setName:"Petigorsky Ltd. fonds" found 21 records - The Canadian Jewish Heritage Network

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.