Search Results - The Canadian Jewish Heritage Network - Alex Dworkin Canadian Jewish Archives

Albert’s Meat Market fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101113

Collection: Albert’s Meat Market fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 1 file textual material; 31 photographs : b&w

Fonds No.: B0001

Date: 1955 - 1975

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of one trade publication article titled "Albert’s in Ottawa: A tale of two brothers and self-service meats" in Packaging News, October 1961; Two news clippings, 1966, 1975; 31 b&w photographs of the West End Meat Market on Mosgrove Street and Albert’s Meat Market on William Street.

Collection: Albert’s Meat Market fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 1 file textual material; 31 photographs : b&w

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of one trade publication article titled "Albert’s in Ottawa: A tale of two brothers and self-service meats" in Packaging News, October 1961; Two news clippings, 1966, 1975; 31 b&w photographs of the West End Meat Market on Mosgrove Street and Albert’s Meat Market on William Street.

Date: 1955 - 1975

Fonds No.: B0001

Storage Location: A.1.1 - Individuals Boxes

History / Biographical: Albert’s Meat Market was owned and operated by brothers Morton and Archie Taller from 1955 to 1975. Morton (b. 1919, Ellenville, NY; d. 2010, Ottawa) and Archie (b. December 13,1921, Ottawa, d. March 5, 1997, Ottawa) were two of ten children born to Jacob and Ethyl Taller (nee Tallifsky). The Taller family returned to Ottawa from New York in 1921, and Morton attended Devonshire Public School and Glebe Collegiate Institute in Ottawa. Both brothers were WWII veterans who decided to use their saved service pay to go into business together after returning to Canada in 1945. The Taller brothers initially operated the West End Meat Market, located first at 989 Wellington Street and then at 1013 Wellington Street. In 1951, they moved their meat business to Albert’s Meat Market, located at 7 Mosgrove Street and ran the shop together alongside their brother-in-law Morris Saslove. At the time, Morris Saslove was the president, Morton Taller was the vice-president and Archie Taller was the secretary-treasurer, although Morton Taller later took over as president when the brothers bought the shop in 1955. Albert’s was named for its original owner, Albert Dombrowski, who originally opened the shop on Elgin Street The brothers moved the business in 1956 to a new location at 71 William Street. The William Street location was located inside a two-storey building on the former site of a hardware store, and provided ample room for storing, processing, and displaying the store’s wares. Both brothers married and started families in the 1950s. Morton married Sally (nee Landau) Taller (b. ?, d. November 28, 2021) on July 5, 1951 at Congregation Machzikei Hadas. The couple had four children; Jay, Connie (Steinberg), Beverley (Zaifman), and Lynda (Wakter). Archie married Lillian Georgie (nee Pepper) Taller (b. June 3, 1932, d. March 11, 2005) on June 8, 1952 at Congregation Adath Jeshurun. Archie and Lillian had one son, Joel Taller, who married Gaye (nee Kaiman) Taller and had three children, Adam, Jayson, and Daniel. Both brothers and their wives were active in community organizations and charities. Archie was on the committee for the formation of the UJA youth division in 1953, and Morton was a treasurer of the United Jewish Appeal in 1965. Morton was also the Israel Bonds General Chairman in the 1980s, and was presented with the Prime Minister’s Club pin by the ambassador to Israel for his work for the UJA. Lillian Taller participated in the annual Hadassah Bazaar, and was active in the Ottawa Chevra Kadisha. The Ottawa Citizen called Albert’s “literally a small meat-packing plant” due to their extensive storage and processing capabilities. The store produced their own standard and special cuts of meat, as well as their own sausages. These were sold at the store front, which included window displays, five self-service counters, and two manual-service stands when it opened. When the WIlliam St. location was first opened, all butchers were required to wear black-brimmed caps. The store employed about 30 full-time and 10 part-time staff at a time, and claimed to be the “largest quality retail fresh meat operation in Canada.” Albert’s offered customers the option to buy their meat in bulk for a cheaper price, or to have their chosen cuts of meat delivered to any part of the city. In addition to the storefront, Albert’s had a back room for processing meat, and multiple deep freezers. The store specialized in beef, and only government inspected and graded Alberta beef was accepted. The main supplier used was Canada Packers. At first, Morris Saslove would personally pick out meat at packing houses, while later on the Tallers arranged to have it delivered to the store in 40,000 lbs. carloads. After being delivered, full carcasses were moved into large storage freezers. Most of the top floor of the two-story shop was taken up by a large refrigerated room, where meat was hung for several days. This “ageing” of the meat in a temperature controlled room allowed it to tenderize without spoiling. A second cooler downstairs was used for smaller sections of meat and another building across the street was purchased, with the entire top floor used as a deep-freeze room. Buying meat in bulk allowed the Taller brothers to reduce costs. Once meat was ready to be processed, it was moved to the preparation room, where as many as 20 people could be working at one time. There was a storage room, cutting room, and pre-package room located at the rear of the shop, and carcasses were transferred from room to room by overhead tracks. After being processed, cuts of meat were heat sealed, weighed, priced and labeled by an automatic machine, then moved into refrigerated showcases in the store. The store management had a friendly relationship with the cellophane distributor Kilgours, and their representative George Fraser, who visited once a week to check the Albert’s storeroom and see how much cellophane they needed. Albert’s found their success through a “self-service” model in which customers would choose the cuts of meat that they were interested in themselves. Morton Taller claimed that this method helped to increase efficiency and improve service to the customer. The Ottawa Citizen’s price comparison of meat shops and supermarkets in 1980 revealed that Albert’s had the lowest average price for cuts of meat across the city. Morton Taller attributed their low prices to the fact that the building had been paid for early on, and the management all worked full-time at the store, reducing their costs. Morton and Archie passed over their business to Ian Mackie and Frank Bisson in 1975. Ian Mackie had previously worked for his father’s meat store Mackie’s Meat Market on Somerset St., and had a management position with Canada Packers. Francois “Frank” Bisson had worked in meat management for 26 years, also with Canada Packers. In 1986, the store was moved to 1013 Wellington St. In total, the store changed hands four times, and was run by Frank Bisson’s son Daniel until its closure in 1995.

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

B. Applebaum & Son fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101114

Collection: B. Applebaum & Son fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: textual record

Physical Description: multiple media

Fonds No.: B0002

Date: 1930 - 1953

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of one large ledger book; 2 files of mortgages involving Applebaum, Greenberg and Shenkman businessmen, 1896-1959; 1 file of family history/biographical material, regarding Sydney Appleton b. 1919, Pinhey Applebaum and Fay (Azaroff) Applebaum; and a Ketuba between Rebecca Rubenstein …

Collection: B. Applebaum & Son fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: textual record

Physical Description: multiple media

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of one large ledger book; 2 files of mortgages involving Applebaum, Greenberg and Shenkman businessmen, 1896-1959; 1 file of family history/biographical material, regarding Sydney Appleton b. 1919, Pinhey Applebaum and Fay (Azaroff) Applebaum; and a Ketuba between Rebecca Rubenstein and Jacob Applebaum,1911.

Date: 1930 - 1953

Fonds No.: B0002

Storage Location: A.1.2 1 box in Oversize Ketubah located in OS mixed box 14

History / Biographical: Founded in 1903 by Boruch “Benjamin” Applebaum (b. approx 1887, Russia - d. October 3, 1953, Ottawa), B. Applebaum & Son was a tinsmith and sheet metal business located on Murray Street. Benjamin Applebaum immigrated to Canada from Russia in 1902, along with his family. His parents Moses Applebaum (b. approx. 1863, Berezna, Russia - d. October 2, 1937, Ottawa) and Ethel (nee Baker) Applebaum (b. approx. 1866, Russia - d. approx. 1934, Ottawa) had 3 other children: Jacob Gershon Applebaum (b. July 18, 1890, Russia - d. November 14, 1983, Ottawa), Rachel Baker, Pinchus “Pinhey” Applebaum (b. July 15, 1895, Russia - d. September 23, 1971, Ottawa), and Motel “Michael” Applebaum (b. Unknown, d. February 12, 1970, Ottawa). In 1908, Benjamin Applebaum married Henrietta “Yetta” (nee Siegel) Applebaum (b. approx. 1885, Russia - d. October 19, 1960, Ottawa), the daughter of Sam Siegel and Hannah (nee Shanker) Siegel. They had six children: Rose “Rosie” Applebaum (b. September 13, 1909 - d. June 5, 2000), Anne “Annie” Segal (b. May 15 1911 - d. unknown), Bessie Applebaum (b. February 8. 1913 - d. August 2, 1998), Jennie “Jean” Shaner (b. October 2, 1914 - d. unknown), Fanny Applebaum (b. October 12, 1916 - d. unknown), and Harold “Harry” Applebaum (b. approx. 1917 - d. February 2, 1990). The Applebaum family lived at various locations on Murray Street. They also owned and rented properties at 302-304 and 306-308 Murray St., 262-268 Nelson St., and 51-53 Douglas St., which mainly consisted of second and third-storey apartments located above businesses. B. Applebaum & Son specialized in making baking pans, garbage cans with corrugated sides, stove pipes, and furnace metals. In the 1950s, they also branched out into the air conditioning business. The business was family run, and Benjamin and Yetta’s children worked there as well as Benjamin’s brother Pinchus “Pinhey” Applebaum. In addition to her work in the family business, Yetta Applebaum was involved in charity work, and was a member of the local Hadassah chapter. The business did a significant amount of contract work with other Ottawa businesses. They were responsible for supplying all of the bread pans used by the Standard Bread Company bakery in 1925, and they completed all of the tinsmithing and duct work for the Minto Rink in 1952. B. Applebaum & Son was located on Murray Street, and the Applebaum family lived above the business. After Benjamin Applebaum’s death in 1953, his estate of approximately $52,000 was left to his six children, and his will specified that Harold Applebaum, his only son, have the opportunity to purchase the business if he was interested in doing so. Harold Applebaum continued to run the family business until 1970, when improvements in automated technologies drove them to bankruptcy.

Acquisition Source: 1. Family business history provided by Sylvia Bodovsky Kershman, winter 2002. 2. Ledger donated by Stanley Kershman, January 2002. 3. Mortgages donated by Sharon Edelson, January 30, 2007. 4. Ketubah donated by Ron Appleton of Vancouver in November 2009. 5. Mrs. Dorothy Hymes donated obituaries and other family history material related to her parents in June 2011.

Notes: 1. Ketuba indicates that Jacob Applebaum (age 21, tinsmith) married Rebecca Rubenstein (age 18, tailoress) in 1911. Jacob's father is listed as Moses Applebaum (janitor) and mother Edith Baker Applebaum as being of 264 Murray Street, Ottawa. Rebecca's father Noah Rubenstein (merchant) and mother Bella Gordon Rubenstein. Jacob had been a resident of Ottawa for 8 years at the time of his marriage. 2. Notes from a conversation between L. Dougherty and Sidney Appleton (November 2009) about his life in Ottawa and his military service are included in this fonds. Sydney Herbert Appleton changed his name from Sydney Applebaum when he went to the United States after the war.

Related Material: Applebaum-Bodovsky Family fonds

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

Bakermet fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101115

Collection: Bakermet fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: textual record

Physical Description: textual records

Fonds No.: B0003

Date: [199-?] - 2008

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of a company information pamphlet (undated) and the text of a talk given by Elliott Levitan (uncle of Roger Greenberg) to the Ottawa Jewish Historical Society, June 3, 2008 on the scrap metal businesses in Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley. The talk was filmed and the recording on DVD can…

Collection: Bakermet fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: textual record

Physical Description: textual records

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of a company information pamphlet (undated) and the text of a talk given by Elliott Levitan (uncle of Roger Greenberg) to the Ottawa Jewish Historical Society, June 3, 2008 on the scrap metal businesses in Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley. The talk was filmed and the recording on DVD can be found within the Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds, Programs Series.

Date: [199-?] - 2008

Fonds No.: B0003

Storage Location: A.1.1 - Individuals Boxes

History / Biographical: Bakermet Inc. is a scrap metal processing facility located within a large industrial park in the City of Ottawa. Successfully operating for over 50 years Barkermet has become a leader in the scrap metal recycling business. Bakermet receives scrap metal at their 4 hectare site and through a hammer mill shredding process, produces separated ferrous and non-ferrous scrap. The material is systematically identified, segregated, and re-packaged, providing quality recyclable products to foundries, smelters and steel mills throughout Canada, the United States, and the Far East. The principals in the business in the early part of the 21st century are Ron Levitan (Ronald Levitan) (Executive Vice-President), Richard Roth (Vice-President), Syd Kerzner (Secretary-Treasurer), Elliott Levitan (President), Steven Kerzner (Vice-President Non-Ferrous), and Joe Levitan (Vice-President). The Baker and Levitan families involvement in the junk and recycling business in Ottawa goes back to the earliest days of the 20th century.

Acquisition Source: Pamphlet donated by Sharon Edelson, summer 2008.

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

Bonnie Cleaners Ltd. fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101116

Collection: Bonnie Cleaners Ltd. fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: multiple media

Physical Description: textual records : 13 photographs ; b&w : 1 artifact.

Fonds No.: B0004

Date: 1963 -1983

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of minutes of annual meetings, (1979-1983); Certificates of Qualification for Dry Cleaners, (1963, 1968, 1969); accounts with the Department of National Defence, (1977, 1978); sales log, (1971-1973); advertising and promotional items; news clippings; National Institute of Dry Cleanin…

Collection: Bonnie Cleaners Ltd. fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: multiple media

Physical Description: textual records : 13 photographs ; b&w : 1 artifact.

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of minutes of annual meetings, (1979-1983); Certificates of Qualification for Dry Cleaners, (1963, 1968, 1969); accounts with the Department of National Defence, (1977, 1978); sales log, (1971-1973); advertising and promotional items; news clippings; National Institute of Dry Cleaning (N.I.D.) courses, brochures, correspondence used by Sylvia and Harry Kershman for their Dow Management Training Scholarships, (1963-1964); Fabric Facts written by Sylvia Kershman, (1963).

Date: 1963 -1983

Fonds No.: B0004

Storage Location: A.1.2; Certificates located in OS Mixed Box 7

History / Biographical: Bonnie Cleaners Ltd. was owned and operated by Harry and Sylvia Kershman from 1956-1982. Sylvia (nee Bodovsky) Kershman (b. 1926, Ottawa - ) is the daughter of Wolf Bodovsky (b. 1881 - d. 1970) and Kele Leikin Bodovsky (b. 1890 - d. 1973), proprietors of W. Bodovsky Meat Market located in the Byward Market. Sylvia grew up in Lowertown with her two older sisters; Anne Wormann (b. 1913, Russia - ) and Goldie Reva Appelbaum (b. 1922, Ottawa - d. 1977), and attended York St. Public School, Lisgar Collegiate, and Willis Business College. She began working at a young age, first in her parents’ store and then in various fruit stores in the Byward Market. After graduating from Lisgar Collegiate in 1942, she began working for the government of Canada as a clerc, first with the Dominion Bureau of Statistics on Sussex Street, then for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Sylvia participated actively in the Ottawa Civil Service Recreational Association, also known as the RA, and was the RA radio reporter on Radio Station CKCO. Sylvia was a resident of Lowertown for 38 years, and she spoke about her experiences living and working in this neighbourhood at the Ben Karp Memorial Lecture in 2002. Harry Kershman (b. August 21, 1923, Montreal - d. November 20, 1997, Ottawa) was born in Montreal, and served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII. After returning from the war, he moved to Ottawa and joined his brother Judah at Judah’s Capital Commercial Laundry. He worked in clothing retail before establishing his laundry business with Sylvia. Both Harry and Sylvia were active in various Ottawa theatre groups. Sylvia participated in war entertainment shows for the RA and the Royal Canadian Legion, as well as theatre productions with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Both Sylvia and Harry participated in plays put on by the Jewish Theatre Guild and the Jewish Stage Players. The couple met at the Ottawa Hebrew Seniors Association, and were married at Machzikei Hadas Synagogue on July 4th, 1948. They had two sons, Stanley Kershman (b. 1952, Ottawa -) and John Kershman (b. 1955, Ottawa -). In addition to theatre, Sylvia and Harry led the Mogen David Cross-Country Ski Club in 1979, and Harry was president of the Hebrew Seniors Association in 1947. Sylvia was on the Committee on Mental Health of the National Council of Jewish Women in 1953. The Kershmans opened Bonnie Cleaners in October of 1956, at 51 Main Street, in Ottawa East. The couple designed the logo for their business and organized the advertising themselves. Sylvia and Harry regularly held meetings for which Harry acted as president and Sylvia acted as secretary-treasurer. In 1961, the business moved to 1061 Merivale Road, and 1971, a second location was opened at 1181 St. Laurent Blvd. As a dry-cleaning business, Bonnie Cleaners offered cleaning, repair, and fireproofing services for a variety of fabrics and materials. They were contracted multiple times by the Department of Defense and other organizations to perform dry-cleaning and fireproofing services on drapes. Bonnie Cleaners also sponsored a women’s softball team, as part of the Ottawa Women’s Softball League. The Merivale location of Bonnie Cleaners Ltd. was sold in 1981, and the St. Laurent location was sold in 1982. Both owners of the business were active in the wider dry-cleaning world. Harry and Sylvia won Canadian management scholarships from Dow Chemicals two years in a row, in 1963 and 1964, which allowed them to attend the National Institute of Dry Cleaning at Silver Springs, Mayland for four weeks with paid tuition in 1964 (Sylvia) and 1965 (Harry). Sylvia and Harry both completed a course in textiles and fabric analysis, sponsored by the dry cleaners and launderers institute of Ontario, in 1963. Harry Kershman was a member of the Jolly Belin Club, “an exclusive society of dry-cleaners.” He also received an optional Certificate of Qualification in the qualified trade of Dry Cleaner, which involved a written and practical test. Sylvia won a Prestige Builders Award from the National Institute of Dry Cleaning in 1965 “for her educational programs on the skills of the dry-cleaner in Ottawa high schools.”

Acquisition Source: Sylvia Kershman

Related Material: Sylvia and Harry Kershman Family fonds

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

Chateau Furs Limited fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101312

Collection: Chateau Furs Limited fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: object; graphic material

Physical Description: 3 objects and 3 photographs : b&w

Fonds No.: B0005

Date: [1939-196-?]

Scope and Content: Fonds consist of two large ink blotters printed with advertising detailing Chateau Furs Limited fur storage services; 1 fur coat hanger and a photograph of Chateau Furs Limited opening in 1939; small New Year's card for Morris Goldberg dated 1924; 3 photographs : b&w.

Collection: Chateau Furs Limited fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: object; graphic material

Physical Description: 3 objects and 3 photographs : b&w

Scope and Content: Fonds consist of two large ink blotters printed with advertising detailing Chateau Furs Limited fur storage services; 1 fur coat hanger and a photograph of Chateau Furs Limited opening in 1939; small New Year's card for Morris Goldberg dated 1924; 3 photographs : b&w.

Date: [1939-196-?]

Fonds No.: B0005

Storage Location: A.1.1 - Individuals Boxes

History / Biographical: Morris Goldberg (b. February 21, 1900, Poland - November 17, 1978, Ottawa) was the proprietor of Chateau Furs Limited from 1939 to 1986. He partnered with Edward Gittleson in 1939, and Morris later bought out his partner in 1948. Morris Goldberg arrived in Ottawa from Poland in 1921, to join his brother Louis. Morris began his career as a fur trader and worked with Louis in the Pontiac region. The brothers bought furs from trappers and sold them in Montreal, while Morris would occasionally sew fur coats. Morris Goldberg married Zena Jeanne (nee Cohen) Goldberg (b. May 24, 1908 - d. December 18, 1982) in 1930. Zena’s mother Celia had immigrated from Russia in 1907, the same year that she married Zena’s father, Isaac Cohen. Zena had five sisters; Mrs. Israel Zavod, Hannah Kondall, Betty Haufrecht, Lillian Ascher, and Ann Paylan. Zena and Morris had two sons, Arnell and Lewis, as well as two grandchildren, Eden and Joshua. Chateau Furs Limited opened in 1939, at 107 Bank St., on the corner of Bank and Albert Streets. At this point, Morris Goldberg had 17 years of experience working in the raw fur trade. While the store originally had only one floor, it would eventually expand into a four-storey operation, which included the showroom, two floors of refrigerated fur storage vaults, and a floor dedicated to the fur factory. Most of the fur coats sold in the showroom were made in the factory, which helped the store to keep costs lower. While the store was advertised as a luxury retailer which prioritized quality over low prices, they also conducted large, store-wide sales every January and August for many years in which their expensive coats and other accessories were sold for much lower prices. The specific furs used changed over the decades that the store was in operation as styles evolved, and included muskrat, seal, lamb, opossum, mink, beaver, rabbit, raccoon, otter, and squirrel. Chateau Furs mainly advertised fashionable, high-end fur coats for women, available in a variety of sizes including petite and tall, from 7-44. In addition to selling new coats, Chateau Furs also offered a variety of services for the upkeep of their garments, such as repairing and remodeling old coats, as well as cleaning and cold storage available for the summer months in temperature-controlled vaults to help customers maintain the quality of their furs. They also accepted custom orders, and redesigned old coats to meet new fashion trends. They advertised that all of their furs were fully insured for 12 months after purchasing. In 1948, Morris Goldberg bought out his partner and continued to operate Chateau Furs as the sole proprietor. In April of 1956 he moved the business to 144 Sparks Street. The shop sustained some damage during a natural gas explosion in October of 1958, which originated from the Addressograph-Multigraph building on Slater St. Several buildings were completely or partially damaged in the explosion, and many businesses such as Chateau Furs experienced minor damage, mainly from broken windows. Morris Goldberg was a member of the Ottawa Fur Standards Association, and served as president of the organization in the 1950s. He continued to serve as an executive in the 1960s. Morris Goldberg was listed as one of the founders of Agudath Israel, and he served as the Synagogue President from 1942-1947. He also participated in the dedication ceremonies to the new Agudath Israel Synagogue in 1960. Zena Goldberg was active in several organizations in the Ottawa Jewish community. She was a charter member of the Mollie Sachs Chapter of Hadassah-WIZO, and served two terms as its president. After her death, one of Zena’s friends recalled that the Goldberg home was always a happy one, and was the first place that new or visiting Rabbis would come to eat and sleep. Edward Gittleson (b. approx. 1901, d. 1 Jul 1988) and his wife Sonia (nee Herman) Gittleson (b. Approx. 1899, d. November 26, 1986) were the presidents of B’nai Brith Lodge No. 885 and the Ottawa Ladies Auxilliary No. 62 respectively, in 1938-39. Edward became vice-chairman, then chairman of the board of directors in the 1940s, while Sonia was in charge of food services in 1946. As chairman of the B’nai Brith Camp Committee in 1950, Edward was involved in much of the planning and installation of the camp’s facilities. He also sat on the board of directors for the Jewish Home for the Aged in the 1950s and 1960s. Mr. and Mrs. Gittleson had two daughters; Zara, who married Milton Leff in 1954, and Roslyn Ann, who married Arthur Kofman in 1955.

Acquisition Source: Phyllis Rackow July 2003, hanger and card donated by Sharon Edelson, November 21, 2007.

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

Gainsboro Shoppe Limited fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101315

Collection: Gainsboro Shoppe Limited fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: graphic material

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w

Fonds No.: B0006

Date: [ca. 1920]

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of a photograph showing an interior view of Gainsboro Shoppe Limited.

Collection: Gainsboro Shoppe Limited fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: graphic material

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of a photograph showing an interior view of Gainsboro Shoppe Limited.

Date: [ca. 1920]

Fonds No.: B0006

History / Biographical: William Holzman (b. date unknown - d. 1958) established Gainsboro Shoppe Ltd., a women's wear and hat shop, at 202 Sparks Street. In 1936 he and his family moved to the neighbourhood of Rockcliffe Park, were they became Rockcliffe's first Jewish residents. Early in 1940, Holzman bought the building at 200 Sparks Street but was not able to move his business until 1949 due to World War II controls. When he was able to move into the new location the business was expanded over three floors and new merchandise including ready-to-wear sweaters, skirts, and blouses were offered. Holzman was assisted in business by his sister-in-law, Eva Abramson. His only son, John, entered the business in 1952. In 1972 the business was sold to Sol Max. Holzman also had a store in Hull, Quebec, named "Nanette Corseterier." William Holzman was a son of businessman Jules Holzman. Jules Holzman (b. unknown - d.1922) arrived in Ottawa to open a branch of Metroploitan Life. He was first in Montreal and then moved to Ottawa with his wife, Henrietta and three children including son William and two daughters. John Holzman, son of William Holzman, graduated from Lisgar Collegiate then graduated from Syracuse University, with a degree in marketing and retailing in 1952.

Acquisition Source: John Holzman.

Notes: 1. Gainsboro named after the English painter, Thomas Gainsborough who painted subjects of women wearing large brimmed hats.

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

George Goldberg = Goldberg's Beauty Salon

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn107410

Collection: George Goldberg = Goldberg's Beauty Salon

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: textual record

Fonds No.: B0007

Date: [ca. 1950]

Scope and Content: Fonds consists one piece of stationary (4-470) and two news clippings.

Collection: George Goldberg = Goldberg's Beauty Salon

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: textual record

Scope and Content: Fonds consists one piece of stationary (4-470) and two news clippings.

Date: [ca. 1950]

Fonds No.: B0007

History / Biographical: George Goldberg (b. April 5, 1904, Manchester, U.K. - d. February 11, 1985, Miami, Florida) was an English barber who began his career as a barber shop “boy” in England when he was 13, where he earned $1.00 an hour. During this time he also cut the hair of recovering wounded soldiers in military hospitals. He emigrated to Canada to join his family in 1925, and started working at a barber shop on the corner of Sparks and Elgin Streets, where haircuts cost 35 cents. George gained notoriety at this location among members of parliament who frequented the barbershop. He became the youngest barber to work for the House of Commons, where his customers included Prime Minister Sir Arthur Meighan, and the vice-president of Bell Canada, who was reportedly so impressed by his high-quality imported “Paris-’42 razor” that he adopted George as his regular barber. Following this, George worked at a “ladies’ and gents’” barber shop on Elgin where one of his customers was A.J. Freiman’s daughter Dorothy. George was able to convince Freiman to establish a hairdressing salon in his department store, where George was hired as the first barber. George met Mary (nee Eskin) Goldberg (b. January 21, 1911, Ottawa - d. January 2, 2009, Ottawa) at a social club on Rideau Street, where Mary often played the piano. George was a violinist, and after hearing Mary play he asked if she would accompany him on piano. She agreed, and as the two often played together, they soon became friends. They were married in 1929, when Mary was 18. George opened his own barbershop on Sparks Street, and moved the business to 172 Rideau Street in 1948. Goldberg’s Beauty Salon was jointly operated by George and Mary Goldberg. Upon opening, the salon was advertised as an “Ultra-Modern” space, with steel finishings, fluorescent lighting, and private consultation rooms. Both men’s and women’s haircuts were offered, and George specialized in popular styles such as the “permanent wave.” The salon was described as a community space with a warm atmosphere. Mary would bake fresh cookies to serve to customers, and they kept photographs of their grandchildren, weddings, graduations and other memorable events in the shop. The couple had taped piano and violin music brought from their home, as they both had a love of music. As of 1979 George and Mary had two children, Ronnie Goldberg and Beverley Gershkovitch, and five grandchildren. The couple established the George and Mary Goldberg Endowment Fund on their 25th wedding anniversary and George’s 50th birthday, through the Ottawa Jewish Community Endowment and Bequest Foundation. George was a member of B’nai Brith no. 885, and Beth Shalom Synagogue. George was widely respected for his knowledge of hair, and on one occasion was asked by CTV to give an interview regarding his opinion of Prince Charles’ haircut. George stayed in the hairdressing business for 50 years, and continued to take clients on a part-time basis after retirement from a hairdresser’s chair set up in his home. During his career, he worked on Sparks Street, Rideau Street, and in the Chateau Laurier.

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

Jack Edelson Catering fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101313

Collection: Jack Edelson Catering fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: multiple media

Physical Description: 6 files textual records, multiple media.

Fonds No.: B0008

Date: [ca. 1955 - 200-]

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of menus, correspondence, photographs, stationery, newspaper clipping and artifacts of a promotional nature and include an apron, 3 men's caps, match covers, pen, metal plate engraved with Jack Edelson Catering, a Jack Edelson's Catering sign on corrugated board (2-314) and a plastic…

Collection: Jack Edelson Catering fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: multiple media

Physical Description: 6 files textual records, multiple media.

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of menus, correspondence, photographs, stationery, newspaper clipping and artifacts of a promotional nature and include an apron, 3 men's caps, match covers, pen, metal plate engraved with Jack Edelson Catering, a Jack Edelson's Catering sign on corrugated board (2-314) and a plastic rain hat.

Date: [ca. 1955 - 200-]

Fonds No.: B0008

Storage Location: A.1.2

History / Biographical: Jack Edelson (b. March 21, 1924, Ottawa) was the owner and manager of Jack Edelson Catering. He is the son of Alice (nee Coblentz) Edelson (b. October 15, 1896, Russia, d. December 28, 1972) and Benjamin (Ben) Simon Edelson (b. March 27, 1889 - d. October 12, 1988). Alice and Ben were married in 1912 in New York and had lived in Montreal prior to Jack’s birth, but moved to Ottawa after visiting the city in 1920 and lived on Clarence Street.The Edelsons had seven children; Samuel, Dina, Lillian (Katznelson), Vivian (Caplan), Jack, Shirley, Joyce and Elihu. Jack attended York St. Public School. As an adolescent, Jack joined a newly-formed Jewish Air Cadet Unit called the Ottawa Maccabee Flight, which was sponsored by the War Services Committee of the Ottawa B’nai B’rith. The Cadet unit provided training at Rockcliffe and Uplands air stations. During his training, Jack created detailed model airplanes to help with training exercises. He enlisted in the Air Force during the Second World War, and was one of a number of servicemen to take up an offer from the Department of National Defense to voluntarily continue to serve in the Pacific after hostilities had ended in Europe. After returning to Ottawa, Jack married Freda Davis (b. August 20, 1926 - d. October 16, 1976), daughter of Rachel and Ben Davis, at Adath Jeshurun Synagogue on December 25, 1949. After Freda’s death, Jack was eventually remarried, to Annette Diotte (b. 1938). Jack Edelson Catering catered largely for the Jewish community. They served food at weddings, bar mitzvahs, and private parties, and they frequently advertised in the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin. The catering company worked with Agudath Israel, Machzikei Hadas, Beth Shalom, the Jewish Community Centre, Young Israel, and Temple Israel. They also provided catering for larger events such as the Canada-Israel Committee’s annual conference at the Chateau Laurier. In addition to events, they also provided take-out platters, and holiday meals. For most events, the food was prepared in the kosher kitchen at Agudath Israel Congregation. For much of his career Jack Edelson worked with Yudi Chein, a caterer from Israel who first started working in the catering business in 1992. Yudi initially worked for Jack’s catering company, then later started Yudi Chein Kosher catering, where Jack later worked as a consultant. Jack and Yudi’s combined experience in catering meant that they were able not only to provide the food for events, but also to give advice on music and decor to the hosts. Until the 1990s, Jack Edelson Catering was one of only two kosher caterers in Ottawa, the other being Jack Smith. The catering business initially only catered kosher events, but later expanded into non-kosher catering as well. Jack Edelson expressed frustration in 1995 when the Vaad Hakashrut, which was responsible for supervising kosher food production across the city, introduced a clause stating that caterers would not be permitted to sell non-kosher food or events to Jewish customers. This clause was introduced after Jack Smith’s catering company mistakenly served non-kosher food during an event that was supposed to be kosher, resulting in a number of sanctions placed against him by the Vaad Hakashrut. Jack Edelson protested this decision, on the grounds that many of his Jewish customers did not keep kosher, and he did not feel that he had the right as their caterer to force them to do so. As of 2001, Jack Edelson had been working in the catering business for 40 years, while running a number of other businesses. He opened a restaurant and delicatessen at 177 Montreal Road in 1966, which boasted a coffeeshop/restaurant, a banquet hall which could be rented for large events, and a “Candlelite Dining Room”. In the 1970s, he opened another restaurant at 1208 Wellington Street, called “J’s Steak House & Deli.” The restaurant had live piano music, and was open until 1am, with dancing in the evenings. He operated two food stands 1982 during Winterlude, selling chili and smoked meat sandwiches at two locations between fifth avenue and Dow’s Lake. Annette and Jack Edelson also ran a business called Alpine Industries, which sold air purifiers, in addition to their food services businesses. Jack Edelson’s Catering contributed to various charitable events and organizations in the Jewish Community and in the broader Ottawa community. He donated meals to events such as the Tele-shalom project organized by Temple Israel, and the Bon Appetit meal program for individuals suffering from addiction in 1994. Jack Edelson chaired the dining room committee for the Rideau View Golf Club during its creation in the 1950s. The golf course initially provided a simple lunch counter where sandwiches could be purchased, though food and beverage options were eventually expanded.

Acquisition Source: Sharon Edelson,

Notes: 1. The name Diamond Catering came from the Diamond Barbeque restaurant where Jack Edelson was Restaurant manager. The restaurant was owned by the Ages brothers. 2. Diamond Catering was located on Nelson Street near Murray Street. 3. Jack Edelson enlisted on Elgin Street following graduation at Ottawa Tech High School as a cadet, where he had become very interested in aeronautics. Following the war he worked in the watch making business before starting in the restaurant and catering businesses.

Related Material: Edelson Family fonds

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

M. Caplan Furs Ltd. fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101317

Collection: M. Caplan Furs Ltd. fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: textual record; object

Physical Description: 2 files textual records; 1 object

Fonds No.: B0009

Date: 1924 - 1990

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of 1 coat hanger, one newspaper clipping, a greeting card, and two advertisments for Chateau Furs Limited.

Collection: M. Caplan Furs Ltd. fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: textual record; object

Physical Description: 2 files textual records; 1 object

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of 1 coat hanger, one newspaper clipping, a greeting card, and two advertisments for Chateau Furs Limited.

Date: 1924 - 1990

Fonds No.: B0009

Storage Location: A.1.1 - Individuals Boxes

History / Biographical: M. Caplan Furs Ltd. was Canada’s oldest furrier, established in 1919 by Meyer Caplan (b. September 1889, Russia - d. August 5, 1968, Ottawa). Meyer Caplan immigrated to Canada from Russia in 1906, and initially lived as a boarder in the house of Michael and Leah Fine at 123 Daly Street while working as a tailor. He married Mary (nee Levine) Caplan (b. 1891, Russia - d. July 12, 1951, Ottawa) on December 3, 1911, and the couple moved to a house on Second Avenue. Mary had also immigrated from Russia in 1903. They had three children; John Caplan (b. approx. 1912, Ottawa - d. March 25, 2000, Ottawa), Dorothy Levinson (b. approx. 1913, Ottawa - d. August 4, 1997, Ottawa), and Donald Caplan (b. approx. 1927, Ottawa - d. November 26, 2007, Ottawa). The Caplans were members of the Adath Jeshurun congregation, and Mary Caplan was a member of the Ottawa chapter of Hadassah-WIZO. Mary was described as an unassuming woman who was often called upon to help with various charity functions, but never asked for recognition for her work. Meyer Caplan co-founded M.Caplan Furs with Benjamin Gould in 1919, and the business initially specialized in high-quality cloth garments trimmed with fur. Meyer Caplan had experience working with cloth garments, and Benjamin Gould had experience with the fur industry. They used high-quality cloth imported from France as well as locally-made materials. A number of prominent Ottawa historical figures visited the shop in its early days, including members of the Billings family. By 1947 when Meyer’s son John Caplan began working there full-time, the store had moved to selling primarily furs, due to wartime restrictions on imported fabrics. The store sold mainly women’s fur coats, including mink, rabbit, muskrat, lamb, beaver, raccoon, and fox furs. In later years they began expanding into menswear, and manufactured coats made of leather or fabric with fur trim to adjust to changing styles. The furs were sold on the first floor, while the second floor mezzanine was used for display. There was a factory located at the back of the shop on both floors, where furs could be custom-made, altered or repaired as needed. The business also offered financing plans to their clients, as well as 12 months insurance, free delivery, and refrigerated storage vaults where furs could be stored in the summer months. M. Caplan Furs Ltd. moved locations several times as the business expanded. After spending 36 years at 195 Sparks Street, the shop moved across the street to 178 Sparks Street in 1958 when they received notice that the building they were renting was being torn down. The shop stayed at this location until 1976, when they moved to 203 Queen street. The shop only stayed at this location for 7 years, before moving to 219 Bank Street in 1983. Meyer Caplan’s son John had a degree in commerce from Queen’s University, and initially had no desire to work for the fur company, however his father persuaded him to join the business in 1946. John took over the business officially in 1968, after his father’s death. John married Rochelle (nee Shapiro) Caplan (b. abt. 1917, Ottawa, died January 4, 1977, Ottawa), and the couple had two daughters, Barbara Kalnitsky and Kathryn Chelin. Rachelle was one of six children born to Barnet and Sadie Shapiro, along with her siblings Charles Shapiro, Marianne Genslove, Gabriel Cohen, Lillian Shapiro, and Louis Shapiro. Barnet and Sadie immigrated to Canada from Russia in 1891, and their three oldest children were born in Quebec before the family settled in Ottawa. Rochelle was born and raised in Ottawa and attended Lisgar Collegiate. The Shapiro family owned a men’s clothing store, which Louis Shapiro took over after his father’s death. Rochelle was an active member of the Ottawa section of the National Council of Jewish Women from the 1940s to the 1960s, and she served as a board chairman during the 1950s. In 1987, John Caplan was fined $1000 for violating the Ontario Retail Business Holidays Act on two occasions. This act forbade businesses to be open on Sundays or statutory holidays, and was later amended by the NDP to only apply to statutory holidays. M. Caplan Furs was one of three Ottawa furriers vandalized by the Animal Liberation Front in 1983, and animal rights activists picketed outside of M. Caplan Furs throughout the 1980s and 1990s, calling for an end to the fur trade in Canada. The business was sold to M. Shuchat Furs of Montreal in 1990, after 71 years in business. John Caplan, who was 76 years old at the time, attributed the store’s declining sales to the increasing activities of Animal Rights activists who were vocally opposed to the fur industry.

Related Material: John Caplan file in Individual Collections.

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

M. Evenchick Jewellry Ltd. fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101397

Collection: M. Evenchick Jewellry Ltd. fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: multiple media

Physical Description: textual records; approx. 100 photographs; 3 artifacts

Fonds No.: B0010

Date: 1940 - 2008

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of 1 box of files; B&W and colour photographs and artifacts including: File - Minutes 1952 - 1969 File - Legal Documents including incorporation papers dated 1925 File - Financial Statements 1961 - 1963 File - Shares (Various Documents) File - Chevron Construction File - Addition to…

Collection: M. Evenchick Jewellry Ltd. fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: multiple media

Physical Description: textual records; approx. 100 photographs; 3 artifacts

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of 1 box of files; B&W and colour photographs and artifacts including: File - Minutes 1952 - 1969 File - Legal Documents including incorporation papers dated 1925 File - Financial Statements 1961 - 1963 File - Shares (Various Documents) File - Chevron Construction File - Addition to 182 Montcalm Street, Hull. File - Correspondence 1969 - 1996 File - Newspaper Clippings File - Memorabilia File - Product Photographs File - Family History information Envelope - Notesbooks Account Journal 1949 - 1953 File - Artist Michael Chartier File - Sample of Rachel Catalogues Artifact - Tray # 1 - Pearl Quality Samples Artifact - Two stamps

Date: 1940 - 2008

Fonds No.: B0010

Storage Location: A.1.2

History / Biographical: Nathan Evenchick was born in 1892 in Minsk, Russia. As a child he attended cheder close to the family’s goose farm in Volma. In 1905, when he was 13 years old, he was sent to live with his aunt, Nechama Evenchick Bakstansky, in New York. Travelling steerage class he used his older brother Meyer’s papers to enter the United States at Ellis Island. From that point on, ‘Nathan’ was known as ‘Meyer.’ Evenchick cleaned bottles for his aunt, who prepared meals for garment factory workers. Later, he got a job driving a streetcar. He spoke only Yiddish and Russian when he arrived in New York, however, within a few years he had learned enough English to pass the entrance exams for university. Unable to afford tuition, Evenchick decided to travel to Japan with his first cousin Samuel Dorsky in 1914. They established a business selling pearls, jade, fine china and other Oriental products. Evenchick lived in Japan for eight years and then moved to Ottawa where he married Lillian Sugarman from Vilna, Lithuania. They had a daughter, Shirley Fay Lacome (b. 1923 - d. unknown), and then a son, Avrom "Abbey" (b. 1924- d. 2008). Evenchick started a wholesale business importing mostly artificial pearls from Japan, which he sold to various department stores. M. Evenchick Jewelry Ltd. was established in 1922. The company imported cultured pearls and is purported to be the first company in Canada to do so. When trade supplies were cut off in 1939 with the outbreak of the Second World War, his company was the first to produce simulated pearls using finely ground scales of red herring. Evenchick returned to New York to learn how to coat glass beads with pearl coating made from scales and began manufacturing them in a small, cinder block warehouse in the backyard of 232 Chapel Street. Evenchick designed special dipping and drying machinery, experimented with a variety of dipping mixtures, developed his own dyes and worked out many technical difficulties in order to develop a consistently good product. For instance, the pearls would ‘blush’ and lose their lustre when the dip became cloudy due to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. At first, his output was small because of the amount of time spent in research and development, but, eventually, the problems were solved and production increased. In 1941, Evenchick purchased a large house on Albert Street, where he employed 35 women to string the artificial pearls at a quota of 75 strings per day, producing between 700 and 1,000 strings of Evco Pearls per day, plus earrings and bracelets. By 1946, he had tripled his production and supplied 75 per cent of the manufactured pearl export trade to the United States, the United Kingdom, the British West Indies, Peru and Brazil. Evco Pearls were manufactured according to a closely guarded formula developed by Evenchick, which he shared only with his son, Abbey. The Moonglow pearl that first appeared on the market in the fall of 1946 took a full year to develop. In 1950, Abbey Evenchick’s brother-in-law, Bernard Lacome, entered the business after going to the United States to learn how to cast metal for costume jewelry fabrication. The business expanded again in 1958, when M. Evenchick Ltd. moved to 180 Montcalm Street in Hull, Quebec. In 1969, Abbey Evenchick took over the family firm on the death of his father and under Abbey's direction the company produced a full line of costume jewelry that ranged in price from one dollar to $1,500 with exports to the West Indies, Australia, South Africa and the United Kingdom. In 1982, Abbey’s sons, Mark and Brian Evenchick, took over the company, bringing further innovation to the marketplace. They worked with ARC Industries to produce a line of maple leaf pins using copper from the roof of the Parliament buildings when the roof was replaced in 1996. They also started using aboriginal artist Mike Chartier’s unique designs carved first in moose antler then reproduced in pewter and sterling silver. Over time, their Rachel line of costume jewelry expanded to include thousands of broaches, pins, earrings, necklaces and bracelets, which were sold to major Canadian chains including Eaton’s, The Bay and Birks. M. Evenchick Jewelry Inc. offered a full range of services, including in-house design, model-making, casting and plating before the business closed in 2008.

Custodial History: Donated by Mark and Brian Evenchick.

Notes: Family History information provided by Sharon Edelson 2009.

Related Material: June 15, 2009, Ottawa Jewish Bulletin article.

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

Minto fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101318

Collection: Minto fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: textual record

Physical Description: 1 book; textual records

Fonds No.: B0011

Date: 2005 - 2011

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of a book entitled "Minto: A tradition of Family Values: The First Fifty Years" by Wayne Skene, 2005; an article from the Ottawa Business Journal from November 29, 2010 entitled "Minto expands Florida footprint"; an article from the Ottawa Citizen from July 2, 2011 entitled "A hint o…

Collection: Minto fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: textual record

Physical Description: 1 book; textual records

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of a book entitled "Minto: A tradition of Family Values: The First Fifty Years" by Wayne Skene, 2005; an article from the Ottawa Business Journal from November 29, 2010 entitled "Minto expands Florida footprint"; an article from the Ottawa Citizen from July 2, 2011 entitled "A hint of the past in a new future," which discusses the update and reinvention of Minto homes in the Bayshore area of Ottawa; a flyer for "The Emperor of Atlantis" a one act opera that was written by Viktor Ullman, with a libretto by Petr Kien, in the Theresienstadt concentration camp around 1943. The opera was sponsored by Minto in October, year unknown.

Date: 2005 - 2011

Fonds No.: B0011

Storage Location: A.1.1 - Individuals Boxes

History / Biographical: The foundations of The Minto Group were laid in 1955 when four Ottawa brothers, Louis, Gilbert, Irving, and Lorry Greenberg, joined together to start a family owned real estate construction company called Mercury Homes. Before long, the sons of Roger and Rose Greenberg began building homes on different sites concurrently. To speed up the construction process, they developed an assembly line approach that was visionary for the times. Before long, the brothers had purchased their own mill, becoming the first builders in the Ottawa region to produce their own woodwork. In 1957, the company name was changed to Minto. Within three years, Minto was starting construction on seven quality houses a day with a 72-day completion schedulel; an unmatched standard for the time. Always a leader in design and construction excellence, Minto received the first of a long list of honours in 1962, when it won both national and regional awards in the Canadian Housing Design Council competition. By 1965, Minto had built more than 5,000 homes in Ottawa and was well on its way to becoming the region’s largest private landlord. In 1969, Minto introduced a new form of home ownership to Canada, the condominium, and built the first of many high-rise condominium projects in the Ottawa area. In the late 1970’s, Minto diversified its holdings and took a tremendous leap forward by expanding into Florida, where the company built almost 17,000 single family homes, condominiums, and rental units in Broward and Palm Beach counties. By 1986, Minto established a toe-hold in Toronto with the construction of Optima on the Park, a luxury condominium project in Scarborough. Two year later, Minto completed a second project, Minto Plaza, in Toronto's downtown, and was well on its way to becoming a leading area developer with an expanded portfolio of single family homes and high-rise projects. Meanwhile in downtown Ottawa, Minto transformed an empty parking lot into Minto Place; a city block size development consisting of two office towers, a 417 unit suite hotel and a two-level retail concourse. Minto Suite Hotel was a huge success and recipient of a CAA/AAA Four Diamond Rating. During this time, Minto made its first foray into green building, developing the prototype Innova House to showcase state-of-the-art technologies such as solar-generated electricity. The project eventually led to new and innovative approaches in construction so that by the mid 1990’s Minto was one of Canada’s largest home builders to offer R-2000 homes. Five decades after building its first home, Minto has grown into an integrated real estate development, construction and management company with operations in Ottawa, Toronto and Florida. To date, The Minto Group has built more than 67,000 new homes, manages more than 15,000 residential rental homes and apartments, and carries a commercial portfolio of more than 2.5 million square feet of office, retail and industrial space.

Related Material: Greenberg Family fonds.

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

Minute Car Wash fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn107605

Collection: Minute Car Wash fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: graphic material; object; textual record

Physical Description: multiple media

Fonds No.: B0012

Date: 1954-1997

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of memorabilia including coupon books and business cards, photocopies of the letters patent, publications, programs, and advertisements, 5 photographs, a plastic wall hanging and a keychain.

Collection: Minute Car Wash fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: graphic material; object; textual record

Physical Description: multiple media

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of memorabilia including coupon books and business cards, photocopies of the letters patent, publications, programs, and advertisements, 5 photographs, a plastic wall hanging and a keychain.

Date: 1954-1997

Fonds No.: B0012

Storage Location: A.1.3

History / Biographical: Minute Car Wash was started by Pincus Newman (b. Dec. 20, 1881, Austria - d. Feb. 13, 1987, Ottawa) in 1953. The business was owned and operated by the Newman family in Ottawa for many years, and is still operational as of 2022. Pincus Newman was married to Hudi Newman (b. Approx. 1896 - d. May 9, 1970, Ottawa), and had four children; William Newman, Lazarus Newman (born approx. 1927), Helene Zaretsky, and Saul Newman. Pincus Newman served in the Austrian army in the First World War before immigrating to Canada in 1924. His first business was a radiator repair shop on Mosgrove Street, which he operated for nearly 20 years. He opened Minute Car Wash in 1953, allegedly in response to a comment from a man from Detroit who told him that a modern car wash would never survive in Ottawa. The car wash was first opened at 240 Catherine Street, and relocated to its permanent location at 270 Catherine Street in 1963 after being expropriated to allow for construction of the new Queensway. The car wash was designed by Pincus Newman and his sons, and was the first of its kind in Ottawa. Fourteen washers were on hand at all times to ensure that cars were washed thoroughly and quickly. Unlike other car washes, at Minute Car Wash the owner was asked to leave their car, and would watch through a glass walkway as the exterior and interior of their car was cleaned with a combination of machine washers and manual washing. The glass walkway was initially installed in the 1950s to alleviate anxieties from car owners who may be wary of leaving their car to be washed by machines. As of 2022, both interior and exterior car washing are still offered, as well as options for a quick wash, full wash, or carpet shampoo. In addition to washing cars, the business also included a “gas bar,” as well as a shop that sold seat covers which could be custom ordered, and car accessories. Throughout the car wash’s history, they have also offered services such as free road maps and winter car storage. Minute Car Wash has made contributions to charitable causes and events in the Ottawa Jewish community and in the wider Ottawa community, including sponsoring Winterlude, sponsoring the Minute Car Wash softball team, which was part of the Jewish Boys Softball League, donating free car wash tickets to fundraising events at Hillel Academy, and sponsoring the Jewish Federation of Ottawa Annual Golf Tournament. Pincus Newman himself also contributed to multiple charitable causes and organizations throughout his life. He was a trustee and officer of the B’nai B’rith Men’s Ottawa Lodge (no. 885) for a number of years throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and was also a member of Kiwanis International, and the Board of Directors of the Protestant Children’s Orphans’ Home in Rosemere, Quebec. Pincus Newman was awarded a medal in 1978 by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker for being the third largest blood donor in Canada. By the age of 80, he had made a total of 88 blood donations, 87 in Canada and one in Israel. Pincus Newman passed the Minute Car Wash to his sons, Laz (Lazarus) and Bill (William) Newman, who eventually sold the business to Tony Kue Shahrasebi in 2002. Shahrasebi renovated the car wash, but kept the original signs outside from the 1950s, which were visible from the highway.

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

Molot's Pharmacy

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn107497

Collection: Molot's Pharmacy

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: textual record

Fonds No.: B0013

Date: 1932

Scope and Content: File contains Reuben Molot's University Diploma.

Collection: Molot's Pharmacy

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: textual record

Scope and Content: File contains Reuben Molot's University Diploma.

Date: 1932

Fonds No.: B0013

History / Biographical: In the late 1920's, before becoming a pharmacist, Abe Molot (Abraham, also Abram) completed one year at McGill University towards a medical degree. When he went to return to his studies for second year however, he found that the school had filled their quota for Jewish students which didn't leave room for Abe to be readmitted. This unexpected turn of events forced him to change his life plans, and so he, along with one of his brothers, Rueben, decided to partner together and become pharmacists. The two brothers completed a three year apprenticeship at a drug store called Aikin's at 580 Rideau, right at the corner of Rideau and Charlotte, before completing a two year degree at the University of Toronto's Ontario College of Pharmacy. They graduated in 1932, with Abe receiving the "Gold Medal" in his graduating class. When they returned to Ottawa, Abe found a job at a drug store on Wellington and Ruben decided to open his own pharmacy at 480 Rideau Street, near Augusta. In April 1933, Reuben invited yet another brother, Dave, to complete an apprenticeship in his store. The remaining three Molot brothers would go on to join their father's fur business. Business was slow in the beginning for Reuben so he and Dave decided to open a lending library inside the pharmacy and rented books for two cents a day. For the first two years of the business they made more money with the library than they did with prescriptions. In September 1937, the drug store at 580 Rideau where Abe and Reuben completed their own apprenticeships went bankrupt, and the brothers made the decision to take over the business. They renovated and restocked the store and renamed it Molot's Pharmacy. As the location had been a drug store for over 50 years, they were hopeful they could make it a success once again. In 1938 Dave became a licensed pharmacist and took over the pharmaceutical operation of Molot's. The business flourished and over the following decades the brothers opened more stores. At their peak in the 1970's, there were seven Molot's pharmacies in Ottawa. In November 1982, after almost 50 years in the business Molot's was sold to a Toronto based multinational company called Jack Austin Drugs Ltd. Many Jewish apprentices and licensed pharmacists came through the store including Marty Ginsberg, Dave Edelson, Bernie Goldberg, Jack Haverman and Norman Perkin.

Language: English

Acquisition Source: Judith Molot-Piazza

Notes: 1. History from a 1996 Ottawa Jewish Historical Society program.

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

Ottawa Bread Company fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn107334

Collection: Ottawa Bread Company fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: graphic material

Physical Description: 2 photographs: b&w

Fonds No.: B0014

Date: 1930

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of 2 photographs of Bodnoff family with Bread Company truck and several transcribed newspaper articles.

Collection: Ottawa Bread Company fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: graphic material

Physical Description: 2 photographs: b&w

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of 2 photographs of Bodnoff family with Bread Company truck and several transcribed newspaper articles.

Date: 1930

Fonds No.: B0014

History / Biographical: Abraham Bodnoff was the owner of the Ottawa Bread Company, a bakery in the Byward Market which was operated by him and his family in the early 20th century. Abraham Bodnoff (b. 1883, Russia, d. August 16th, 1951, Ottawa) and Annie Bodnoff (b. 1883, Russia, d. May 29, 1947, Ottawa) immigrated to Canada from Russia in 1907. They had two sons, Israel Bodnoff and John “Jack” Bodnoff, and four daughters, Lillian Zbar, Toby Weiner, Rachael “Rae” Gould, and Sadie Shapero. John Bodnoff was also employed at the Ottawa Bread Company. He died in a car crash on Montreal Road in June of 1931, when he was 18 years old. The family attended the Rideau Street Synagogue, and Annie was a member of several local organizations, including the Ottawa Hadassah Chapter, and the Women's Pioneer Association. Abraham Bodnoff opened the Ottawa Bread Company sometime in the mid-1910s and its first location was on York Street in the Byward Market. Bodnoff was a baker and proprietor of the business. The bakery moved to 480 St. Patrick Street around 1917, and stayed there until at least the late 1930s. The bakery was located on the first floor, while the second level included a living space for the Bodnoffs as well as additional apartments that were rented out to tenants. Jack Gladstone (Jack Glustein) was interviewed in 1981, and recalled that he lived with and worked for the Bodnoff family in 1918, delivering bread for $5 or $6 a week. At the time a loaf of bread cost 5 cents. In 1920, Abraham Bodnoff sustained serious injuries to his head and face after being hit by a car while biking on Laurier Avenue. The driver had swerved to avoid hitting a young girl crossing the street, and hit Bodnoff instead. In September of 1932, a fire broke out in a group of sheds between St. Patrick Street and Murray street, and spread to several buildings, including the rear side of the Ottawa Bread Company, before being extinguished. The bakery suffered considerable damage from both fire and water on the first floor, amounting to about $3000. The second floor was only mildly damaged by the smoke. In 1937, Abraham Bodnoff was fined for contravening the schedule for wages and hours under the Industrial Standards Act. At the time, the Industrial Standards Act stated that bakers were to be paid $21 for a 56 hour work week. Three of the men working for him, a baker’s assistant and two bakers, were working over 70 hours per week and were paid between $14-$21 weekly, without overtime pay. Prior to and following this charge, Abraham Bodnoff was charged with fines on several other occasions, for offenses including operating a truck without a front license plate, raising his tenants’ rent without permission, disobeying an officer who was directing traffic, operating his car with a noisy exhaust, and driving his truck with insufficient lights. He paid between 1-10 dollars in fines for each of these offenses.

Language: English

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

Ottawa Leather Goods fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn107482

Collection: Ottawa Leather Goods fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Fonds No.: B0015

Collection: Ottawa Leather Goods fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Fonds No.: B0015

History / Biographical: Ottawa Leather Goods was a family-owned business founded by George Wolf Sr. (b. November 2, 1888, Boston, Massachusetts, d. November 27, 1979, Ottawa) in 1921, which operated from multiple locations within Ottawa for 98 years before closing in 2019. Prior to its closure, Ottawa Leather Goods was the oldest luggage and leather goods store in Canada. The leather goods store was advertised as a luxury goods retailer, specializing in women’s handbags and luggage in its early years. All three of its proprietors maintained a philosophy of sourcing products made from high quality materials sold by knowledgeable staff. They sold a wide variety of leather goods, including purses, luggage, photo frames, notebooks, diaries, photo albums, and other small leather accessories and bags. They carried luggage from a number of well-known Canadian and European manufacturers, including a range of McBrine luggage. In addition to leather goods, the store also sold handbags made from plastic and fabric, as well as umbrellas, pens and pencils, grooming accessories, clocks, thermoses, and a variety of gifts. During the 1990s and 2000s, the shop sold a variety of travel accessories in addition to their luggage collection, including money belts and adapters. George started his career in Montgomery, Alabama, before moving to Hamilton, Ontario, where he developed an interest in the leather goods industry. He settled in Ottawa two years after moving to Hamilton, and opened Ottawa Leather Goods in 1921 at 92 Bank Street, the former Loew’s Theater Building. During the 1920s George’s son George Wolf Jr. (b. April 23, 1916, d. November 24, 1999) attended Osgoode public school and Lisgar Collegiate in Ottawa while working in the shop with his father running errands, performing odd jobs and learning how to run the business. In April of 1931 George Wolf Sr. moved the shop from Bank Street to a new location at 126 Sparks Street. George Wolf Jr. started working full time at the shop in the 1930s, and he expanded the business in 1931 by opening a branch on St. Catherine’s St. in Montreal. George Wolf Jr. managed this branch until 1942, when he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. After returning to Ottawa in 1945, George Wolf Jr. joined his father as manager of the Ottawa business. In 1948 the shop once again changed locations, moving across the street to 131 Sparks Street. George Wolf Jr. married Brenda Filer in 1951. Their daughter Elayne Suzanne Schwartz (Wolf) was born on April 11, 1957. George Wolf Jr. officially took over the leather goods store from his father in 1959, and he expanded the business considerably during the following decades. A new location was opened at the brand new St. Laurent Shopping Centre in 1967, a third store was opened in the Rideau Centre in 1981, and a fourth location was opened at Promenade de l’Outaouais in 1987, in addition to a full-service repair shop opened in the same year on Lancaster Road, managed by John Melbourne. Elayne married Eric Schwartz in 1979, and the couple began working in the family business full-time that same year. A fifth location was added in 1989 at Bayshore Shopping Centre. In 1991, Eric Schwartz donated 21 canvas knapsacks to the JCC’s Scouting program to be used by the children in the “Beaver Colony,” as “Beaver Bags.” Eric and Elayne's son Mitchell was involved in the program. Elayne and Eric Schwartz bought the business from George Wolf Jr. in 1993. Elayne Schwartz ran the shop on Sparks Street until its closure on September 1st, 2019.

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

Pembroke Salvage Company fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101319

Collection: Pembroke Salvage Company fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: graphic material

Fonds No.: B0016

Date: 1960-1969

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of several photogrpahs of the Pembroke Salvage Company.

Collection: Pembroke Salvage Company fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: graphic material

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of several photogrpahs of the Pembroke Salvage Company.

Date: 1960-1969

Fonds No.: B0016

History / Biographical: The Pembroke Salvage Company was founded in Pembroke in July, 1946 by brothers Morris “Morrie” Eisen (b. July 9, 1921, Toronto - d. January 27, 2007, Ottawa) and Harry Eisen (b. November 18, 1918, Toronto - d. April 14, 1999, Toronto). The Eisen brothers were born in Toronto to Polish immigrants, who had moved to Canada in the 1910s. Their mother Annie Eisen (b. approx. 1898, Poland - d. June 20th, 1981, Toronto) continued to live in Toronto until her death in 1981. The brothers both served overseas during the Second World War, and once they returned to Toronto after the war they started peddling from a truck in scrap metal, feathers, copper and brass. They found peddling to be unprofitable in Toronto, and decided to move to the growing town of Pembroke in 1946. They purchased a scrap metal yard from a Mr. Greenberg and started the Pembroke Salvage Company, dealing in the removal and resale of scrap metal. Morrie married Helen (nee Sax) Eisen (b. September 2, 1927 - d. March 22, 2020, Ottawa) in 1946 and had three children: Jeffrey, Robert and Valerie Eisen. Harry Eisen married Rose Eisen (b. November 18, 1918 - d. February 4, 2014, Toronto). Valerie Eisen married Mickey Kostove in 1986. In 1952 it was discovered that scrap metal and other materials had been stolen from Camp Petawawa, an army camp 10 miles west of Pembroke, over a two year period. Harry and Morris Eisen were among those faced with charges of conspiracy and theft, along with another salvage company and several military officials. A raid was conducted on the junkyard of the Pembroke Salvage Company where some of the stolen materials were found. The brothers were fined $250 each after pleading guilty to conspiracy and theft. The theft charges included a tank cupola, a bucket boom, and a scale, and they were charged with conspiracy to steal items including stoves, heaters and shower stalls. Pembroke Salvage Company was employed by the Crown Assets Disposal Corporation in 1965 to dispose of scrap metal produced by various government departments. In the 1980s, Pembroke Salvage Company Limited began operating Pemco Recycling and Pemco Steel. Morrie’s sons Jeffrey and Robert eventually took over the scrap metal business from their father, who by 1991 was semi-retired. In 1999 they changed the name of the company to Pembroke Steel Sales, after retiring the scrap metal business in favour of focusing on steel, and the name was eventually changed again to Pemco Steel. Pemco Steel is now a metal supplier that operates as part of Russel Metals Inc. When the Eisens moved to Pembroke there were about 6 or 7 Jewish families living there, and this number grew to about 14 or 15 families in the 1970s. The Eisen family played an important role in this small community. Morrie Eisen often visited Ottawa and received visitors from Ottawa as a representative of the Pembroke Jewish community. He also worked alongside the other Pembroke Jewish families to establish a synagogue, school, and various Jewish organizations in the small town. Throughout their lives, Morrie and Helen Eisen donated to the UJA, Israel Bonds, and other charities. Morrie Eisen accepted an Award of Merit from the UJA in 1970 on behalf of the Jewish Community of Pembroke, which was hung in the Pembroke Synagogue. He was also awarded the Tower of David award at a Testimonial Dinner hosted in his honour by Congregation Beth Israel in collaboration with Israel Bonds in Pembroke in 1970. In 1981, the Morrie and Helen Eisen Foundation was established by some of the couple’s friends. Morrie and Helen Eisen continued to live in Pembroke for 52 years, despite many other Jewish families moving away to larger cities. By 1999 the Eisens, who still lived in Pembroke along with their children and grandchildren, were one of only two remaining Jewish families in the town, along with the Coopers. In the late 1990s, Morrie and Helen moved to Ottawa.

Notes: Company history from Jeff Eisen, Fall 2006. Additional information can be found via pemco's website, http://www.pemcosteel.com/

Related Material: Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds. Program by Elliott Levitan, June 3, 2008.

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

Petigorsky Ltd. fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101320

Collection: Petigorsky Ltd. fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Fonds No.: B0017

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of annual meeting minutes, correspondence about property transactions, memorandum of agreement, 1951 early cancelled cheques and business stationary.

Collection: Petigorsky Ltd. fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of annual meeting minutes, correspondence about property transactions, memorandum of agreement, 1951 early cancelled cheques and business stationary.

Fonds No.: B0017

Storage Location: A.1.1 - Individuals Boxes 1 box in OS

History / Biographical: Petigorsky Ltd. was founded by Oscar Petigorsky (b. April 20, 1881, Russia [present day Ukraine] - d. November 19, 1970, Ottawa). Oscar was the son of Max Petigorsky (b. Approx. 1852, Russia, - d. March 31, 1921, Ottawa) and Ester Petigorsky (b. Approx. 1885 -d. 1931, Ottawa). The Petigorsky family first immigrated to Canada in 1904, where they lived briefly in Quebec City and Montreal, before moving to Ottawa in 1905. Once they had established a business in the city, Oscar and Nina were able to help their families to immigrate to Canada as well. After settling in Ottawa, Max Petigorsky became one of the first members of the Murray Street Synagogue. Max and Ester had five sons and one daughter, one of whom was Leon Petigorsky, a Councillor on the Eastview town council. Oscar married Nina (nee Chegofsky) Petigorsky (b. March 15, 1887 - d. June 3, 1969) in 1904. Oscar and Nina had seven children: David Leon Petigorsky (b. January 8, 1908 - d. August 24, 1964), Joseph “Joe” Petigorsky (b. November 14 1909 - d. May 4, 1991), Samuel “Sam” Petigorsky (b. June 9, 1914 - d. March 17, 2005), Anna “Ann” Petigorsky (b. January 16, 1907 - d. December 2, 1983), Minna “Minnie” Petigorsky (b. October 10, 1911 - d. April 5, 2005), Lina Schecter (b. 1919, Ottawa - d. January 26, 2005, Ottawa), and Cecilia Tennebaum (b. approx. 1920 - d. November 1970). The Petigorsky children attended Osgoode Public School and Lisgar Collegiate. The Petigorsky family lived at multiple locations on Rideau Street from 1904 until 1914, where their business was also originally located. The family moved to 25 Stewart Street in 1914, however Oscar Petigorsky continued to own properties on Rideau Street, one of which was occupied by his mother Ester. Oscar Petigorsky’s properties located at 251 and 253 Rideau Street were heavily damaged by a fire in 1925. While no one was hurt in the fire, the 70 year old Ester Petigorsky had to break and crawl through a window to escape. Petigorsky Ltd. was incorporated by Oscar Petigorsky on August 12, 1918 “for the purpose of carrying on wholesale and retail business in shoes and leather goods”. Oscar Petigorsky had been working in the shoe findings and leather wholesale business for several years before this, a trade that he had learned from his father who worked as a shoemaker in Russia. The business was mostly family-run, and the directors of the company at the time of its creation were Oscar Petigorsky, Nina Petigorsky, Oscar’s brothers Simon and Leon Petigorsky, and Harold Kirks Pinhey. Petigorsky Ltd. was a shoe findings business, which sold various shoemaking supplies, such as soles, heels, and leather. The business was originally located on Rideau Street, then moved to Dalhousie Street and finally to 21-23 York Street. In addition to the shoe findings business, Oscar Petigorsky became one of the first Jewish builders in the city after expanding into the construction business. He was also the proprietor of Rideau Auto Supply. Sam Petigorsky served in the air force after graduating with a BA in Economics and English at St. Patrick’s University in 1935, as part of the University’s second graduating class. He later joined the family business after returning to Ottawa. In the 1940s, Petigorsky Ltd. was run by Oscar Petigorsky, and his sons Joseph and Leon Petigorsky. By the 1950s Samuel Petigorsky had joined the business as well. In addition to their business, Oscar and Nina Petigorsky participated in a variety of charitable activities in the Ottawa Jewish community. They were both involved in the Ottawa Hebrew Benevolent Society in the early 20th century. Oscar was an officer of the Chevra Kadisha for approximately 60 years, a member of the Talmud Torah Board, and a member of the Vaad Hakashruth, since the early days of all of these organizations. His name is one of those listed on a plaque on the rear wall of the King Edward Avenue Chapel in tribute to his dedication to the Chevra Kadisha. He also served on the Zionist National Council in the 1930s. As president of the congregation for the Murray St. Synagogue Oscar raised over $5000 for the creation of a new synagogue in 1920, to better serve the growing Ottawa Jewish community. He was also involved in a fundraising campaign to raise $10,000 for a Hebrew School on George Street. Oscar and Nina also donated to the Canadian Jewish War Relief Fund, and Oscar Petigorsky was the treasurer of the Palestine Jewish Workers’ Hospital Campaign Committee. Sam Petigorsky was inspired by his father’s decades of service in the Ottawa Chevra Kadisha, and joined the organization himself, where he worked for 50 years.

Acquisition Source: Estelle Gunner

Related Material: Related material in Oscar Petigorsky Family fonds.

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

Pure Spring (Canada) Ltd. fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101321

Collection: Pure Spring (Canada) Ltd. fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: multiple media

Physical Description: multiple media

Fonds No.: B0018

Date: 1962-2010 (with gaps)

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of: 3 photocopied articles from the trade publication, "Canadian Beverage Review"; 1 photocopied article in "Executive"; 1 Ottawa Citizen article; 4 Pure Spring paper cups; 1 wooden distribution crate for Pure Spring soft drinks; A six pack Pure Spring carrying case with 6 empty gree…

Collection: Pure Spring (Canada) Ltd. fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: multiple media

Physical Description: multiple media

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of: 3 photocopied articles from the trade publication, "Canadian Beverage Review"; 1 photocopied article in "Executive"; 1 Ottawa Citizen article; 4 Pure Spring paper cups; 1 wooden distribution crate for Pure Spring soft drinks; A six pack Pure Spring carrying case with 6 empty green glass Gini bottles in it; An original glass bottle of Pure Spring Ginger Ale, sealed, with the original soda.

Date: 1962-2010 (with gaps)

Fonds No.: B0018

Storage Location: A.1.1 - Individual Collections A.1.3

History / Biographical: In 1905, David Mirsky, son of Ottawa's first Rabbi Jacob Mirsky, started bottling spring water that came out of a limestone rock formation on “Nanny Goat Hill” near LeBreton Flats. From those humble beginnings a soft drink empire was born. When David was 14 he entered the workforce as a “newsie,” peddling magazines, snacks and soft drinks on the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Gatineau train. Within five years he had worked his way up to freight agent and started work in the CPR station. It was there in the station that David noticed the incredible volume of soft drinks being shipped from all over the country into Ottawa. He began to wonder why soft drinks couldn’t be manufactured locally. David began to collect glass bottles (which were scarce at the time) and returned them to Bradings Brewery. He eventually was able to arrange a deal with Bradings; in return for bottles David was given permission to build a small shack on the Brewery grounds in LeBreton Flats as well as the right to tap spring water that ran down the escarpment on Nanny Goat Hill, near what is today Booth and Albert Streets. David initially named his company “The Ottawa Bottle and Trading Co.” and his first product was simply a five gallon can of spring water. Deliveries were done by horse and wagon in the summer and by sleigh in the winter. The wagon and sleigh were replaced with trucks in the 1920's. In the 1920's, David noticed the continuous shipments of ginger ale and ginger beer from England, and decided to begin flavouring and carbonating his water. With the introduction of his new products, the company was renamed "Pure Springs," a name that would endure for the next 60 some years. David's early operation was modest, using hand operated equipment in his home in the evenings to develop products. Over the years, David brought his sons into the business; Norman Mirsky, who focused on product development (and who would become president of the company during WWII), and Mervin Mirsky, who focused on sales, merchandise and promotion. John Mirsky, the third son, worked in the business before WWII before setting his sights on legal career which was tragically cut short when he was killed in a car accident. Mervin left the business during World War II to fight in Europe. Upon his return, he briefly entered into the legal field with his twin brother Jack, but it was not long until he returned to the family business. Upon his return, Mervin helped to breathe new life into the soft drink company which had suffered a hit during the 1930's. Under Mervin's direction a variety of expansion plans and innovative ideas were instituted. One of his greatest feats was to develop a formula that would retain carbonation in their drinks for at least 24 hours. The Mirsky’s were also credited with bringing twist caps and soda cans to North America from England. By 1969, Pure Spring had increased sales 3000% over two decades. In April 1969, the company opened a modern, one-story plant on Belfast Road in Ottawa. Pure Spring products could be found across Canada, from the Maritimes, to Alberta and to the Arctic Circle. Outside the country products were sold in the United States, West Indies, Bermuda and Dominican Republic. At its peak, it was said that Pure Spring had annual sales in the $50-million range. Their best known sodas were Ginger Ale, Honey Orange, Gini, Minted Grape and Cream Soda, but products also included One Cal Cola, Brio Chinotti, Black Bing Cherry, Mexican Cream Soda, Spruce Beer, Strawberry, Grapefruit and Lime, and EXPO Chocolate, which was made for a limited time for Expo 67. The Mirsky family eventually sold Pure Spring to Crush International, the soft-drink giant, in the mid-1960’s, though Mervin Mirsky continued to be involved in operations until 1987.

Acquisition Source: Pure Spring paper cups and crate donated by Sharon Edelson, 2007 and 2008; Gini bottles, Pure Spring carrying case and sealed ginger ale bottle donated by Emily Leonoff in January, 2014.

Related Material: Related booklet Negev Dinner honouring Mervin Mirsky, O.B.E. in Jewish National Fund fonds.

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

Rideau Bakery fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101322

Collection: Rideau Bakery fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: multiple media

Physical Description: 1 file textual records; 11 photographs : col.; 2 artifacts; 1 DVD

Fonds No.: B0019

Date: 1975-2007 (with gaps)

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of 11 colour photographs of the Rideau Bakery; one Soloway Jewish Community price list, 2006; news clippings; history of the extensive family; two textile items; DVD entitled, "One of the Last" produced by Jane Gurr and Ed Kucerak; 1 blue Rideau Bakery apron owned by Annie Kardish Br…

Collection: Rideau Bakery fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: multiple media

Physical Description: 1 file textual records; 11 photographs : col.; 2 artifacts; 1 DVD

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of 11 colour photographs of the Rideau Bakery; one Soloway Jewish Community price list, 2006; news clippings; history of the extensive family; two textile items; DVD entitled, "One of the Last" produced by Jane Gurr and Ed Kucerak; 1 blue Rideau Bakery apron owned by Annie Kardish Brozovsky (Mixed Box. #4).

Date: 1975-2007 (with gaps)

Fonds No.: B0019

Storage Location: A.1.1 - Individuals Boxes 1 box in OS

History / Biographical: With hopes of building a better life, brothers David and Abie (Abe) Kardash immigrated to Ottawa in 1926. They brought with them their knowledge of baking bread and used it as a foundation upon which to build their new life in Canada. Prior to opening the Rideau Bakery they were employees of both the Mosion and the Bodnoff families. David and Abie opened Rideau Bakery in 1930 at the corner of Rideau and Nelson Streets and followed recipes that their mother Rivka had used to make bread in the Ukraine. They survived the Depression by employing their brothers, sisters and children. A fire in 1940 in an adjoining building forced the bakery to move to Clarence Street. In the 1950's the Kardash's acquired the neighbouring Le Droit Newspaper building and converted it into the bakery's retail location. The Clarence Street site housed both bakery and retail sites until 1970 when the city expropriated the property. The family then moved the bakery to its current premises at 1666 Bank Street. The present retail site at 384 Rideau Street began operation in 1965. Abie Kardash was married to Sarah (Tziphora) Rosenthal and had one daughter Rose (Taylor). David Kardash had nine children, seven of which became the second generation of the bakery's owners. David’s sons, Louie, Sam, Moe and Issie, took over the business and with the help of three of their sisters, Jennie, Libby and Ann, succeeded in growing and expanding operations. A third generation ran the company. David Kardish can usually be found at the Rideau Street store and his brother, Louis Kardish is at the Bank Street store. Their partner and cousin, "David Kardash (a.k.a. The Bear)" passed away in 1999. The family's fourth generation now helps behind the counter. Rideau Bakery closed offically on June 28, 2019, after 89 years in operation. It was Ottawa's longest standing kosher bakery. To help fill the gap in kosher baking, Farm Boy took over the original Rideau Bakery recipes, bakers and bread starter. Rideau Bakery bread is available at all Farm Boy locations, the first six adopted lovaes were: Light Rye, Caraway Rye, Dark Rye, Pumpernickel, Egg Bread, and Raisin Bread.

Acquisition Source: Initial donation of material by Gail Lieff, March 2000; Further accruals donated by the Ottawa Jewish Historical Society, November 2001; Accrual consisting of linen sugar bag pillow case and duvet cover hand stitched by Shirley Kardish (wife of Issie Kardish) donated by Debbie Baylin, winter 2007; DVD: “One of the Last” donated by Debbie Baylin, June 2007.; Blue Rideau Bakery apron donated by Ros Wollock, September 12, 2023.

Related Material: Audio cassette of Debbie Baylin’s lecture on the history of the Cardish / Kardash / Kardish / Cardash family present in the Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds; Biographical information available in the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, February 19, 1993, page 7.; Executive Minutes of the Ottawa Vaad Ha'Ir March 1947.

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

Blue Rideau Bakery apron

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn113328

Collection: Rideau Bakery fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: object

Physical Description: 1 textile

Fonds No.: B0019; 2-019-02

Scope and Content: 1 blue Rideau Bakery apron

1 image

Collection: Rideau Bakery fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: object

Physical Description: 1 textile

Scope and Content: 1 blue Rideau Bakery apron

Fonds No.: B0019

Item No.: 2-019-02

Storage Location: G.4.3 - Mixed Box 4

History / Biographical: Apron owned an worn by Annie kardish Brozovsky when she worked at Rideau Bakery.

Acquisition Source: Donated by Ros Wollock, September 12, 2023.

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

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