Entry From 'The Book of Detroiters'-

FITZGERALD, James Arthur, restauranteur, born, Dayton, O., Mar. 8, 1872; son of James Edward and Josephus (Dunn) Fitzgerald; educated public schools, Dayton; married, Sept. 16, 1902, Josephine Gertrude Ackerman; one son, James Ackerman. Began active career as a hotel clerk at Dayton, O., 1885; later was manager Hotel Richelieu, Chicago, 4 years, then at Coney Island, N.Y., 2 years; came to Detroit in 1891; served as steward of the Russell House and of the Fellowcraft Club; proprietor Oakland Hotel; has been proprietor Penobscot Inn since 1903; member Brennan & Fitzgerald, also Brennan, Fitzgerald & Sinks; president H. & F. Vibrator Co.; vice president Universal Film Co.; director Ohio Film Co.; Servself Co. Republican. Episcopalian. Member B. P. O. Elks, Maccabees, H. M. A., Moose, Clubs: Harmonie, Elks. Recreation: baseball. Office: 432 Penobscot Bldg. Residence: 44 Dexter Boulevard.








James A., AKA "The Town Pump," as he often referred to himself, started his professional career in 1885 as a hotel clerk in Dayton, Ohio. Then he became the manager for the Hotel Richelieu in Chicago. He then came to Detroit in 1891 and served as steward of the Russell House and of the Fellowcraft Club. He would sketch the likeness' of such actors as John Drew, Della Fox, Thomas Q. Seabrooke, Sol Smith Russell, Maxine Elliott and DeWolf Hopper and they would put these drawings on the covers of the menus. He was the proprietor of the Oakland Hotel. In 1903 he was the proprietor of the Penobscot Inn. James A. was also steward of the Hotel Book Cadillac in Detroit. He was a member of Brennan and Fitzgerald, also Brennan, Fitzgerald and Sinks. He was the president of H & F Vibrator Co. and vice president of Universal Film Company. James A. was the director of the Ohio Film Company as well. He married Josephine Gertrude Ackerman in 1902 at Saint Andrew's Church in Detroit.