#1089 p 55 RED HEADED STEPCHILD Part I Sophie Meranski Barrett early years
Chapter FIVE letters Rebekah Geetter, Mollie Aronson, Rose Witkower
Letter from Rebekah Geetter August 25,l970-92 Fern Street,Hartford Connectict Dearest Sophie & John, 8:30 in the morning We all went off on our yearly summer vacation for a week up in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine fishing, swimming & spending a good deal of time in the rowboat on the lake.Now it's "back to the salt mines' again,but the change of pace was just great.On contacting the Bureau of Vital Statistics here I learned that Mother & Dad were married on August 8, l890 here iin Hartford by a Rabbi M. Elkins.Mother was 20 years old, & Dad was 24..The original spelling of the name at the time the marriage license was issued was David Merenisky & Tally Goldfield.The spelling of the last name on the mariage certificate signed by the Rabbi is shown as Meirinski,which is slightly different from that of the marriage license.Dad was shown as having been born in Russia & Mother in Austria.We have no way of determining what Mother did before she was married since all her contemporaries have passed away.It is entirely possible that she helped some of the local tailors & in that way might have been introduced to Dad.There are no records of (her brother Jacob Goldfield but I think he was a few years younger than Mother & of course always lived at our house (25 Morgan Street, where Hartford directories indicated he remained with a group of tailors after David Meranski & family autumn l9l6 moved to 4 Wooster Street..He spent his late years as a resident of the local Hebrew Home for the Aged (then on Washington Street,,later Tower Avenue).In Maine Geetter,Sis (Esther) & I occupied a cottage.David,Joan,Darya & Erica were nearby.Geetter's brother Nathan & his wife Lillian had a cottage,& Joan's mother (Mrs. Trouboff occupied a fourth cottage.Albert,Millie,Joshua,Adam & Thora will go to Martha's Vineyard the week after Labor Day.Note by John Barrett There was a large exodus from Russia in l882, when David Meranski was seventeen years old.He may have lefty Brest (Litovsk) at this time -he spoke of Odessa, where he may have lived for a time or passed through in route to Turkey & Egypt. Pete Meranski's father-in-law came from Odessa probably l890's for foot surgery in Baltimore. His wife was born in Baltimore. They lived with Pete,Jen, Deborah, & Danny on Dolfield Avenue Baltimore,where I saw trhem September l960.One of Jen's aunt lived there also.Brody was the site of an American mission to aid Jewish refugees from Russia in l882- it was in Austrian Galicia near the border.The Geetter family emigrated from Stryj, Lemberg province Galicia after their eldest son Isadore was born January l902. Letter from Rebekah Geetter "Thursday afternoon September 3,l970 92 Fern Street,Hartford Connecticut 06l05"Dearest Sophie & John- I called the Hartford Public Library & learned that Pa was listed in the l890 directory as having a business address at 8 American Row in Hartford (listed as tailor) & living at 224 Front Street.There was no information as to who he boarded with at the Front Street address before he was married.There is no information at all about Mother,but it is very posssible she lived with the Meisselman family on Charles Street before she was married.Both Sis (Esther) & I recall that Mother came over on the ship with a Mrs. Meisselman,& it was under her wing that both she & "Yonkel"(her younger brother Jacob Goldfeld,who was resident of Hebrew Home in l930) made the voyage.The 1890 directory lists a Solomon Meisselman at 46 Charles Street,which as you might recall was in the same East Side neighborhood as Front Street.The whole East Side neighborhood has been demolished for redevelopment & is now called Constitution Plaza- a large complex of insurance buildings,banks, Broadcasting station & elegant shops. That shoud answer your feeling of curiosity about her crossing the ocean at such a young age,especially with a handicapped young brother.(Note by John Barrett l998: Fire destroyed immigration records for New York for this period-Ellis Island opened l892 Meiselmann descendants in Hartford l970's included bankruptcy judge Saul Seidman & Mrs. Silverberg -both family friends, who recollected the Meisselmans were from Brody Galicia, as were other friends, the Witkowers, who came over in April l890 = the older Witkower boy was born in Brody, but his younger brother, Rose Rosenblatt & was a publisher at Witkower Press was born in Vienna -he published a book on nutritional value of cod liver oil- Mrs.Witkower sent us a copy in l974.)-Sis remembers visiting with Mrs. Meisselman on Warren Street when she was a young girl (before either you or I were born apparently).Warren Street is several streets away from the Wooster Street area,& is now part of a slum clearance project.As you can see, Hartford as you knew it is fast changing,& many of the streets are no longer in existence.Sade Meranski (Mrs. Harry Meranski) is at the Hebrew Home for the Aged. I talked with Minnie Deutsch a couple of days ago (Sade's older sister),& she said that she and"Sister"(Pearl Meranski,daughter of Harry & Sade) visit with Sade practically every day.Sister lives alone but as you know has worked many,many years in the printing (later photo laboratory) department of the Travelers Insurance Company.Minnie's address is 11 Miamis Road, West Hartford, Ct. I learned from her that the Rausch company where Arthur (Lieutentant Colonel Arthur Meranski retired from Army l967 after 28 years service mainly tanks -Normandy invasion l944 & Inchon landing Korea September l950) works is in Columbia, Maryland. That's all the address she had.Also Arthur's home is in Aberdeen, Maryland,& she thought mail would reach him there.Incidentally I do know that Harry's birthdate was May 20,l89l.Perhaps Minnie could tell you when he & Sade were married.I know that he was serving in the Army at the time during World War I.As for Pa's remarriage,I think it was either l926 or l927, since Mother died in September of l925.He married Mrs. Anna Adelman, a widow with two children whose names were Rachel -about 8-eight& Eva about eleven.(Two grown boys did not live with the family).Pa kept the store till about l930, when he quitclaimed the house & store to the bank,since he was unable to keep up with the mortgage payments.His tenants were shiftless & unreliable,& it was torment for him to try to collect the rents.Anna was always out of the house tending to her business of credit buying (her customers would charge merchandise to her account & then she was always out collecting from the on installments.He minally moved out & went to live with a friend of his,Mr. Fishman (8 Magnolia Street).We helped to pay for his board & room & what little he needed for clothing.He left everything in the house at #4 Wooster Street for Mrs. Adelman to do with as she wishes, & I guess she sold everything=even our cherished red plush album which had pricelesss pictures of Pa in his fez in Turkey.& other memorabilia of Pa & Ma.In June of l929 I moved out of #4 at the time of my marriage.After about l93l for two years before his death Pa lived with his friend Mr. Fishman & spent considerable time with Sam & Bee (Pollack) in Philadelphia.A trip to Baltimore to attend the birth of Pete & Jen's first son Arthur resulted in his catching (lobar) pneumonia,& he passed away at the New Britain General Hospital on March 29,l933.(Ben & Abe's friend) Julius Aronson is doing very well,& I understand his (cataract) operations have been successful. I talk with him over the phone practically every week.I do know that he & Abe & Ben used to go to the Good Will Club Camp at Lake Terramugus in Marlboro,Connecticut & spent many happy summers there. You will recall that Mary Hall & her brother (I think his name was Bill) founded the Good Will Club for Boys in Hartford, & that many of our leading citizens in the community were at one time members in their youth.I must get off now & fix something for dinner this evening or I'll probably be ruled out of the party.Stay well-hugs & kisses from all. All our love.-Babe."(Abe Meranski stated his father David Meranski was born in Russia,March,l865-buried Zion Hill Cemetery.) ++Mollie Aronson information received Oct 4,l973 =written Oct 1 Julius's [Aronson's] brother who married Catherine Cooper was Sam. Died many years ago. Meyer only one left at eighty-one. Lives with a son in Hartford. "You mentioned Mrs. Witkower in your letter, and they had a bookstore on Asylum Avenue. St. Mr. Witkower passed away, and she lived on the next street to us, and now lives in California with a sister. Mrs. Witkower is Charlie Rosenblatt's sister. I also knew the Meiselmann's girl and the Seidmans from Sunday school. Saul Seidman is an attorney and his mother passed away a short time ago. Thought you might like the enclosed pictures taken at the Shack and you would know some of them like Celia, Rosenblatt, Charlie Rosenblatt, Jack Noll, Dora Johnson and Julius. When Julius and I were in Florida one year we spent the day wuth Teddiee and Aleen and their children and had a nice time. Can't imagine that they have married children. Julius and I went to their wedding at the Bond Hotel. Of course I knew Abe and also Ben and Charlie Rosenblatt and Julius owned the Shack on the river at Windsor and had many good times there. Yes, Babe is a wonder and she does so much and has such a large house to take care of and is always the same. I saw Albert recently, and he looks good and both he and David have nice practices. Julius used to get such a kick when at the hospital and Dr. David, Dr. Albert, and Dr. Isadore Geetter would come in to visit Uncle Julius. I knew that Harold and Ava had bought a home in West Hartford and were staying with Babe. Now they are in their own home. I knew that Bee and Sam had gone to Boston to a bar mitzvah and had gone to visit you.They both look good, and I saw them last year when I was in Florida.They drove up to see Babe and family from Great Neck and tried to call me.I think I was at my sister's home and missed them. They love being in Florida and have a lovely apartment. Guess Julius used to call Bee(looks like) Mrs. Vanderbit, and she always looks stunning and is so bubbly. I stopped by to see Babe,Esther, and the doctor on Saturday to wish them a Happy New Year-and all look good. I also took your letter along for Babe to read. We keep in touch with each other and speak on the phone each week. (Oc l,l970 [[TRANSFERSeparate item. -, PO=Oc 8, l9l5 JBB postcard to Bill - Wa never mind about the Remsen's Must get a later edition.- ... Rear Adm & Mrs. Williams invited Barrett to a tea for the War College class of l924 Friday July 6, l923]] Dec31'73 Rose Rosenblatt Witkower letter to Sophie Mrs. Rose Witkower 14 Regency Drive Bloomfield Connecticut 06002 - "Shalom Monday December 31, l973 My dear Sophia- Your letter came as a golden nugget today, a cold blear December day.for it brought back to me a rush of memories of days that were priceless- Days when one never heard of welfare- the poor- housing or all the other dismal "isms."for we lived in the midst of all of them and still found that all was Good.How vividly you wrote of my dear mother-in-law Saura Witkower. I wish I had the sense of value then as I now have for if I had been more patient and interested, my mother-in-law would have told me all about her experiences in Europe and in America.But I a busy mother of two children had no desire or time to listen.'Twas the same when my father a Civil War Veteran tried to tell us about some of his experiences such as when he became Representative of San Francisco, California in l879 Legislature and the arrival of the Jewish people in Hartford- but we were not interested.How well I remember the many, many times my mother-in-law went over to see Mrs. Meranski- where she knew she would find a kindred soul who loved her and would listen to her chatter-there in the brick housae on the corner of Canton and Wooster Street.She would be served with home made chicken soup,with fresh noodles, a pice pof chick and szimar and of course tea and kuchen.Hundreds of times - and what love she received from the whole family- the children eagerly waiting for the peppermint lozenges she took from her handbag.- and your Mother- how I remember the day I drove my mother-in-law to your home.She prevailed on me to go upstairs to say "hello" to her dear friends.Up I went and was rewarded with such a gush of love that it warmed the heart of an American girl who was losing the warmth of expressive love. Then we had tea-in--a-glass and butter coffee-cake.As I looked around the room I saw a number of children - her's and neighbors' children.That must have been about l9l5 (actually after Meranskis moved to Wooster Street autumn l9l6).The joy of her eyes sparkled when she spoke of her daughter Sophie who was going to graduate from high school and go on to college.Well, that was something that keenly interested me.Learning was my goal, and thus far I had only received seventh grade schooling.My mother-in-law kept me posted on your achievements- as proud of you as if she was your Mother.Mrs. Meiselman was a small, very active woman who helped her husband in their small grocery store.A finer person never lived.She gave to everyone who needed help;So did her children. They adopted my mother-in-law as their own.Not blood relations.There were two boys born to my mother-in-law.As I remember the story, she married a man who worked in a bank in Vienna.I believe she was born in Brody, Austria.That name rings a bell.Am quite sure thast your mother was not born there (?) They may have met on the boat coming over to America, and my mother-in law took care of her after they landed.I called Jennie Weinstein to find out what she knew, but she knew nothing.She sends her love.She told me of meeting your dear family - hopes you all are well.Israel Witkower (ROSE'S HUSBAND) was owner of a bookstore for fifty years on Asylum Street -formerly Warfield's.He started as an errand boy- later became the owner. am sure you traded in the store. Israel spoke very highly of the Meranski family. Charlie Rosenblatt (Rose's brother) told me much about the summer house down near the river.The gang had much fun there.He dearly loved Ben.We have two children - Irma and Bernard (Witkower).- five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.Thank god! Israel was born March 27,l889 - passed away on September 2,l968.- After spending four extremely happy, restful years in lovely Leisure World, California, a perfect community for Seniors, on my eighty-fourth birthday I decided to return home - West Hartford- to be close to my children.I have a very cozy three room apartment just a five minute drive from my daughter Irma, wife of Dr. Albert Reiner Deulert SPELLING??? Deutcib? Sorry I could not give you more information, but I am sure your dear mother was not born in Austria(cum granu salis). Thank you for the interesting letter. May God bless you- Yours - Rose Witkower. Sophie Barrett note l974 "Charles Rosenblatt married Celia Weinstein - Esther's chum." + Black Notebook Eight p. 169 Mrs. Rose Witkower "14 Regency Drive, Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002 Thursday, January 10, 1974 - Many thanks Sophie, for sending me the snapshots, - they are very attractive ones. What a kindly, loving man your husband must have been. 'Menchlichheit' seems to flow out from his picture and from the love you reveal in your writing of John, junior, he must be a fine person, too. If I had a snapshot to send you of myself when I was in my twenties, you would see that we looked much alike - only I was more serious then. Well, almost sixty-five years have passed since then. We lived on Market Street next to the Rumaisha School. We had roses growing on the front of the house - across from 'Meema Suarah". Now to answer a few of your questions- 'Meema Suarah's' married name was Mrs. Mazer. Her three stepsons lived in Brooklyn, New York, where they established the Hudson Paper Company. All became wealthy. They were fine men - had wonderful, charitable wives. I am proud to write that the elder son became very wealthy and gave much money to charity. His son is carrying on that good work and gives much to Israel and had a large building erected at the Hebrew Uinversity in honor of his father, Abraham Mazer. I saw it when I was in Israel almost fifteen years ago. Now to go on: Sarah Witkower Mazer lived with us for seventeen years. She was a gentle, kind person who did her own cooking and never gave us a bit of trouble. She had a number of good friends. Of course the Meiselmanns and the Meranskis headed the list. She was buried in our burial plot at the Emanuel Synagogue Cemetery in 1928. Her casket of red roses was given by our dear Christian frined, Harry Ney, owner of the Ney gold sheeting company on Pearl Street. She was born in Brody, Galicia, Austria. My daughter told me that she read the older [Witkower] son's birth certificate, and it stated that he was born in Brody. Israel [Rose's husband, the younger of the two immigrant Witkower brothers]was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1889 on March 27. Evidently she [Sarah Witkower] had lived a short time of her married life in Brody [and] then moved on to Vienna. That would make it 1890 for the trip to America. She was eighty-three years old when she passed away. Before she passed on, she was made happy when [her son] Israel told her that he had become the owner of the book-sstore where had had the good fortune to be hired as an errand boy at age thirteen many years ago. He passed over when he was seventy-nine. Israel was considered the best book-knowing man in New England and much respected by the publishers in New York. He published the book 'ARTHRITIS AND COMMON SENSE' that had a terrific sale until stopped by the American Medical Association. During that time he had received thousands of letters from people who had been helped. The American Medical Association will not permit any idea or thing, person or book to keep people away from the 'Doctor's' office. Many of the suggestions and prayers that eased my arthritis came from that book. It is still selling. Israel was a charter member of the Emanuel Synagogue. As for me I have made my purpose in life one of Service to Humanity - have borne two children been president of several organizations, served on many committees, such as forming the inter-racial group with Anna Fisher - Judge Saul Berman opening doors for the Negroes. My happiest days - ten years - were serving on a Feeding project during the Depression 1933-1943 at the Shiloh Baptist Church on Albany Avenue. - Children from the Arsenal Scool, mostly Negro.We served a free lunch to as many as one hundred chldren every school day - happy, constructive days for me. I also started several Senior Golden Age groups, and now I am finishing up my term on this earth making books for children who are in the hospitals and retarded children. Through the Red Cross I made fifteen hundred booklets last year- used fifteen thousand cards.So be it! Wonderful work to steady the hands and eyes. = Important - I called Linette Seidman Silverberg 31 Woodland Street, Hartford, daughter of the Meiselmanns of Brody - and [I] spoke to Ben Silverberg, who by the way said that attended school with you. Ben told me that his wife Linette Silverberg was too ill to talk to me. I asked him to ask Linette about [the] birthplaces of the Meiselmanns and my mother-in-law - Brody-Galicia-Austria. I am sure that if you would write NOW to Linette you could get all the information you want. Don't wait! Do it now. Linette was very close to her mother and must know. Now, my overworked fingers are telling me that it is time for me to put down the pen, but I won't until I say, 'Do come to see me in the spring.' I live about three miles from 92 Fern Street [the Geetter home]. I would have liked to know the two brave ladies who traveled to San Francisco [the Barretts 1854]. Auf wiedersehn. Rose" +Postcard from Rose Witkower : received Feb 26, l974 (recommended book): Hartford Jews 1659-l970 by Rabbi Morris Silverman - mentions Capital City Lodge #119 - 1900 David Meranski Treasurer. Dr. Geetter's picture and factual item is in this book on page 351(John Barrett note July l998- Rose Witkower's recollection of Sophie's mother at Wooster Street is of great interest, but she clearly did not know whether Thalia Goldfeld Meranski was born in Vienna or Brody, Austrian Galicia, now in Ukraine. In Boston l970's Sophie and John spoke with a widow Celia Goldfield of Milton (employed at Jordan Marsh Boston)- Celia's husband was from Rovno on the same railroad line as Brody. Goldfeld or Goldfield is not a common name, but I found about thirty in a survey of telephone directories of larger American cities.On Portland Street, Hartford l909 accoring to directories a newly arrived Goldfield family lived near the Meranskis for about a year. Any connection is unknown.Sophie said her mother's parents were deceased when her mother came to Hartford along with her younger brother Jack, who was hard of hearing, worked as a tailor, added a letter i to his name changing from Goldfeld to Goldfield l9l6. if directory is accurate. He lived at 25 Morgan Street with Meranskis l9l0-l9l6 and stayed there according to directories for several years when they moeved to Wooster Street late l9l6. He was a resident of Hebrew Home l931 accding to directory.It was the custom to name children for deceased relatives , so Thalia's parents Abel and Bertha Goldfeld in Austria would have been deceased when their grandson Abe was born l896 and granddaughter Bertha July 23, l898. Notebook Eight p. 179 January 21, 1974 Excerpts of letter from Rose Witkower to John Barrett, jr. "My dear John, I am writing this letter as I read your letter, for I want to answer all of your questions according to my recollection.Today is a nasty day, - just the right kind of day to sit in a warm cozy chair and write. Know that these are my recollections and may not be 'so' to someone else, but to me they are. = The Jewish people were always looking for more knowledge in all phases of life. They have been known for thousands of years as the People of the Book. Always desirous of giving to their sons more learning. The parents would work much - very, very hard to save enough to send him to the Yeshiva Temple in Jerusalem or college at home or abroad. There have always been disturbing conditions for Jews even before Jesus's time. In 1880 [1881?] the rumbling of a pogrom was being heard in Russia and through the other nations.Many Jews were leaving the land they lived in for America- the country where one could be free and safe from fear, tyranny, and the police- and of greater importance where one's son could possibly become a Doctor, lawyer, even a high class businessman.In the European countries there were some brilliant Jewish boys who through bribery or changing their religion had attained great places for themselves in arious professions, but the masses were limiited to [be] home and synagogue teachers. As you know Jesus, Peter, and all of the disciples taught at home or at Yeshivas.The daughters of the families were taught at home- some were taught religion, but most were taught how to keep a clean, harmonious home,- for marriage was their goal. Yes - question One - the Jews were looking for Freedom and Learning- I believe you wil find Dreyfus in France - Disraeli in England - the great Jewish actress Isadora Duse - the Rothschilds - Hersechel and Zionists in 1800s. Where a Jewish family decided to come to America - a [180][it was] dangerous trip full of hardships and hunger.They would get in touch with a family relation, -relative or friend or friend of a friend who was in America. Then they would obtain visas - called a 'Paper' from these people - called 'Lansmen' and start this journey - stealing away at night hidden in a load of hay, cattle, or merchandise - fearing every moment that they would be stopped by Police or Soldiers. Penalty: Exile to Siberia- many times death- yes the Jew had to suffer much before he reached American or any other country.There was a 'hush before the storm' when your mother's mother and Mrs. Witkower and Israel left Austria headed for America to their Lansmen - the Meiselmanns- who had a tiny store on Green Street- a short distance from Bellevue Street. No doubt Sophie as a small child was carried there or wheeled there by her mother or father. = My father Bernard Rosenblatt,['1845' appears- may be date of birth?--'Prussian and Russian in 1800s'] who stole away from Poland and sailed into Charleston, South Carolina when he was sixteen years old-arrived there in the midst of the Civil War. After he disembarked, he was handed a gun and told to go along with the Southern Army. 'What for?' he asked - when told why "To kill the niggers and Northerners' - he rebelled [from the Southern Army] and joined the First Irish Artillery of New York - my father fought in sixteen engagements and was at Gettysburg and the surrender. After the war he traveled extensively, ending up in San Francisco in the Gold Rush[181]He had built a large building- a barber shop and a hot bath parlor.Barney Rosenblatt became a representative from San Francisco and was nominated for Governor of California by the Greenback party. Of course he lost out. He then returned to New York with three small children - wife had passed on - to find himself a wife. Then he married my mother, Paulina, a newly arrived widow from Germany, [who came] to her sister in New York. After a few years they came to Hartford- then a small town with a very few Jewish families- perhpas fifteen families - some on their way to wealth` via cattle, tobacco, the store G. Fox and Company - I am writing all this to answer Question Three.=Bernard Rosenblatt - a well educated and fearless person - well educated in Poland, a glib speaker of several languages,-was a man of great understanding and sympathy for people, all kinds.He had much of the Christ nature in his dealings with his fellow men.He seemed to know that trouble was brewing in Russia for the Jewish people. soon after he had settled his family - now six children- in Hartford - he went over to see the other Jewish families.He found them all living humbly down near the Connecticut River on Front Street.No synagogue, no charitable organization, and no burial-grounds - a must for the Jewish people. The poor people could not speak English, and they asked my father to help them.He gladly consented. First he went to the police court for the permission to act as their interpreter and semi-lawyer in case one of them broke the law unknowingly. Due to his charm and his being a Civil War veteran the Irish police consented - also due to the tales he could tell them.[p. 182] I was born in Hartford in 1889 on North Front Street a lovely country type street, gardens, farmers, pigstys, chicken, trains etc. Soon after that the terror of a pogrom (massacre) happened in Kief, Russia {Kiev]. Many many Jews - men, women children- were slaughtered in their homes and on the streets. Then came the rush to America.Most stayed with relatives and friends in New York. Some came to Hartford.My father would meet the poor, tired, frightened family at the Hartford boat landing and would pile them and their worldly goods into a wagon and drive them to their friends' or relatives' home. = A while later my father placed a long basket with some notions, needles, pins, etc and told them to go from door to door selling them. He told the peddlers to use their fingers to tell the price (for they could not speak English). The wealthy German Jews paid for the baskets. Next came the push cart trade, then the horse and wagon trade = tailors, jewelers, tanners, house builders, sewing-machine workers, men and women - up, up, up that was how mayn fortunes began. . = No, I did not know the Meranski family. Only heard about them from Mrs. Witkower [her mother-in-law] and my brother Charlie. Heard they were a fine family. [Sophie Barrett note "She DID visit them on Wooster Street" - as she subsequently recollected]. Your Question Seven. That may be so: Thousands of Jewish boys did. My father was sixteen when he arrived in Charleston, South Carolina. He arrived in Hartford 1887 or 1888 [directories seem to list him in 1885.] Mr. Meranski may have been here. Try the old Directory. The Immigration officers at Ellis Island were often mistaken- they could not understand the Jew language and would misspell or even change the name. [My] Israel's name was Aaron - they wrote down Israel. = 9. my father came from Warsaw, Poland - ruled by Russians. He was well educated, had fine mind and manners - made a good name for himself as a humanitarian in Hartford. He was a true organizer and started much of the Jewish affairs in Hartford.He was a politician - Republican. Knowing how important it was for them to become citizens,he insisted on their getting their citizenship papers. made them all Republicans. Of course they changed their party later.When Dad was buried [1903] almost the entire Jewish community walked to the cemetery- a long walk on Zion Street from Market Street. I grew up with many a coming first-rate dcotor, lawyer, businessman. = Mother Paulina - a quiet lady-like woman gentle and very helpful to her friends and neighbors. Born near Frankfurt Germany. Brought up nine children - three of Dad's, six of her own. One becamse first Jewish mailman - Ben Rosenblatt- lived on Bellevue Street near Canton. Had son Joe- a holy terror. Now he writes music for Frank Sinatra - Flip etc in California. First Jewish policeman - Abe Rosenblatt - first radio and electrical store Joe and Charlie. Rachel married. Rose - me- followed my father's ideals. First to organize clubs for the elderly.Past President of Emanuel Synagogue Sisterhood.On the board of many organizations.= The Council of Jewish Women - [its] purpose[is] to elevate the Jewish race.The members paid two dollars a year dues.Ella Meiselmann Seidman and I were [184]members. I was on the board. Money was pouring in. Much good work was being done for all races. = Girls [were]forbidden to sell newspapers -law enforced. I told Mrs. Mary McCloud Bethune to form such a group from the black women all over the United States -write to the to the top level first- they would lend the others. That was in 1933. In 1935 the National Council of Negro Women was formed. Today they have four million members.Headquarters are in Washington, D.C. and the whole idea was mine. A few years ago I had the job of inspiring a falling-apart Hartford group to get going again. I am a life member. The college stands in Daytona, Florida. I do wish you would read her book 'The Autobiography of Mary McCloud Bethune' also the Rothschilds (brothers)- both inspiring books. I believe the idea for lunches for school children came from the lunches we served - the City of Hartford sent people to watch us.= Israel's brother came to America many years after 'Meema Saura' came. He was not a pleasant person.Lived in Chicago for some time - moved to Hartford - lived here on Pliny Street for a short while. Did not like Hartford - moved away out of our lives. = I have served on some Christmas Club boards opening the way for others -a member of the first interfaith group - saw that Rabbi Morris Silverman -Rabbi of the Emanuel [185] Synagogue was made chairman. A brilliant open-minded man.He did well. I invited many clergymen to speak at the Emanuel.Rabbi [Silverman] passed on in 1973 but left behind him a warm feeling of friendship between all denominations. I married a fine man - Israel Witkower- 62 years ago. [I have been a] widow for five years- two children Irma, Bernard and five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren (one in Israel). Esther [exact relation not clear] passed on. I hope I have answered all the questions. Mrs. Aronson and Mrs. Geetter called me -we had a nice chat.= No I don't know Israel's father's name or his mother's maiden name. G.Fox and Company was owned by Moses Fox 1910. then his daughter Fanny Fox married Mr. Auerbach. - Rose Witkower" Note to Sophie "What a hectic life you have had - not for me. I am sure the book you are preparing will be an interesting one.What a lot of work it must be to write a book, but one learns as one delves into past occurances.My son was stationed in Honolulu during the war.Thank God we now live in peace.May I finish my life here in "Peace",and may Peace come to all the world. I am keen about spiritual psychology. I have read many books on different religions. Please return pictures. Much love. Rose Witkower." John Barrett note June 2000 Time has proved the Witkowers right on the health value of fish oil though it is primarily for the Omega three polyunsaturated oil more than for the Vitamin D.
Chapter FIVE letters Rebekah Geetter, Mollie Aronson, Rose Witkower
Letter from Rebekah Geetter August 25,l970-92 Fern Street,Hartford Connectict Dearest Sophie & John, 8:30 in the morning We all went off on our yearly summer vacation for a week up in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine fishing, swimming & spending a good deal of time in the rowboat on the lake.Now it's "back to the salt mines' again,but the change of pace was just great.On contacting the Bureau of Vital Statistics here I learned that Mother & Dad were married on August 8, l890 here iin Hartford by a Rabbi M. Elkins.Mother was 20 years old, & Dad was 24..The original spelling of the name at the time the marriage license was issued was David Merenisky & Tally Goldfield.The spelling of the last name on the mariage certificate signed by the Rabbi is shown as Meirinski,which is slightly different from that of the marriage license.Dad was shown as having been born in Russia & Mother in Austria.We have no way of determining what Mother did before she was married since all her contemporaries have passed away.It is entirely possible that she helped some of the local tailors & in that way might have been introduced to Dad.There are no records of (her brother Jacob Goldfield but I think he was a few years younger than Mother & of course always lived at our house (25 Morgan Street, where Hartford directories indicated he remained with a group of tailors after David Meranski & family autumn l9l6 moved to 4 Wooster Street..He spent his late years as a resident of the local Hebrew Home for the Aged (then on Washington Street,,later Tower Avenue).In Maine Geetter,Sis (Esther) & I occupied a cottage.David,Joan,Darya & Erica were nearby.Geetter's brother Nathan & his wife Lillian had a cottage,& Joan's mother (Mrs. Trouboff occupied a fourth cottage.Albert,Millie,Joshua,Adam & Thora will go to Martha's Vineyard the week after Labor Day.Note by John Barrett There was a large exodus from Russia in l882, when David Meranski was seventeen years old.He may have lefty Brest (Litovsk) at this time -he spoke of Odessa, where he may have lived for a time or passed through in route to Turkey & Egypt. Pete Meranski's father-in-law came from Odessa probably l890's for foot surgery in Baltimore. His wife was born in Baltimore. They lived with Pete,Jen, Deborah, & Danny on Dolfield Avenue Baltimore,where I saw trhem September l960.One of Jen's aunt lived there also.Brody was the site of an American mission to aid Jewish refugees from Russia in l882- it was in Austrian Galicia near the border.The Geetter family emigrated from Stryj, Lemberg province Galicia after their eldest son Isadore was born January l902. Letter from Rebekah Geetter "Thursday afternoon September 3,l970 92 Fern Street,Hartford Connecticut 06l05"Dearest Sophie & John- I called the Hartford Public Library & learned that Pa was listed in the l890 directory as having a business address at 8 American Row in Hartford (listed as tailor) & living at 224 Front Street.There was no information as to who he boarded with at the Front Street address before he was married.There is no information at all about Mother,but it is very posssible she lived with the Meisselman family on Charles Street before she was married.Both Sis (Esther) & I recall that Mother came over on the ship with a Mrs. Meisselman,& it was under her wing that both she & "Yonkel"(her younger brother Jacob Goldfeld,who was resident of Hebrew Home in l930) made the voyage.The 1890 directory lists a Solomon Meisselman at 46 Charles Street,which as you might recall was in the same East Side neighborhood as Front Street.The whole East Side neighborhood has been demolished for redevelopment & is now called Constitution Plaza- a large complex of insurance buildings,banks, Broadcasting station & elegant shops. That shoud answer your feeling of curiosity about her crossing the ocean at such a young age,especially with a handicapped young brother.(Note by John Barrett l998: Fire destroyed immigration records for New York for this period-Ellis Island opened l892 Meiselmann descendants in Hartford l970's included bankruptcy judge Saul Seidman & Mrs. Silverberg -both family friends, who recollected the Meisselmans were from Brody Galicia, as were other friends, the Witkowers, who came over in April l890 = the older Witkower boy was born in Brody, but his younger brother, Rose Rosenblatt & was a publisher at Witkower Press was born in Vienna -he published a book on nutritional value of cod liver oil- Mrs.Witkower sent us a copy in l974.)-Sis remembers visiting with Mrs. Meisselman on Warren Street when she was a young girl (before either you or I were born apparently).Warren Street is several streets away from the Wooster Street area,& is now part of a slum clearance project.As you can see, Hartford as you knew it is fast changing,& many of the streets are no longer in existence.Sade Meranski (Mrs. Harry Meranski) is at the Hebrew Home for the Aged. I talked with Minnie Deutsch a couple of days ago (Sade's older sister),& she said that she and"Sister"(Pearl Meranski,daughter of Harry & Sade) visit with Sade practically every day.Sister lives alone but as you know has worked many,many years in the printing (later photo laboratory) department of the Travelers Insurance Company.Minnie's address is 11 Miamis Road, West Hartford, Ct. I learned from her that the Rausch company where Arthur (Lieutentant Colonel Arthur Meranski retired from Army l967 after 28 years service mainly tanks -Normandy invasion l944 & Inchon landing Korea September l950) works is in Columbia, Maryland. That's all the address she had.Also Arthur's home is in Aberdeen, Maryland,& she thought mail would reach him there.Incidentally I do know that Harry's birthdate was May 20,l89l.Perhaps Minnie could tell you when he & Sade were married.I know that he was serving in the Army at the time during World War I.As for Pa's remarriage,I think it was either l926 or l927, since Mother died in September of l925.He married Mrs. Anna Adelman, a widow with two children whose names were Rachel -about 8-eight& Eva about eleven.(Two grown boys did not live with the family).Pa kept the store till about l930, when he quitclaimed the house & store to the bank,since he was unable to keep up with the mortgage payments.His tenants were shiftless & unreliable,& it was torment for him to try to collect the rents.Anna was always out of the house tending to her business of credit buying (her customers would charge merchandise to her account & then she was always out collecting from the on installments.He minally moved out & went to live with a friend of his,Mr. Fishman (8 Magnolia Street).We helped to pay for his board & room & what little he needed for clothing.He left everything in the house at #4 Wooster Street for Mrs. Adelman to do with as she wishes, & I guess she sold everything=even our cherished red plush album which had pricelesss pictures of Pa in his fez in Turkey.& other memorabilia of Pa & Ma.In June of l929 I moved out of #4 at the time of my marriage.After about l93l for two years before his death Pa lived with his friend Mr. Fishman & spent considerable time with Sam & Bee (Pollack) in Philadelphia.A trip to Baltimore to attend the birth of Pete & Jen's first son Arthur resulted in his catching (lobar) pneumonia,& he passed away at the New Britain General Hospital on March 29,l933.(Ben & Abe's friend) Julius Aronson is doing very well,& I understand his (cataract) operations have been successful. I talk with him over the phone practically every week.I do know that he & Abe & Ben used to go to the Good Will Club Camp at Lake Terramugus in Marlboro,Connecticut & spent many happy summers there. You will recall that Mary Hall & her brother (I think his name was Bill) founded the Good Will Club for Boys in Hartford, & that many of our leading citizens in the community were at one time members in their youth.I must get off now & fix something for dinner this evening or I'll probably be ruled out of the party.Stay well-hugs & kisses from all. All our love.-Babe."(Abe Meranski stated his father David Meranski was born in Russia,March,l865-buried Zion Hill Cemetery.) ++Mollie Aronson information received Oct 4,l973 =written Oct 1 Julius's [Aronson's] brother who married Catherine Cooper was Sam. Died many years ago. Meyer only one left at eighty-one. Lives with a son in Hartford. "You mentioned Mrs. Witkower in your letter, and they had a bookstore on Asylum Avenue. St. Mr. Witkower passed away, and she lived on the next street to us, and now lives in California with a sister. Mrs. Witkower is Charlie Rosenblatt's sister. I also knew the Meiselmann's girl and the Seidmans from Sunday school. Saul Seidman is an attorney and his mother passed away a short time ago. Thought you might like the enclosed pictures taken at the Shack and you would know some of them like Celia, Rosenblatt, Charlie Rosenblatt, Jack Noll, Dora Johnson and Julius. When Julius and I were in Florida one year we spent the day wuth Teddiee and Aleen and their children and had a nice time. Can't imagine that they have married children. Julius and I went to their wedding at the Bond Hotel. Of course I knew Abe and also Ben and Charlie Rosenblatt and Julius owned the Shack on the river at Windsor and had many good times there. Yes, Babe is a wonder and she does so much and has such a large house to take care of and is always the same. I saw Albert recently, and he looks good and both he and David have nice practices. Julius used to get such a kick when at the hospital and Dr. David, Dr. Albert, and Dr. Isadore Geetter would come in to visit Uncle Julius. I knew that Harold and Ava had bought a home in West Hartford and were staying with Babe. Now they are in their own home. I knew that Bee and Sam had gone to Boston to a bar mitzvah and had gone to visit you.They both look good, and I saw them last year when I was in Florida.They drove up to see Babe and family from Great Neck and tried to call me.I think I was at my sister's home and missed them. They love being in Florida and have a lovely apartment. Guess Julius used to call Bee(looks like) Mrs. Vanderbit, and she always looks stunning and is so bubbly. I stopped by to see Babe,Esther, and the doctor on Saturday to wish them a Happy New Year-and all look good. I also took your letter along for Babe to read. We keep in touch with each other and speak on the phone each week. (Oc l,l970 [[TRANSFERSeparate item. -, PO=Oc 8, l9l5 JBB postcard to Bill - Wa never mind about the Remsen's Must get a later edition.- ... Rear Adm & Mrs. Williams invited Barrett to a tea for the War College class of l924 Friday July 6, l923]] Dec31'73 Rose Rosenblatt Witkower letter to Sophie Mrs. Rose Witkower 14 Regency Drive Bloomfield Connecticut 06002 - "Shalom Monday December 31, l973 My dear Sophia- Your letter came as a golden nugget today, a cold blear December day.for it brought back to me a rush of memories of days that were priceless- Days when one never heard of welfare- the poor- housing or all the other dismal "isms."for we lived in the midst of all of them and still found that all was Good.How vividly you wrote of my dear mother-in-law Saura Witkower. I wish I had the sense of value then as I now have for if I had been more patient and interested, my mother-in-law would have told me all about her experiences in Europe and in America.But I a busy mother of two children had no desire or time to listen.'Twas the same when my father a Civil War Veteran tried to tell us about some of his experiences such as when he became Representative of San Francisco, California in l879 Legislature and the arrival of the Jewish people in Hartford- but we were not interested.How well I remember the many, many times my mother-in-law went over to see Mrs. Meranski- where she knew she would find a kindred soul who loved her and would listen to her chatter-there in the brick housae on the corner of Canton and Wooster Street.She would be served with home made chicken soup,with fresh noodles, a pice pof chick and szimar and of course tea and kuchen.Hundreds of times - and what love she received from the whole family- the children eagerly waiting for the peppermint lozenges she took from her handbag.- and your Mother- how I remember the day I drove my mother-in-law to your home.She prevailed on me to go upstairs to say "hello" to her dear friends.Up I went and was rewarded with such a gush of love that it warmed the heart of an American girl who was losing the warmth of expressive love. Then we had tea-in--a-glass and butter coffee-cake.As I looked around the room I saw a number of children - her's and neighbors' children.That must have been about l9l5 (actually after Meranskis moved to Wooster Street autumn l9l6).The joy of her eyes sparkled when she spoke of her daughter Sophie who was going to graduate from high school and go on to college.Well, that was something that keenly interested me.Learning was my goal, and thus far I had only received seventh grade schooling.My mother-in-law kept me posted on your achievements- as proud of you as if she was your Mother.Mrs. Meiselman was a small, very active woman who helped her husband in their small grocery store.A finer person never lived.She gave to everyone who needed help;So did her children. They adopted my mother-in-law as their own.Not blood relations.There were two boys born to my mother-in-law.As I remember the story, she married a man who worked in a bank in Vienna.I believe she was born in Brody, Austria.That name rings a bell.Am quite sure thast your mother was not born there (?) They may have met on the boat coming over to America, and my mother-in law took care of her after they landed.I called Jennie Weinstein to find out what she knew, but she knew nothing.She sends her love.She told me of meeting your dear family - hopes you all are well.Israel Witkower (ROSE'S HUSBAND) was owner of a bookstore for fifty years on Asylum Street -formerly Warfield's.He started as an errand boy- later became the owner. am sure you traded in the store. Israel spoke very highly of the Meranski family. Charlie Rosenblatt (Rose's brother) told me much about the summer house down near the river.The gang had much fun there.He dearly loved Ben.We have two children - Irma and Bernard (Witkower).- five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.Thank god! Israel was born March 27,l889 - passed away on September 2,l968.- After spending four extremely happy, restful years in lovely Leisure World, California, a perfect community for Seniors, on my eighty-fourth birthday I decided to return home - West Hartford- to be close to my children.I have a very cozy three room apartment just a five minute drive from my daughter Irma, wife of Dr. Albert Reiner Deulert SPELLING??? Deutcib? Sorry I could not give you more information, but I am sure your dear mother was not born in Austria(cum granu salis). Thank you for the interesting letter. May God bless you- Yours - Rose Witkower. Sophie Barrett note l974 "Charles Rosenblatt married Celia Weinstein - Esther's chum." + Black Notebook Eight p. 169 Mrs. Rose Witkower "14 Regency Drive, Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002 Thursday, January 10, 1974 - Many thanks Sophie, for sending me the snapshots, - they are very attractive ones. What a kindly, loving man your husband must have been. 'Menchlichheit' seems to flow out from his picture and from the love you reveal in your writing of John, junior, he must be a fine person, too. If I had a snapshot to send you of myself when I was in my twenties, you would see that we looked much alike - only I was more serious then. Well, almost sixty-five years have passed since then. We lived on Market Street next to the Rumaisha School. We had roses growing on the front of the house - across from 'Meema Suarah". Now to answer a few of your questions- 'Meema Suarah's' married name was Mrs. Mazer. Her three stepsons lived in Brooklyn, New York, where they established the Hudson Paper Company. All became wealthy. They were fine men - had wonderful, charitable wives. I am proud to write that the elder son became very wealthy and gave much money to charity. His son is carrying on that good work and gives much to Israel and had a large building erected at the Hebrew Uinversity in honor of his father, Abraham Mazer. I saw it when I was in Israel almost fifteen years ago. Now to go on: Sarah Witkower Mazer lived with us for seventeen years. She was a gentle, kind person who did her own cooking and never gave us a bit of trouble. She had a number of good friends. Of course the Meiselmanns and the Meranskis headed the list. She was buried in our burial plot at the Emanuel Synagogue Cemetery in 1928. Her casket of red roses was given by our dear Christian frined, Harry Ney, owner of the Ney gold sheeting company on Pearl Street. She was born in Brody, Galicia, Austria. My daughter told me that she read the older [Witkower] son's birth certificate, and it stated that he was born in Brody. Israel [Rose's husband, the younger of the two immigrant Witkower brothers]was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1889 on March 27. Evidently she [Sarah Witkower] had lived a short time of her married life in Brody [and] then moved on to Vienna. That would make it 1890 for the trip to America. She was eighty-three years old when she passed away. Before she passed on, she was made happy when [her son] Israel told her that he had become the owner of the book-sstore where had had the good fortune to be hired as an errand boy at age thirteen many years ago. He passed over when he was seventy-nine. Israel was considered the best book-knowing man in New England and much respected by the publishers in New York. He published the book 'ARTHRITIS AND COMMON SENSE' that had a terrific sale until stopped by the American Medical Association. During that time he had received thousands of letters from people who had been helped. The American Medical Association will not permit any idea or thing, person or book to keep people away from the 'Doctor's' office. Many of the suggestions and prayers that eased my arthritis came from that book. It is still selling. Israel was a charter member of the Emanuel Synagogue. As for me I have made my purpose in life one of Service to Humanity - have borne two children been president of several organizations, served on many committees, such as forming the inter-racial group with Anna Fisher - Judge Saul Berman opening doors for the Negroes. My happiest days - ten years - were serving on a Feeding project during the Depression 1933-1943 at the Shiloh Baptist Church on Albany Avenue. - Children from the Arsenal Scool, mostly Negro.We served a free lunch to as many as one hundred chldren every school day - happy, constructive days for me. I also started several Senior Golden Age groups, and now I am finishing up my term on this earth making books for children who are in the hospitals and retarded children. Through the Red Cross I made fifteen hundred booklets last year- used fifteen thousand cards.So be it! Wonderful work to steady the hands and eyes. = Important - I called Linette Seidman Silverberg 31 Woodland Street, Hartford, daughter of the Meiselmanns of Brody - and [I] spoke to Ben Silverberg, who by the way said that attended school with you. Ben told me that his wife Linette Silverberg was too ill to talk to me. I asked him to ask Linette about [the] birthplaces of the Meiselmanns and my mother-in-law - Brody-Galicia-Austria. I am sure that if you would write NOW to Linette you could get all the information you want. Don't wait! Do it now. Linette was very close to her mother and must know. Now, my overworked fingers are telling me that it is time for me to put down the pen, but I won't until I say, 'Do come to see me in the spring.' I live about three miles from 92 Fern Street [the Geetter home]. I would have liked to know the two brave ladies who traveled to San Francisco [the Barretts 1854]. Auf wiedersehn. Rose" +Postcard from Rose Witkower : received Feb 26, l974 (recommended book): Hartford Jews 1659-l970 by Rabbi Morris Silverman - mentions Capital City Lodge #119 - 1900 David Meranski Treasurer. Dr. Geetter's picture and factual item is in this book on page 351(John Barrett note July l998- Rose Witkower's recollection of Sophie's mother at Wooster Street is of great interest, but she clearly did not know whether Thalia Goldfeld Meranski was born in Vienna or Brody, Austrian Galicia, now in Ukraine. In Boston l970's Sophie and John spoke with a widow Celia Goldfield of Milton (employed at Jordan Marsh Boston)- Celia's husband was from Rovno on the same railroad line as Brody. Goldfeld or Goldfield is not a common name, but I found about thirty in a survey of telephone directories of larger American cities.On Portland Street, Hartford l909 accoring to directories a newly arrived Goldfield family lived near the Meranskis for about a year. Any connection is unknown.Sophie said her mother's parents were deceased when her mother came to Hartford along with her younger brother Jack, who was hard of hearing, worked as a tailor, added a letter i to his name changing from Goldfeld to Goldfield l9l6. if directory is accurate. He lived at 25 Morgan Street with Meranskis l9l0-l9l6 and stayed there according to directories for several years when they moeved to Wooster Street late l9l6. He was a resident of Hebrew Home l931 accding to directory.It was the custom to name children for deceased relatives , so Thalia's parents Abel and Bertha Goldfeld in Austria would have been deceased when their grandson Abe was born l896 and granddaughter Bertha July 23, l898. Notebook Eight p. 179 January 21, 1974 Excerpts of letter from Rose Witkower to John Barrett, jr. "My dear John, I am writing this letter as I read your letter, for I want to answer all of your questions according to my recollection.Today is a nasty day, - just the right kind of day to sit in a warm cozy chair and write. Know that these are my recollections and may not be 'so' to someone else, but to me they are. = The Jewish people were always looking for more knowledge in all phases of life. They have been known for thousands of years as the People of the Book. Always desirous of giving to their sons more learning. The parents would work much - very, very hard to save enough to send him to the Yeshiva Temple in Jerusalem or college at home or abroad. There have always been disturbing conditions for Jews even before Jesus's time. In 1880 [1881?] the rumbling of a pogrom was being heard in Russia and through the other nations.Many Jews were leaving the land they lived in for America- the country where one could be free and safe from fear, tyranny, and the police- and of greater importance where one's son could possibly become a Doctor, lawyer, even a high class businessman.In the European countries there were some brilliant Jewish boys who through bribery or changing their religion had attained great places for themselves in arious professions, but the masses were limiited to [be] home and synagogue teachers. As you know Jesus, Peter, and all of the disciples taught at home or at Yeshivas.The daughters of the families were taught at home- some were taught religion, but most were taught how to keep a clean, harmonious home,- for marriage was their goal. Yes - question One - the Jews were looking for Freedom and Learning- I believe you wil find Dreyfus in France - Disraeli in England - the great Jewish actress Isadora Duse - the Rothschilds - Hersechel and Zionists in 1800s. Where a Jewish family decided to come to America - a [180][it was] dangerous trip full of hardships and hunger.They would get in touch with a family relation, -relative or friend or friend of a friend who was in America. Then they would obtain visas - called a 'Paper' from these people - called 'Lansmen' and start this journey - stealing away at night hidden in a load of hay, cattle, or merchandise - fearing every moment that they would be stopped by Police or Soldiers. Penalty: Exile to Siberia- many times death- yes the Jew had to suffer much before he reached American or any other country.There was a 'hush before the storm' when your mother's mother and Mrs. Witkower and Israel left Austria headed for America to their Lansmen - the Meiselmanns- who had a tiny store on Green Street- a short distance from Bellevue Street. No doubt Sophie as a small child was carried there or wheeled there by her mother or father. = My father Bernard Rosenblatt,['1845' appears- may be date of birth?--'Prussian and Russian in 1800s'] who stole away from Poland and sailed into Charleston, South Carolina when he was sixteen years old-arrived there in the midst of the Civil War. After he disembarked, he was handed a gun and told to go along with the Southern Army. 'What for?' he asked - when told why "To kill the niggers and Northerners' - he rebelled [from the Southern Army] and joined the First Irish Artillery of New York - my father fought in sixteen engagements and was at Gettysburg and the surrender. After the war he traveled extensively, ending up in San Francisco in the Gold Rush[181]He had built a large building- a barber shop and a hot bath parlor.Barney Rosenblatt became a representative from San Francisco and was nominated for Governor of California by the Greenback party. Of course he lost out. He then returned to New York with three small children - wife had passed on - to find himself a wife. Then he married my mother, Paulina, a newly arrived widow from Germany, [who came] to her sister in New York. After a few years they came to Hartford- then a small town with a very few Jewish families- perhpas fifteen families - some on their way to wealth` via cattle, tobacco, the store G. Fox and Company - I am writing all this to answer Question Three.=Bernard Rosenblatt - a well educated and fearless person - well educated in Poland, a glib speaker of several languages,-was a man of great understanding and sympathy for people, all kinds.He had much of the Christ nature in his dealings with his fellow men.He seemed to know that trouble was brewing in Russia for the Jewish people. soon after he had settled his family - now six children- in Hartford - he went over to see the other Jewish families.He found them all living humbly down near the Connecticut River on Front Street.No synagogue, no charitable organization, and no burial-grounds - a must for the Jewish people. The poor people could not speak English, and they asked my father to help them.He gladly consented. First he went to the police court for the permission to act as their interpreter and semi-lawyer in case one of them broke the law unknowingly. Due to his charm and his being a Civil War veteran the Irish police consented - also due to the tales he could tell them.[p. 182] I was born in Hartford in 1889 on North Front Street a lovely country type street, gardens, farmers, pigstys, chicken, trains etc. Soon after that the terror of a pogrom (massacre) happened in Kief, Russia {Kiev]. Many many Jews - men, women children- were slaughtered in their homes and on the streets. Then came the rush to America.Most stayed with relatives and friends in New York. Some came to Hartford.My father would meet the poor, tired, frightened family at the Hartford boat landing and would pile them and their worldly goods into a wagon and drive them to their friends' or relatives' home. = A while later my father placed a long basket with some notions, needles, pins, etc and told them to go from door to door selling them. He told the peddlers to use their fingers to tell the price (for they could not speak English). The wealthy German Jews paid for the baskets. Next came the push cart trade, then the horse and wagon trade = tailors, jewelers, tanners, house builders, sewing-machine workers, men and women - up, up, up that was how mayn fortunes began. . = No, I did not know the Meranski family. Only heard about them from Mrs. Witkower [her mother-in-law] and my brother Charlie. Heard they were a fine family. [Sophie Barrett note "She DID visit them on Wooster Street" - as she subsequently recollected]. Your Question Seven. That may be so: Thousands of Jewish boys did. My father was sixteen when he arrived in Charleston, South Carolina. He arrived in Hartford 1887 or 1888 [directories seem to list him in 1885.] Mr. Meranski may have been here. Try the old Directory. The Immigration officers at Ellis Island were often mistaken- they could not understand the Jew language and would misspell or even change the name. [My] Israel's name was Aaron - they wrote down Israel. = 9. my father came from Warsaw, Poland - ruled by Russians. He was well educated, had fine mind and manners - made a good name for himself as a humanitarian in Hartford. He was a true organizer and started much of the Jewish affairs in Hartford.He was a politician - Republican. Knowing how important it was for them to become citizens,he insisted on their getting their citizenship papers. made them all Republicans. Of course they changed their party later.When Dad was buried [1903] almost the entire Jewish community walked to the cemetery- a long walk on Zion Street from Market Street. I grew up with many a coming first-rate dcotor, lawyer, businessman. = Mother Paulina - a quiet lady-like woman gentle and very helpful to her friends and neighbors. Born near Frankfurt Germany. Brought up nine children - three of Dad's, six of her own. One becamse first Jewish mailman - Ben Rosenblatt- lived on Bellevue Street near Canton. Had son Joe- a holy terror. Now he writes music for Frank Sinatra - Flip etc in California. First Jewish policeman - Abe Rosenblatt - first radio and electrical store Joe and Charlie. Rachel married. Rose - me- followed my father's ideals. First to organize clubs for the elderly.Past President of Emanuel Synagogue Sisterhood.On the board of many organizations.= The Council of Jewish Women - [its] purpose[is] to elevate the Jewish race.The members paid two dollars a year dues.Ella Meiselmann Seidman and I were [184]members. I was on the board. Money was pouring in. Much good work was being done for all races. = Girls [were]forbidden to sell newspapers -law enforced. I told Mrs. Mary McCloud Bethune to form such a group from the black women all over the United States -write to the to the top level first- they would lend the others. That was in 1933. In 1935 the National Council of Negro Women was formed. Today they have four million members.Headquarters are in Washington, D.C. and the whole idea was mine. A few years ago I had the job of inspiring a falling-apart Hartford group to get going again. I am a life member. The college stands in Daytona, Florida. I do wish you would read her book 'The Autobiography of Mary McCloud Bethune' also the Rothschilds (brothers)- both inspiring books. I believe the idea for lunches for school children came from the lunches we served - the City of Hartford sent people to watch us.= Israel's brother came to America many years after 'Meema Saura' came. He was not a pleasant person.Lived in Chicago for some time - moved to Hartford - lived here on Pliny Street for a short while. Did not like Hartford - moved away out of our lives. = I have served on some Christmas Club boards opening the way for others -a member of the first interfaith group - saw that Rabbi Morris Silverman -Rabbi of the Emanuel [185] Synagogue was made chairman. A brilliant open-minded man.He did well. I invited many clergymen to speak at the Emanuel.Rabbi [Silverman] passed on in 1973 but left behind him a warm feeling of friendship between all denominations. I married a fine man - Israel Witkower- 62 years ago. [I have been a] widow for five years- two children Irma, Bernard and five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren (one in Israel). Esther [exact relation not clear] passed on. I hope I have answered all the questions. Mrs. Aronson and Mrs. Geetter called me -we had a nice chat.= No I don't know Israel's father's name or his mother's maiden name. G.Fox and Company was owned by Moses Fox 1910. then his daughter Fanny Fox married Mr. Auerbach. - Rose Witkower" Note to Sophie "What a hectic life you have had - not for me. I am sure the book you are preparing will be an interesting one.What a lot of work it must be to write a book, but one learns as one delves into past occurances.My son was stationed in Honolulu during the war.Thank God we now live in peace.May I finish my life here in "Peace",and may Peace come to all the world. I am keen about spiritual psychology. I have read many books on different religions. Please return pictures. Much love. Rose Witkower." John Barrett note June 2000 Time has proved the Witkowers right on the health value of fish oil though it is primarily for the Omega three polyunsaturated oil more than for the Vitamin D.
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