Alex Tankenoff (1905 - ) grew up poor and Jewish in St. Paul, Minnesota, eventually owning a successful brewery and brewery equipment company. In this interview, the discussion follows Tankenoff's life story, brewery business and involvement in the Bremer Foundation of St. Paul, Minnesota. This interview was conducted by Dr. Linda Mack Schloff, former director of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, in effort to document the stories of Jewish immigration to and community leaders in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Malcoff's Confectionery was a popular gathering place on the North Side for teens; University of Minnesota students; and people from the North Side neighborhood. It was one of four delicatessens in the Plymouth Avenue business area, in addition to Abe's, The Polar Grill, and H & S.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Businessman Amos Heilicher (1907 - ) grew up poor and Jewish in St. Paul, Minnesota, during the Depression. As a teenager he started a coin-operated machine company that later blossomed into several successful businesses, including a national retail record chain, real estate, banking, restaurants and more. This interview focuses on the history of Heilicher's business ventures during the Depression and post-WWII years, with special attention afforded to the retail record industry. This interview was conducted by Dr. Linda Mack Schloff, former director of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, in effort to document the stories of Jewish immigration to and community leaders in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Two unidentified men in automobiles loaded with crates. A third unidentified individual stands behind them. The Goldishes were one of a small number of Jewish families who lived and worked along the North Shore in the commercial fishing industry. They both fished and processed their catch for market.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Men and women working in a laundry shop. Clayton Ostrin owned and managed a laundry business in North Minneapolis. Note the wooden steam pressing machines on the right of the picture.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Horses pull a wagon down a street in Minneapolis. Raphael Weinberg and his son Ben owned Weinberg's Department store, located on Central Avenue in North Minneapolis. Weinberg's five daughters also worked in the store.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Sylvia Borken stands at the produce counter of Knox Market, which was located at Knox and Plymouth Avenues in Minneapolis. Many small Jewish family-owned and run grocery stored served the North Side neighborhood. Small business ownership was an avenue to success that was open to the earliest group of Jewish immigrants.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
View of the front exterior of Swatez Dry Goods Store, which was part of the vibrant business community that served the North Side neighborhood during it's heyday from the 1920s through the 1950s. The store was at the corner of 6th Street and Girard Avenue North, and sold clothes, shoes and housewares.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
An unidentified man carrying a basket with loaves of challah in it. A population census from 1927 indicates that there were about 4000 Jews living in Duluth at the time.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The front exterior of the Stein Rexall Drug Store that was a fixture in Hibbing, Minnesota. The business was established in 1919 and located at 2230 First Avenue. In addition to the pharmacy, Stein's supplied oxygen tanks to homes and hospitals, as well as janitorial products across the Iron Range. Etheldoris Stein Grais's cosmetic and perfume counter stocked the latest in beauty supplies.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A view looking down 6th Avenue, showing storefronts and streetcar tracks. 6th Avenue was a bustling commercial area during the 1920s. The Jewish community continued to move North and West, and the commercial center had shifted in the 1940s to Plymouth and Penn Aves.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Two male customers wait inside the tailor shop while Simon holds a measuring tape and Sadie works at a sewing machine. Turn of the century Jewish immigrants were closely associated with all aspects of the garment industry. While many worked in shirt-making factories located on the East Cost, others had tailoring skills they brought with them from Europe. They opened small shops in urban areas where customers could come to them for services.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Lyndale Auto Parts was located on the North Side. The scrap yard featured signs asking the public to donate their scrap metal to help with the war effort. This sign appeals to a civilian's sense of patriotism and urgency in aiding the war effort.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph of a scrap pile with a woman sitting in the foreground while a man can be seen standing in the background. Samuel Karon founded Northwestern Scrap Iron and Metal Company in Duluth.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Sam Rosenbloom sitting in his shop repairing a shoe with a hammer. Samuel Rosenbloom owned a shop, Sam's Shoe Repair, located on the corner of Girard and Glenwood Avenues in North Minneapolis.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
