11T17:23:46.146-07:002011-09-11T17:23:46.146-07:00That postcard is fabulous! It dates from a time wh...That postcard is fabulous! It dates from a time when few such factories cared to have their work areas shown.Postcard Rounduphttp://www.postcardroundup.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-45602894285341987452011-09-11T12:41:43.714-07:002011-09-11T12:41:43.714-07:00Love the first one- I can see these for sale at th...Love the first one- I can see these for sale at the local drug store- looks like a happy workplace. My grandpa worked at a shoe factory- he always talked like he enjoyed it.Coloring Outside the Lineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15289093479063221765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-77911433401759270492011-09-11T12:36:10.158-07:002011-09-11T12:36:10.158-07:00Both images are wonderful. I especially love the w...Both images are wonderful. I especially love the women working. It's especially nice to read that the company valued their employees. You think about the situations today with manufacturing. Replace all these faces with Chinese working for little money and horrible living conditions. Sometimes things don't change as much as we'd like.<br /><br />So fascinating to have these images knowing you haver personal ties to them.Tattered and Losthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00208918251232477186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-90973467636760487012011-09-11T06:25:47.140-07:002011-09-11T06:25:47.140-07:00You can never have too many shoes! What a fascina...You can never have too many shoes! What a fascinating post. I wonder if anyone still hand-makes shoes or if they are all made by machine now.Liz Strattonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14355785887810653358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-35664451070156755502011-09-11T01:21:49.974-07:002011-09-11T01:21:49.974-07:00Love it : it is like a postcard version of those s...Love it : it is like a postcard version of those short documentary programmes that are so popular at the moment which show you How Things Are Made or How Do They Do It and the like. In that first picture you get a real feeling of some kind of work community taking place rather than a mechanised production line.Alan Burnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01015127443616786425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-86347645651067217822011-09-10T17:20:45.011-07:002011-09-10T17:20:45.011-07:00I wonder if I can find other similar cards or pho...I wonder if I can find other similar cards or photos of factories in New Yorkin the late 1800's and early 1900's, Very interesting reading about this history. Red Cross Shoes rang a bell with me too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09093078029028920810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-9810173286649081062011-09-10T11:26:57.987-07:002011-09-10T11:26:57.987-07:00Interesting background. Those sure were some hard...Interesting background. Those sure were some hard working women. They seem to be very happy in the group photo.GadgetSponge.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17921706318543284677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-17207405375868442392011-09-10T01:07:51.380-07:002011-09-10T01:07:51.380-07:00A wonderful snapshot of factory life, before full ...A wonderful snapshot of factory life, before full mechanisation. These employers sound more progressive than most, with their social and recreational policy for staff.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13494219959077922220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-71003327137431007312011-09-09T21:03:59.687-07:002011-09-09T21:03:59.687-07:00To the best of my knowledge, my grandparents quite...To the best of my knowledge, my grandparents quite enjoyed working for E-J's. Yes, it was hard work and they expected alot from you, but at the same time it was like a big family- there were picnics, dances, celebrations and other personal perks in addition to those Christine mentioned, including a retirement pension and low interest loans to help you buy a house.<br />Although E-J's was a major force that contributed to a boom in population and prosperity, it wasn't a company town in the sense that you had to shop at the company store, etc. Binghamton's vitality as a city peaked in the mid 20th century with a population of about 100,000. As manufacturers shifted operations to the sunbelt, then later overseas, the city began a continuous decline to the current size of about 45,000, with very little industry. Many of the E-J factories are still standing, but have been vacant for years and are slowly crumbling.Archie Techthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08030376486096194337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-41286088633297720622011-09-09T17:57:50.237-07:002011-09-09T17:57:50.237-07:00That's a great postcard. That's the best f...That's a great postcard. That's the best factory scene I've seen on a postcard. Both the photographer and the artist who colored and touched it up did an excellent job.Postcardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16399915833682943432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-1568783806278173102011-09-09T16:45:31.350-07:002011-09-09T16:45:31.350-07:00Amazing postcard. I wonder if they were any happie...Amazing postcard. I wonder if they were any happier than modern people working in their cubicles.Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07556727166267551805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-67324614357318701802011-09-09T16:41:45.226-07:002011-09-09T16:41:45.226-07:00What an important family "document" that...What an important family "document" that photograph of the stitching room staff is. Although it appears not to have been very carefully posed, it's both pleasing to the eye and informative, in many different ways. I wonder if any of the staff from c.1915 were still there in 1937?Brett Paynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07706734864792449845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-82779490012948563632011-09-09T11:52:52.924-07:002011-09-09T11:52:52.924-07:00The artwork on the first postcard makes it look li...The artwork on the first postcard makes it look like an idealised version of the factory, but tanneries are notoriously smelly places to work and that stitching room was probably very noisy too. Thank goodness for camaraderie.Little Nellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11862657943846727987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323012003780250968.post-25088554753732368302011-09-09T11:14:17.260-07:002011-09-09T11:14:17.260-07:00I see one man managed to get in the photo of those...I see one man managed to get in the photo of those in the stitching room. It was also interesting to see that belt driven Singer sowing machine.Bob Scotneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00662958579705940009noreply@blogger.com