Integration
Education
Business doings
Merchant woes
Fun and Family
Real Estate and Landlording
Liquor
Peddlers
Holidays
Ads
Also of Interest

Integration

• 1/11:  A meeting was held to form the Homestead Merchants Protective Association. The constitution committee appointed included Joseph Lasdusky!   The organization launched on the 17th.  A number of men joined, including a “colored man.”
• 1/21:  “Last evening the lady members of the Homestead Library Athletic Club were pleasant surprised by Misses Alice Hirth, Mary McCann, Mame Evans, Elva Armstrong and Rose Skirball, members of the Junior H.L.A.C.”  The banquet was in honor of the ladies’ basketball team recent victory over Braddock (the town’s main athletic rival).  The musical and literary program after dinner concluded with a recitation by Rose.

• 5/8:  “Morris Markowitz, a young man who is employed by his uncle, Sam Markowitz now knows what it is to be up against it.  Morris mode his bicycle down to the Eureka Hotel” — Max Klein‘s place! — “about 11 o’clock Saturday night, and left it standing out in front while he went inside.  James J. Ward, a bricklayer who boards at the hotel, came along and mounting the wheel rode off with it…”  Morris chased down Ward, pulled him off the bike, and then Ward beat him up.  “Morris got up as best he could, and mounting his re-captured wheel rode to his uncle’s butcher shop and told him of his troubles.  Uncle Sam was on the warpath in a minute and off to Justice Giles’ home he ran and routed the justice out of bed.”  It took a late night chase around town to track down Ward and serve him the warrant.  Read the whole article — it is awesome.
• 6/22:  “Mike Kutchner a well known slave (sic!) of the Second ward, was arrested last night on charge of assault and battery preferred by Annie Miller.  Kutchner was arrested just after coming out of church by constable Bell who was laying for him.  He was taken before Justice Giles and Sam Markowitz went his bail for his appearance to-night for a hearing.”
• 8/22:  “Mrs. Segelman has donated a handsome gold ring, which will be place din a large cake baked by Mrs. Westley and served at the lawn fete and supper to be given by the ladies of the Anne Asley M.E. church, on Twenty-Second street to-night.”

Education

• 4/21: The Homestead High School graduating class included 3 boys and 11 girls.  “Those who have passed the examination successfully” included Rose Skirball!  “This is the largest gradate class in the history of our schools,” the paper added. Commenting on the gender imbalance, the article included a fascinating note about the value of education vs. work in those days:  “Parents make a mistake in taking their boys out of schools before they have had a chance to complete and reap the advantage of a high school education.”  On 5/24 the paper description the upcoming graduation reception. “All our young society people will take part in the affair which promises to be most enjoyable.”  The 5/26 paper summarized the events of the commencement.  “Miss Rose Skiball had an excellent paper prepared on ‘Faust,’ showing that it was historical.  ‘The Legend of Rabbi Ben Levi,’ was the title of a recitiation by Miss Viola House who recites well.”
• 6/2: “Miss Nellie Skirboll, daughter of Mr and Mrs. A. Skiboll of Eighth avenue, took first honors at the examinations of the training school of the Allegheny General Hospital, held this week.”
• 6/10:  “Mr. David Skirball, of Eighth avenue, is a member of the graduating class of the Collegiate and engineering department of the Western University of Pennsylvania. The commencement exercises of which will be held from June 11 to 15.”
• 7/11:  “Morris Moss has resigned his position as salesman in McCune & Swartz department store to accept a position in Bott’s drug store on Dickson street, he having decided to become a druggist.” Not to spoil the end of this man’s story, but he would become well-known in Homestead as Dr. M.H. Moss.

Business doings

As you’ll see, many of these listings concern new stores opening in Homestead.  There were many such notices in the paper throughout 1899; I selected only those concerning members of our community.  A couple I weren’t sure of were Samuel Samuel’s “The New Bon-Ton” (9/12) and Samuel Markle’s “Philadelphia Bargarin Store” (8/28).

• 1/13:  “As I have leased my house, No. 345 Eighth avenue, I am compelled to vacate my store May 1st.  My entire stock…must be cloesd out by April 15th….Thank you all for your patronage in the past years, I am, respectfully yours, I.S. Grossman.”
• 3/7:  “WANTED–Girls to learn millinery.  Only those intending to learn the business thoroughly, need apply.  Lasdusky‘s People’s store, Eighth avenue.”  Nevertheless, his millinery opening came off on time at the end of March.  The first day of the three-day “Grand Spring Opening” was both Shabbat and Erev Pesach, and the second day was Monday, the second of day of Passover, which is traditionally observed as a full holiday.  I noticed that the bi-annual millinery openings often coincided with Passover and Rosh Hashana, but as per the norm, the men worked.  Fortunately, this years’ fall millinery opening took after after all of the fall holidays concluded.
• 3/11:  “Kaufmann, Homestead’s popular clothier, moved in the Steenson block, where he’ll be pleased to see his many friends and customers.”

• 4/8:  The first ad appeared for the grand opening of The Busy Bee Hive, a store selling “ladies’ and gents’ furnishing goods” on 208 Eighth Avenue on Tuesday, 4/12.  The proprietor?  Benjamin Friedlander!

• 4/14:  The first ad appeared for Wolk‘s shoe store.  Though Jewish, he never became a member of the synagogue.
• 4/25:  “I. Grossman is now in his new quarters, with a store facing on Eighth avenue and another facing on Ammon street. He handles a complete line of Gent’s Clothing, Furnishings and Shoes.”  They meant I.S. Grossman, whose store address did change at this time to this location.
• 6/11:  This date brought the first of many advertisements announcing the opening of another prominent store in Homestead, Half Brothers, managed by a German-Jewish family who resided in Pittsburgh and belonged to the Reform synagogue Rodef Shalom.

• 

  6/21/1899: A hilarious Half Brothers’ ad about contractor problems.

  7/5: “Mr. Rudolf Half, of the furniture firm of Half Bros. left Sunday night for Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he goes to select the fall and winter stock of goods, for his firm. Mr. Half will be absent about ten days and will combine pleasure with business.”  7/12:  “Mr. Rudolf Half, of the firm of Half Bros., Eighth avenue, returned Monday from a trip to Grand Rapids, where he attended the furniture exposition. While there he purchased a full stock for his enterprising firm. Mr. Half’s many years’ experience in the furniture business enabled him to select the very choices designs in the market at the very closest prices. The purchase undoubtedly comprises the handsomest stock of furniture ever brought to Homestead.”

• 7/22:  An advertisement appeared for “Skirboll Men’s Furnishers” at 521 Eighth Avenue (vs. the long-established Skirboll’s Shoe House, 515 Eighth Avenue).  It appears he opened a second business at some point.
• 7/27:  “Messr. Half Bros., the furniture dealers of Eighth avenue, though comparatively a new firm in town, have become very popular with the people and are rapidly gaining a very large trade, all of which is due to the excellence and low prices of their goods. This week they are offering some exceptionally great values on couches.”
• 8/22:  “Mr. A. Marcus, of Connellsville, has rented the storeroom at 264 Sixth avenue, next door to the Victoria hotel, and will open up next week init with a full line of gents’ furnish goods, bots, shoes, etc.”  This is the father of Jacob Rader Marcus, the father of American Jewish history and one of most famous members of our community!
• 8/28:  The paper announced a new firm, S. Markle & Co., also known as the Philadelphia Bargain Store.

It was a great holiday season for all these stores, new and old.  On 12/19 the paper boasted, “Homestead merchants are offering a large and more varied line of holiday goods than ever before.”  There was a ton of advertising in the paper, including from most of the prominent Jewish merchants.  On the day after Xmas, the paper summarized of the weekend preceding Xmas, “Saturday the stores did a phenomenal business and the merchants are more than satisfied with their returns from the holiday trade. One of the largest firms of the town report their business for the ten days preceding Christmas was 50 percent greater than in former years, and other reports gains in like proportion.”  On 12/21, of the 29 stores singled out for their Xmas displays, the ones from the Jewish community were Segelman‘s Jewelery (sic) store, Lasduskey‘s (sic) Peoples store, Grossman‘s Toy store, Grossman‘s Clothing store, Grienburg (sic) Bros’ Toy store, Skirboll‘s Shoe store, Phil Coen (sic) the Tailor and Gents Furnisher, and Half Bros. Furniture store.

Merchant woes

There are plenty of woes listed below, but one which is not is in-fighting.  On 10/26 the paper reported cryptically that Jewish grocers in Duquesne were “warring with each other,” but the paper never reported anything of the sort about Homestead’s local Jewish community.

• 3/8:  “A mysterious explosion occurred in the building occupied by Wm. Martin the Wholesale liquor dealer and the Grinberg Bros’ yesterday.  It is not known what caused the explosion but it is thought to have resulted from the accumulation of gas.  The damages in both store rooms and living rooms are extensive.  Mr Grinberg estimates his damages at $300.  A large plate glass window in the front of Mr. Martin’s store was shattered to smithereens by the concussion.”
• 5/5:  “Claims an Illegal Levy. Felix Kolcalo entered suit for $200 damages against Max Markowitz and constable Frank Bell, of Homestead. He claims an illegal levy was made on his household goods.”
• 5/26:  “Sam Markowitz entered suit for disorderly conduct against Mike Laudam last night, before Justic Giles. At the hearing Markowitz testified that Laudam came into his store and swore at him and invited him out to fight. The Justice imposed a fine of $1 and costs.”
• 6/1:  “Claims To Have Lost $250. M. Eskowitz, who runs a store in the Healey block on Dickson street claims he lost a pocket book containing $250 and his bank book yesterday. He went before Justice G.W. Giles and had a search warrant issued to search the house over his store, but no trace of the missing pocket book could be found. There seems to be a mystry (sic) connected with the case.”  I believe this concerns Nathan Eskovitz.
• 6/5:  Oh dear, my great-grandfather’s brother, Adolph Hepps, was up to no good.  To be fair, garbage dumping was an ongoing problem in Homestead, because they had no proper dump or incinerator as they should have!  A week later, people were arrested for dumping garbage on railroad grounds, including a little girl who was just shaking out a table cloth!  This was a hot-button political issue on and off over the years.

Caught in the Act.

A Business Man Fined for Dumping Garbage

In the Park–He Sent a Boy up With a Wagon Load About 0 O’clock Saturday Night–A Citizen Frightened the Lad Who Ran Away and Left the Wagon Standing in the Park.

About 9 o’clock Saturday night Harry Maiden, who resides near the park saw a boy drive up and start to dump a wagon load of garbage down into the hollow. Maiden hollowed (sic) at the lad, who became frightened and ran away, leaving the wagon standing in the park. Maiden got in a drove the wagon down to Justice Giles office and turned it over to Health Officer Donaldson. The boy who had been driving the weagon appeared a little later and said it belonged to Adolph Hips, who runs a butcher shop at the corner of Fifth avenue and Dickson street.

Health Officer Donaldson went down and arrested Hips, who plead ignorance of the law. Justice Giles said that would not excuse him and he then plead guilty and was fined $10 and costs.

• 6/15:  “Two Slavs raised a disturbance in Phil Starke’s store this morning. Constable Frank Bell was called in and arrested them. They were taken before Justic Ed. Morton and fine $3 and costs and in default of payment were sent to jail for 10 days.” (Although, I thought our Phil Starke was in prison, and there was a non-Jewish Starke family in Homestead throughout this time.)
• 7/8:  “A communication was received from Max Markowitz calling attention to the damage done his property at the corner of Dickson street and Second avenue by the overflow of water, caused by the sewer drop being removed, the water overflowing into the door and windows and causing a loss of $200. The matter was referred to the Accounts and Claims committee.”
• 9/20:

Philip Cohn Robbed.

The boldness of the robbery committed at Philip Cohn’s store on Eighth avenue last Saturday night is worrying the police not a little, as they are unable to get any clew (sic) to the robbery. About 4 o’clock in the morning Mr. and Mrs. Cohn heard the crash of breaking glass and got up and looked out as quickly as possible, but could see no one. An investigation followed and it was found that the front window had been broken at three rolls of pants patterns and two rolls of suit patterns valued at $30 were missing. Nothing else in the window was disturbed.

Fun and Family

• 5/2: “Joseph Lasdusky, the genial Eighth avenue merchant is passing around the cigars, over the arrival of a baby boy.”
• 5/6:  “Mrs. Annie Lasdusky, of Scottdale, is the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lasdusky of Seventh avenue.”   In town for the bris?
• 5/22:  In case you ever wondered how these families immigrated piecemeal and somehow found each other in a land where the new arrivals didn’t speak the language, here is a cautionary tale that it doesn’t always work out.  Headlines below, but click to read the whole article.

May 22, 1899: The harrowing saga of how Fanny Markowitz, only 13, disappeared in NYC after arriving in the US. Click to zoom.

Fanny is Found

Worry of Morris Markovitz Now at an End

A Thirteen Year Old Member of His Family Arrived in New York Last Wednesday From Hungary and After Telegraphing to Her Brother for Money Disappeared–After Much Worry and Many Messages She was Located in the Metropolis Yesterday and is due Here To-Day.

• 6/9:  “Mrs. C. Segelman, of Eighth avenue, contemplates leaving within a few weeks on a trip to the seashore for the benefit of her health.”
• 6/13:  “Miss Ida Kaminsky, of Eighth avenue, enjoyed a boat excursion up the Monongahela river yesterday.”
• 6/15:  “Mr. I.S. Grossman, of Eight avenue, was a Duquesne visitor last night.”
• 6/19:  “Mr. Benj. Friedlander, one of Homestead’s most popular and successful young merchants, being the proprietor of the Busy Bee Hive on Eighth avenue left Saturday evening for Philadelphia, where tomorrow afternoon he will be united in marriage to Miss Annie Lebowitz, a very estimable young lady of that place. The young couple upon the completion of the marriage ceremony will leave on a swedding tour to Atlantic City and other points of interest in the East. Mr. Friedlander will bring his bride to Homestead Saturday, and will start to housekeeping (sic) at once in rooms previously rented on Eighth avenue.”
• 6/24:  “Mr. B. Friedlander, the popular proprietor of the Busy Bee Hive, returned yesterday from his wedding tour, accompanied by his bride.  They will go to housekeeping next week in rooms previously engaged on Eighth avenue.  We herewith extend out thanks to the groom for the choice Havanas left at this office, and also our best wishes that his voyage through the sea of matrimony will be a most pleasant one.”
• 6/29:  “Miss Blanche Grossman, will arrive here from New York on the 3^rd of July to visit for a month her brothers, Messrs. I. Grossman and I.S. Grossman, of Eighth avenue, and other relatives in this vicinity.”
• 7/14: “Mr. Philip Cohen, of Eighth avenue, will leave Monday on a two weeks’ trip to Chicago, Grand Rapids, Detroit and other points on the lakes.”
• 7/25:  “Mrs. Ruben returned yesterday to New York after a pleasant two weeks’ stay with her sister-in-law, Mrs. Jos. Lasdusky, of Seventh avenue.”
• 7/27:  “Mr. A Skirboll and daughter, Mildred, of Eighth avenue, are on a trip to Niagara Falls, Mr. Clemes and other points of interest in te East.”
• 7/28:  “Mrs. Flora Frankle and young son, of Heisel street, returned yesterday from a trip to Atlantic City and New York.” “Mr. Philip Cohn, the popular merchant tailor of Eighth avenue, returned this morning from a trip to Chicago, and Muskegon, Mich., where many of his relatives reside. Mr. Cohn was much benefitted in health by the trip having gained a number of extra pounds of flesh while away. The trip was one of the most enjoyable he has ever taken.”  (Atlantic City was a popular destination for Pittsburghers.  There was a Pullman sleeping car between the two cities.)
• 8/2:  “Mrs. Philip Cohn and youngest child left last evening for New York on a five weeks’ visit to friends.”
• 8/5:  “Mr. David Skirboll and elder brother Jack spent yesterday at New Kensington.” (I don’t think this name can be right — Jack was the youngest brother, just three years old at this time.  One of the country’s leading Jewish philanthropists, he is another famous member of our community.   Also, “Mr. Joseph Skirboll, the Eighth avenue shoe merchant, will leave Tuesday on a two weeks’ trip to Buffalo, Niagara Falls and the Thousand Islands.”
• 8/7:  “Mr. Jesse Wolk, of Eighth avenue, circulated among old friends at Jeannette, yesterday…Mr. A. Skirboll and daughter Nellie, of Eighth avenue, have returned from a two week’s pleasure trip to Mt. Clemens, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and other places of interest on the lakes.”
• 8/14:  “Mr. Morris Frankle, of Heisel street, expects to leave tomorrow on a trip to New York.”  This is just over a week after his major real estate transaction listed below!  “Mrs. Chas. Cohn and young child have return from a visit to friends in New York.”  A big sic here — this is Mrs. Philip Cohn.  “Mr. Sol Wolk, the Eighth avenue shoe merchant, return Saturday from an eastern trip.”
• 8/18:  “Mr. Morris Grinberg, of Grinberg Bros. left last evening for New York and other eastern points where he goes to purchase the fall and winter stock of goods for his firm.”

• 8/18:  Perhaps this is the same Bettie Kline from the 1894 liquor arrests?

Mrs. Kline Sues for Divorce

The testimony was filed in the county courts yesterday in the case of Betty Kline against Joseph Kline, of Homestead, in which desertion is alleged. It is asserted that while Mrs. Kline was ill her husband sold out his business, pocketed the proceeds and left after telling some of his acquaintances that he thought his wife was big and strong enough to earn her own living.

• 8/23:  “Mr. Joseph Skirboll, of Eighth avenue, returned from a two weeks’ trip to Niagara Falls, Thousand Island, and other points in that vicinity this morning.”
• 8/25: “M. Rubenstein, the Eighth avenue confectioner fell from his wheel while on his way to McKeesport, one evening this week and was badly cut and bruised about the face. He was attended by Dr. Casssett, who was obliged to put two stitches in the side of his face.”  To be fair, I don’t have any corroborating sources that he was Jewish, though the name and profession suggest it.
• 9/8:  “Mrs. A Skirboll, of Eighth avenue visited friends at Jeannette yesterday” — yesterday being the day after Rosh Hashana (traditionally a fast day, Tsom Gedaliah).
• 9/19:  “David Skirboll, of Eighth avenue, visited Braddock friends last evening” — last evening being the first evening of Sukkot.
• 9/28:  “Mr. A. Skirball, of Eighth avenue, leaves to-night for New York to attend the Dowey (sic) celebration.”
• 10/5:  “Mr. A. Skirboll, of Eighth avenue, returned yesterday from New York where he went to attend the Dewey celebration” for Admiral George Dewey, the recently-returned hero of the recent Spanish-American War.  On 10/10 the paper announced the man himself might come to Homestead during his upcoming trip to Pittsburgh.
• 11/23:  “Messrs. Nathan Markle and Jos. Swartz, of Philadelphia, were the guests of the former’s brother, Mr. Samuel Markle, of Eighth avenue, yesterday.”
• 11/25:  “A marriage license has been issued to Reuben Schermer, of Pittsburg, and Bertha Klein, of this place.”  After the wedding the couple settled in Homestead where Schermer became active in the Jewish community.
• 12/2: “I.S. Grossman is on the sick list.”  This is terrible timing with the important holiday shopping season in full swing.  And then an accident befell his store manager!
• 12/12:  “M. Morris Lewin, the popular manager of Grossman’s clothing house, met with a very painful accident this morning.  He was preparing the window for Christmas and in course of the decorating he had occasion to get up on a step ladder, when it gave way and threw him down.  In falling he struck his wrist on a box and broke several bones.  Mr. Lewin’s injuries although painful do not prevent him from attending to his duties as manager of the store.”
• 12/20:  “I.S. Grossman, of Amity street, who has been ill is able to be about again.”
• 12/21: “I.S. Grossman, the Eighth ave clothier, is able to be out gain after an illness of three weeks with typhoid fever.”
• 12/27:  “I.S. Grossman, the clothier, who was ill recently, is able to attend to his duties in the store once more.”
• 12/28:  “M.M. Lewin attended a swell reception given in the Kean club room, Butler street, Pittsburg, last evening by the Lawrence club.”
• 12/29:  “Mrs. Etta Levy, of Syracuse, N.Y., is a guest at the residence of A. Skirboll, of Eighth avenue.”
• 12/29:  “Samuel Markle, proprietor of the Philadelphia Bargain store, was presented with a handsome gold watch and chain by his wife as a Christmas present.”

Real Estate and Landlording
One of the big surprises to me, which began to emerge in earnest as I read through the paper from this year, is how many of the Jewish community invested in local real estate and became landlords as a side-operation to the store for which they were best known. Being a landlord in turn-of-the-last-century Homestead doesn’t seem like it was a lot of fun, though.

• 5/11:  “The following transfers of real estate in this place were recorded yesterday…Mrs. Margarin Leyshon sold to Samuel Morkowitz for $5250 a house and lot 50×150 on Heisel street.”
• 6/20:  “Mr. I.S. Grossman, of Eighth avenue, has purchased the property of the late Mrs. Katherine Nau, on Dixon street, the consideration was $3,525. Mr. Grossman will have the building which is at present on the property moved back to the alley and will erect a handsome brick residence on the site to be vacated.”
• 8/5:  A local firm sold over $50K property during past 10 days.  “The largest sale reported, and in fact one of the largest made in the town for some time, was the sale of the Cox block at the corner of City Farm Lane and Fifth avenue.  The property was owned by John F. Cox Esq., and was sold to Morris Frankle of Heisel street.  Sixteen families reside in the block.”  Because of what ensued in early October, I infer that the families were given two months to move out.  With the extremely tight housing market in Homestead, four could not — or would not — find new homes.  Shortly you’ll see how that situation resolved itself.
• 8/17:  “The deed was recorded conveying from Levi Myers to M. Markowitz of Pittsburg, a lot 40×119 feet on Third avenue, for $19,000. His property is in the business center of the town, and is improved with a large three-story brick building.” Although it says he is from Pittsburgh, I looked at the original deed — this is definitely our Max Markowitz.  Levi Myers was a liquor dealer in Homestead in the early 1890s.  There is circumstantial evidence to suggest he was a German Jew.

• 10/6:  “Morris Frankel charges Mike Kondal with malicious mischief.  The charge was made before Justice A.J. Kuhn.  Kondal resided in Frankel’s house and was ordered to leave, and just for spite, so Frankel alleges, he tore a lot of plaster off the walls and damaged the house.  Kondal is now residing in Duquesne.  Constable Canavaugh went up yesterday and arrested him.”
• 10/13: Four families were evicted from Cox’s row, the property recently bought by Morris Frankel. One of the evicted women was a repeat-offender of the speakeasy law; she left calmly. The others refused to go and a major confrontation with the officers ensued. “The people all say that they were willing and anxious to move just as soon as they could get a house but that they thought it an outrage that they should be turned out into the street with no place to go.”  Read the whole article in the slideshow below.
• 10/17: The papers reports that the families who were evicted moved back in after the officers left. The confrontation was even more heated than last time; townspeople through stones at the officers. The article revealed that a second of the women involved was also frequently in violation of the liquor laws and was planning to leave town altogether. This article doesn’t mention Frankel at all; one wonders whether the angry townspeople were aware the offending landlord was Jewish.  Read the whole article, also in the slideshow below.It’s important to note that this area was pretty rough.  Just opposite the mill, it was a poor part of town where articles reported constant unrest amongst the large immigrant population.  For example, there was a riot at Frankle’s Cox’s row after a Slavish wedding, as reported on 10/31.
• 11/14:  Frankel wasn’t the only troubled landlord, however.  On this day the paper reported that landlord Sam Markowitz had forbade a wedding of his tenants in his house since the dancing would damage the house.  Nevertheless the wedding took place, and since Markowitz could not get the dancing to stop, he had his tenant arrested.  After the tenant returned from court, he re-started the party, which damaged the house.  More officers tried to arrest the guests but were scared off.  Eventually the violinist was forced to leave, and so the party soon died down.   This property of Markowitz’s was just a block over from Frankel’s troubled Cox’s row.  The full article is in the slideshow below.
• 11/15:  The very next day the paper provided another update about what was going on in Frankel‘s property.  The new residents were “Slavs and Huns” who replaced the native-born former residents, some of whom threw dough at the new residents.  This article is also in the slideshow below.
• 11/23:  And just a week before I.S. Grossman came down with typhod fever (see above), a house he leased was gutted by fire.  Because the fire alarm system did not work properly, the house was nearly entirely gutted, causing him $500 damage (though he had insurance).  This article and a follow-up about the fire alarm system are the last in the slideshow below.

Liquor

• 3/1:  Retail liquor license applicants included Henry Moskovitz, 214, 216 and 218 Dickson street and Max Klein, 110 and 112 Fifth avenue.
• 3/31:  An article summarizing how the Homestead applicants fared in license court mentions, “Max Klein has had a license by transfer at 110 and 112 Fifth avenue for the past seven months, and has been married for six month.”  Moskowitz is not mentioned, but the article concludes “The other applicants from this place had smooth sailing.”
• 4/15:  The paper reported that Klein got a license, but Moskowitz did not.
• 10/31:  Mike Weise, a local merchant and Grinberg brother-in-law, got himself into some trouble by violating the blue laws by selling a beverage that no one was quite sure whether or not it was alcoholic!

Sold Ambrosia on Sunday

That is the Charge Made Against Mike Weise.

Chief of Police Griff Williams Made the Arrest and Justice Ed. Morton Imposed a Fine.

Mike Weise, who keeps a little fruit and confectionary store on the upper end of Eighth avenue, was charged before Justice Ed Morton yesterday with selling on Sunday. The information was made by Chief of Police Griff Williams, who also made the arrest.

Chief Williams alleged that Weise sold ambrosia, but he was not able to explain just what ambrosia was and therefore simply charge Weise with violating the old blue laws by selling on Sunday.

Ambrosia is alleged to be a beverage which looks like beer, but that is all the experts can say about it. Several complaints have been made to Chief Williams about Weise dispensing this beverage on Sunday, and the Chief decided to put a stop to it and to be on the safe side brought the above charge.

Justice Morton fined Weise $3 and costs which he cheerfully paid.

Peddlers

• 4/6: “Morris Malikson was arrested by Chief Williams for violating a borough ordinance by peddling without a license. He was fined $3 and costs.”
• 5/10:  “Herman Goldstone, a picture agent, was arrested yesterday by Chief Williams and Officer Serr, for soliciting without a license.  He left a picture and $3 with Justice Morton for his appearance for a hearing.” Is he connected to I.J. Goldston, a local merchant?
• 6/28:  Thought this concerns a McKeesport boy, it gives a taste of the risks of peddling (as well as the casual xenophobia of the paper):

Morris Blier, son of Mr. Blier, of McKeesport, was done up by a Second ward boy yesterday in great shape. He was completely covered with blood whe his father brought him up to Justice G.W. Giles office, and looked as though a cyclone had struck him.

The boy said another boy about his own age had pulled him from his father’s wagon and knocked him down and beat him, at the request of a third boy whom he caught stealing bottles from the wagon some time ago. A warrant was sworn out for the arrest of the boy who committed the assault, but as all Second ward boys look alike, Constable Frank Bell was unable to locate the right one.

• 8/18:  My great-grandfather’s brother, Adolph Hepps, had quite a run-in. “A watermelon figured in another suit. Adolph Hipps is a peddler. Someone relieved him of part of his load and ran into John Probola’s house in Pottsville. Hipps followed suit, but was met on the inside by Probola who landed Mr. Hipps on the outside in a heap. A suit for assault and battery followed. Constable Bell served the warrant and the hearing will come off this evening.”

Holidays

• 9/4  “To-morrow is the Jewish New Year, and all the Jewish people of this place will observe the event by closing up their places of business until Wednesday evening.”  This day was also the first day of school.  Even the Reform Half Bros. observed the holiday; the next day the paper reported, “Half Bros.’ furniture store is closed to-day on account of the Jewish New Year, but will be open to-morrow for business.”
• 9/14:  “At sunset last night the Hebrews began the observance of the day of Atonement, Yom Kipper (sic). The services will continue until this evening at sunset. The day is considered the holiest in the Hebrew calendar. It is observed by the strict abstinence from food. Special services are being held in the synagogues all over the country.”
• 9/15:   (See below for more information about what was going on with the Dreyfus Affair at this time.)

Prayers for Dreyfus.

The Hebrew day of Atonement and fasting known as ‘Yom Kippur’ was observed yesterday by the Hebrews throughout the world. There were services in the synagogue here and in Braddock, and it is said prayers were offered up for Captain Dreyfus, petitioning that justice and freedom be given him. Next Monday the feast of the Tabernacles in the Hebrew churches will begin last six days. It is a week of pleasure.

• 10/7:  Perhaps the idea for creating this group sprang out of the community gathering for the holidays, which concluded on 9/27?

A Jewish Club.

A young men’s Jewish club is being organized in Homestead. One meeting has already been held and the promoters of the organization have met with much encouragement. Another meeting will be held tomorrow evening to complete the organization. The club will be purely social in its objects and gives promise of being a credit to the town.

Also of Interest

• 1/18 “Greatest living pianist. Morris Rosenthal Plays with the Pittsburg Orchestra on Friday Evening.” A Jewish pianist from Lemberg, Austria-Hungary taught by Franz List, though he is little remembered today, he was much praised in his day, including by the Homestead paper.  He fled to NYC in 1939.  Wikipedia quotes noted music critic Harold Schonberg, “Rosenthal recorded less than three hours’ worth of music. What he did record, however, is considered some of the most legendary piano-playing on disc.”
• 3/24:  The Homestead paper reprinted an article from the Dallas news that began, “Judah P. Benjamin was the first Jew elected to a seat in the America Senate, and the contest was a notable one.  A representative who was “a great admirer of Benjamin” wanted to break the tie to elect him.  He was “placed on a cot, carried to the House of Representatives and when his name was called he voted for Judah P. Benjamin for United States Senator.  Amid great excitement and the wildest sort of applause Benjamin was declared elected.”  The representative survived his illness.
• 6/22:  A poem about current events we still remember well:  “Dreyfus gets a vindication. / This is gratifying, yet, / To enhance the world’s elation, / What does Esterhazy get?”  It’s a little unclear why the optimistic perspective; though Dreyfus was now considered not guilty and arrived back in France around this time, he was immediately locked up again to await a new trial.  On September 9, Shabbat Shuva, the Sabbath between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, “Dreyfus was convicted of treason but “with extenuating circumstances” (by 5 votes against 2) and sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment and a further degradation.”  At Yom Kippur, as indicated above, his fellow Jews prayed for him as he appealed for a retrial, but shortly thereafter he accepted guilt and on 9/19 he was pardoned, not found innocent.  On 9/21 he finally returned to his family.
• 11/18:  “Mark Twain on the Jews,” read a headline in this days’s paper, followed by the subhed, “The Famous Humorist Has a Deservedly High Opinion of the Children of Israel.  What followed was an excerpt from Twain’s essay “Concerning the Jews,” the section beginning after Point No. 1 and running to the semicolon at the bottom of p. 175.

Ads

There were ads for:

• Max Markowitz
• Cohn
• Segelman
• Lasdusky (including his first spring millinery opening!)
• Friedlander (new!)
• Grinberg Bros.
• Wolk’s (new!)
• Half Bros. (new!)
• Grossman
• M.D. Kaufmann
• S. Markle / Philadelphia Bargain Store

Some text ads:

• 1/19:  “Watches Clocks and Jewelry. Repairing promptly done and guaranteed. Segelman, 231 Eighth avenue.”
• 4/13:  “The finest wall paper and the lowest prices is the new stock just put in by Grinberg Bros., 505 Eighth avenue. Price from 3 cents a bolt up.”
• 6/16:  “Messrs. Grinberg Bros., of 505 Eighth avenue, have completed the purchase of a large lot of fine enameled ware from an Eastern firm. Having secured the goods at very low figures the firm will place them on sale on correspondingly low prices.”
• 6/23:  “A. Skirboll, the enterprising shoe man, has secured the agency for the celebrated ‘Queen’ quality shoes for Homestead. This is the noted line of ladies shoes, that are being advertised so extensively by the largest stores throughout the country. Call or send postal for a catalogue. Free.”
• 6/29:  “Grinberg Bros’ bargain store, of 505 Eighth avenue, is offering some beautiful pieces of glassware at 5c each for this week.”
• 6/30:  “Grossman’s variety store, corner Eighth avenue and Ann street, is offering some special bargains in hammocks this week.”
• 

  7/7/1899: Standard Rebate Checks were all the rage.

  7/5:  “For stylish millinery patronize Lasdusky’s People’s store, 337 Eighth avenue, and ask for Standard Rebate checks.” “Lasdusky’s Peoples store, 337 Eighth avenue, Homestead, the only dry goods house where with all cash purchases they will give you Standard Rebate checks, be sure and ask for them.”

• 7/5:  “Gents and Ladies’ furnishing goods, go to Nathan Schwartz, 211 Sixth avenue, and he will give Standard Rebate checks—ask for them.”  There were made ads for these “Standard Rebate checks” — not entirely sure what they were, though the papers in the years featured lots of advertisements for things which seemed to be early versions of coupons or coupon books (all of which the paper frowned upon).
• 7/20:  “Messrs. Half Bros., of the enterprising furniture house of 318 Eighth avenue, have met with such great success of their summer sale, that they have decided to continue it for a while longer.”
• 9/25:  “Messrs. Skirboll & Co., the up-to-date shoe dealers of 518 Eighth avenue are giving away free to each purchaser of the “Queen quality shoes a beautiful picture of Queen Louise. The picture is life size an is finished in fourteen colors. The same picture retails in the picture stores in Pittsburg for as high as a dollar.”