P. Kirby Zines Southern Fruit Distributors Collection, 1982-1986, 1998
Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Zines, P. Kirby
- Extent:
- 1.35 Linear Feet 1 Two Inch Legal Standard Container
- Language:
- English
Background
- Scope and content:
This collection contains three blueprint drawings created by Kirby as part of projects he was involved in at the Southern Fruit Distributors plant in South Orlando from 1984-1986. Also included is a newspaper article about the company, and a photo of the plant.
- Biographical / historical:
Paul Kirby Zines (b.1947) is a retired engineer-draftsman. He was born in Salem, Ohio, and educated at Penn-Ohio College in Youngstown. For over forty years, he worked as a draftsman and sales manager in the heavy and light manufacturing industry, specifically overhead cranes and decorative steelwork. He spent ten years with Morgan Engineering of Alliance, Ohio, one of the world's largest manufacturers of overhead crane systems. Due to a decline in manufacturing in the Midwest, Kirby relocated to Florida, and from 1983 until the plant's closure in 1986, worked for Southern Fruit Distributors, Inc. in Orlando, Florida.
Southern Fruit was founded in 1926 in Lisbon (Lake County), Florida by Phillip Caruso. He had purchased the patent and copyrights for the Bluebird label, and initially started the business to buy and pack citrus for New York distributors. He soon added additional packinghouses in Alturas and Winter Garden, as well as a small canning plant. In 1941, he relocated operations to South Orlando, building a large plant near the corner of S. Orange Avenue and W. Pineloch Avenue. By 1946, Phillip's sons Austin and Joesph were active in the business, as well as vice-president John Walsh. Phillip passed away in 1963 at the age of 72. The company continued to operate at its facility in Orlando until the end of the 1985-1986 season. In 1986, despite a reported $95 million in sales, the decision was made to accept an offer by Citrus World (now Florida's Natural) of Lake Wales to purchase the formula and labels. The Bluebird name lived on primarily in food service and vending operations.
Kirby was part of the Engineering department, where he worked on various projects related to plant maintenance and improvements. He considers Southern Fruit one of the best jobs he had in his long career, and has many fond memories of his brieft time there. After the closure of the Orlando plant, Kirby worked for other light manufacturing and overhead crane companies in Central Florida, pleaying an active role in transformation of the Orlando area through the 1980s and 90s. Some of the cranes he designed are still in operation at Walt Disney World, Kennedy Space Center, and Patrick Air Force Base. He has since retired and currently lives in Lakeland.
- Acquisition information:
- The collection was donated to the Tom Mack Florida Citrus Archives by the creator in 2024.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
This collection is open for research. Researchers must contact McKay Archives in advance for access to unprocessed born digital materials in this collection. Collection restrictions, copyright limitations, or technical complications may hinder the archive's ability to provide access to unprocessed born digital materials.
- Terms of access:
The P. Kirby Zines Southern Fruit Distributors Collection is owned by Florida Southern College. This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Please inquire if you have questions - archives@flsouthern.edu
- Location of this collection:
-
Florida Southern College111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr.LakelandFL33801USA
