My ancestors, Catherine Furst Schwartzmeier Lindemann (born Aschaffenburg, Germany 1827), her daughter, Wilhelmina Schwartzmeier Lindemann Goehle (born NYC c 1862), and Wilhelmina's husband, Peter Goehle (born Herrnsheim, Germany 1852) and their extended families lived in the Lower East Side. My grandfather, Frank Goehle, was born at 88 Sheriff Street in 1894.

In the mid to late 1800s a large portion of this the area was known as as Kleindeutschland (Little Germany) because of the high percentage of German immigrants who lived there. The Germans who lived in this part of New York City maintained their language and culture. It was a bit of Germany moved to New York City.

Germany was not unified as a nation until 1871. Up to that time it was made up of multitude of states, princedoms, dukedoms, city states, etc. All of these diverse regions had their own dialects, customs and dress. The "Germans" who came to America in the 1800s tended to form communities within their own regional groups. Bavarians and Prussians were the two biggest German speaking groups who settled in New York City.

Kleindeutschland encompassed the 10th, 11th, 13th and 17th Wards - an area between 14th and Division Streets - the East River and the Bowery. Today this area includes the East Village, Alphabet City, and parts of Chinatown, the Bowery, Little Italy, and NoLita.

Kleindeutschland was the first large urban language settlement in an America city. Between 1855 and 1880 it was the third largest German speaking community in the world - Only Vienna and Berlin were bigger!

The 1870s and 1880s saw a big building boom in the New York City area. Manhattan expanded to the North. By 1878 the Second Avenue El ran form Battery Park to the Harlem River. Yorkville, which extended from 83rd to 89th and from the East River to Third Avenue, offered a better class of tenements and was easily assessable on the el. Yorkville became the center of a newly expanding German neighborhood with Lower East side Germans moving uptown and the 1880s wave of new German immigrants arriving. At the same time the Lower East Side saw and inrush of Eastern European Jews. Many Lower East Side Germans also moved to Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and New Jersey in the late 1880 and early 1900s.

The General Slocum Steamboat Disaster of 1904 is often credited with the demise of Kleindeutchland. This may be true to some extent but the movement was already well underway by 1904.

In the mid 1800s a big export from the US to Germany was tobacco. Tobacco was a bulky trade item that took up a lot of room on the ships. Merchants were looking for a return commodity and they hit on the idea of immigrants. There were economic and social issues in Germany that encouraged emigration. The potato rot of the early 1840s not only effected Ireland but had a sever economic impact on German as well. There was also political unrest in Germany in the 1850s. These factor contributed to a significant increase in emigration from German to the US. Early immigrants to New York were primarily from the Rhineland.

The Civil War slowed the flow. Following the war the pace picked up with many Germans arriving from Prussia.

Many of these Germans arriving in New york City were single young people, predominantly male. They frequently settled in the 10th, 11th, 13th and 17th wards.

Building in the area was on the rise after 1845. Most of the houses were 2, 3 or 4 story wood or brick building. Rear tenements frequently houses work shops and factories. The 10th Ward was the most commercial. The 11th ward had a lot of shipyards along the river and a lot of slaughterhouses. The 13th ward had a lot of breweries, coal yards, timer yards and also had shipping along the river. The 17th ward was the newest and the least industrial. It also contained the largest number o brick or stone houses.

Tompkins Square Park provided a respite from the noise and confusion of the busy streets.

Many of the tenements north of Houston were 5 or 6 stories high on double lots. A lot was 25 feet wide and 70 feet deep. Each floor could have 8 apartments - 4 on the street and 4 in the rear. A 5 story double wide could have 40 apartments in the building. The size of each apartment would accordingly have been 350 square feet.

By 1875 64% of the 10th and 13th wards were German.

By the 1860s a considerable number of wealthier Germans had moved out of Kliendeutschland. The process continued through the 1870 and 1880s as more people moved into the newly developed areas uptown. By the 1870s the lower (wards, 10 and 13th) had increasing larger numbers of Eastern Europeans and less Germans. Many Germans remained, mostly in the 11th and 17th wards, until the 1904 General Slocum steamship disaster. It has repeatedly been stated over the years that his catastrophe, resulting in the death of at least 900 people mostly women and children, was the demise of Kleindeuchland. It may have only accelerated a process that had been going on for some time.

Once one of the most fashionable streets in the city, by the end of the Civil War the Bowery had become the home of popular theaters and German beer gardens.

A 1892 Century Magazine about the Bowery had the following to say:

• "It is an enormous, crowded, noisy street of retail shop, lodging houses, and museums."

• In addition to "respectable" shops like grocer's, baker's and a shop for "the supply of firemen's goods" there were a abundance of cheap jewelry stores and pawnbrokers.

• The "foreign inclination" of the street was noted:

  "one sees the force of foreign inclination unmistakably in other features of the street. The frequency of signs painted with Hebrew characters in German words even in the windows of banks, is no more mistakable than the occasional "delicatessen", shops, as the Germans call these places which are nearly like our "fancy groceries". The number of places for the sales of muscial instruments is so great as to indicate that the majority of their customers are from continental Europe, and in the still larger numbers of cheap photograph-galleries the same influence is apparent"........... Not only are the types of faces Teutonic and Slavonic, but the sitters have shown a fondness for being pictures in fancy costumes and maskers' dresses.".......... The sources of the fancy costumes is seen in the many places for the hire of masquerade dresses that are in the Bowery.......The costumes are hired for use at masquarade balls and it is on the morning after such a ball, before the dresses are returned, that the dancers wear them once again to the photograph-galleries."

• The inhabitants of the Bowery area were joiners and everyone became members of numerous "societies". Each occupation had one of more societies. One became a member of the society of people who came from the same village of area of Germany. Other societies included: singing clubs, sharpshooting clubs, secret societies, mutual benefit societies, burial societies, gymnastic clubs, and various church groups.

  "Fraternity and fun are at the bottom of all these organizations — a kind of fun we Anglo-Saxon are too stiff to enjoy, and a sort of vigorous and ostentatious fraternity that we do not see the necessity for............No matter what the aim or title of the organization, dancing and the drinking of wine and beer seem to us the main purpose of the members."

  Many of these clubs members mixed on "equal terms" regardless of their social standing. The king of a given "ball" could have been "wage-earner", "clerk, a "professional" or a "well-to-do shop keeper".

  One society had the sole purpose to "bring together the people for a Rhenish village for a grand dance and feast of new sausage and new wine once a year."

• The large number of drinking establishments was noted:

  "The street is fourteen blocks long, and there are sixty-five places where drink is sold on on its east side and seventeen on its west side"

  The numbers included: four music halls, four restaurants, four oyster houses, two or three wine houses, one wholesale liquor store, and several bars connected with theaters and variety-halls.

  "Some of the saloons have glittering exteriors and costly fittings, but not one is so called fist rate. In the main they are cheap places of a low class."

  The exception was the "one orderly resort — The Atlantic Garden"

  "Lager beer is of course the standard tipple of the Bowery, and it flows there in such torrents that I am not guilty of the slightest exaggeration is saying that early on Sunday morning, after a busy Saturday night, the very air that is breathed in the great avenue is weighted with the odor of soured beer."

• There were six museums on the Bowery. They showed such things as "the fattest women on earth"

• The Bowery was one of the most brilliantly lit streets of the day. Although Julian Ralph deems it "cheap and vulgar".

• The Old Bowery theater had recently been "given over" to entainment for "Polish Hebrews".

  "The language used on the stage is a strange jargon of bad Russian, Polish, old Hebrew, and one or more other tongues"

• Germans abounded:

  "More numerous than all others on this great East-Side parade are the people of German origin."

1874: Summit Hotel 65 Bowery corner Canal street, rooms by the day and week; 50c, 60c, 75c and $1 per night, heated by steam, weekly prices reduced, B. Breder Proprietor (New York Herald 04 January 1874)

1876/77: Gouldings New York City Directory: Summit Hotel 65 Bowery

1880: "Frederick Albers was rendered unconscious by inhaling water gas at Summit Hotel, Bowery, and was with with great difficulty revived." N. Y. Tribune, December 27, 1880. (Report of the Commissioner of Health on Illuminating Gas)

1880: August 10, 1880 New York Times A man who gave the name, William Schmidt, registered at the Summit Hotel at No. 65 Bowery. He drank a "shoppen" of red wine at the bar and then retired to his room. some time later a maid heard strange noises coming form the room. Upon investigation it was discovered that he had committed suicide by strangulation. His identity was later established as R. G. Tuelff, age 36, born in Silesia. The head line was "SUICIDE CAUSED BY RUM'

1883: "Eliza Wagner Mauchwitz, a disowned daughter of Baron Von Stein and a graduate of the royal medical college of Saxony, killed herself last week by inhaling gas in her bedroom at the Summit Hotel, 65 Bowery, New York city". June 1883 (Argus and Patriot Montpelier Vermont)

Mrs. M. E. Wagner Nanshurtz a married woman and graduate of the Royal Medical college of Saxony was found dead in her room (The Brooklyn Union)

The room was broken into when the smell of gas attracted attention. It was a clear act of suicide as strips of brown paper had been pasted over the cracks in the door and a straw mattress had been pushed up against the door. The window had been covered with a thick blanket. The gas had been turned on but was not lit.

"Mrs. E. A. Wagner, at Manchurtz, a graduate of the Royal Medical College, Saxony and the daughter of Baron Von Stein, a wealthy German land owner, committed suicide at the Bowery Hotel. ... She was disowned for marrying against the wishes of her parents and it is supposed that lack of funds led to the act." (the Butte Weekly Miner 30 May 1883 & other papers) It was said she ran away from home with a married man or married a man her parents did not approve of.

1893: "Dyer D Lum, greenbacker and anarchist, was found dead in his bed at the Summit Hotel, 65 bowery". He had registered under the name D. Miller (which was said to be his real name). Cause of death was determined to have been heart failure but it was noted in some papers that he had recently been drinking heavily. Lum was 51 and had been born in Northampton, Mass. He had fought on the Union side during the Civil war and when the war ended allied himself with the greenbackers*. 09 April 1893 San Francisco Chronicle

*a post Civil War political party who opposed reducing the amount of paper money in circulation.

Greenbackers

1901: Western Union Telegraph Office 65 Bowery - Summit Hotel

1905: Walter Essler, married, about 30 years old and a well dressed farmer from Huguenot Station, Staten Island, was discovered unconscious in his room at the Summit Hotel 65 Bowery. He had taken eighteen morphine pills. He was taken to Chambers street Hospital and was expected to recover.

1908: "Cornelius Sullivan, a policeman attached to the Elizabeth street station, was arrested in the Summit Hotel. No 65 Bowery". The charge was drunkenness, disorderly conduct and "causing a crowd to collect". Sullivan, age 27, had been on the force for nine months. He had threatened to shoot the bartender. (Feb 4, 1908)

Polk's Directory of 1908 and 1913 listed Zimmermann, & son (Gustav & George T. Zimmermann) 65 Bowery.

1900: 23rd street, Manhattan; Gustaves Zimmermann Head M 36 date of birth, January 1864, Germany, hotelkeeper, Mary Zimmermann Wife F 42 New York, 5 children 5 living, George Zimmermann Son M 18 New York, born New Yrok barkeeper, Katie Zimmermann Daughter F 16 New York, Millie Zimmermann Daughter F 13 New York, Sophia Zimmermann Daughter F 26 Germany, Charles Rheinhardt Servant M 37 Germany

George Zimmermann was born 04 July 1881 to Marie Kemph and Gustav Zimmermann

1899: Gustave Zimmermann 877 W 23d New York, New York, USA Occupation: Liquor Publication Title: New York, New York, City Directory, 1899

1905 Hotel Vote George Zimmermann 65 Bowery (Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York, Volume 133, Issue 2)

1912: Zimmermann, George 65 Bowery HOTEL (Annual Report of the State Commissioner of Excise, Volume 2)

Post marked 1910

By the mid 1870's elevated trains ran along 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 9th Avenues. While they improved the speed of travel they were loud and caused pollution.

Not posted

The Bowery, one of the most noted thoroughfares in the city, runs in a northeasterly direction through the most congested district of the famous East side. It practically begins at the Brooklyn Bridge under the name of Park Row and ends at Cooper Square. Was formerly a part of the old Boston Post Road.

Third Avenue El — From Battery Park to Harlem along the Bowery and Third Avenue.

A SATURDAY NIGHT SCENE IN THE BOWERY NEW YORK, HARPERS WEEKLY MAY 20, 1871

"Broadway wears a silent and deserted aspect all day long, but towards sunset the Bowery brightens up wonderfully, and after nightfall the street is ablaze with a thousand gaslights. The low class theatres and places of amusement in that thoroughfare are opened towards dark, and then vice reigns triumphant in the Bowery. The Bowery beer-gardens do a good business. The most of them are provided with orchestras or huge orchestrions, and these play music from the ritual of the Roman Catholic Church.

Until very recently the bar-rooms were closed from midnight on Saturday until midnight on Sunday, and during that period the sale of intoxicating liquors was prohibited. Now all this is changed. The bar-rooms do a good business on Sunday, and especially on Sunday night. The Monday morning papers tell a fearful tale of crimes committed on the holy day. Assaults, fights, murders, robberies, and minor offences are reported in considerable numbers. Drunkenness is very common, and the Monday Police Courts have plenty of work to do.

From a painting by Andre Castaigne, 1891

Die Bowery in New York von der Hochbahn durchzogen

Printed 1898 by Arthur Strauss, New York

For information on Coogan Brothers furniture and John P Jude carriage materials see Lower East Side Notables

Image courtesy of Adam Woodward, April 2018

Germania Bank Building

1. Bowery Theatre 46 Bowery near Canal, melodrama etc.
2. Liederkranz Hall 35 East 4th Street near Bowery
3. Stadt Theatre 45 Bowery, German plays
4. Tony Pastor's Opera-House 201 Bowery near Spring st, variety performances

1. Lindenmullers Odeon 205 Bowery
2. Germania Hall, 291 - 293 Bowery
3. Germania Bank 190 Bowery

The Germania Fire Insurance Company was founded in New York in 1858. The company erected 175 Broadway in 1865 as noted by the date on the front of the five story building. In 1870 they opened branch offices at 357 Bowery.
Image courtesy of Adam Woodward, April 2018

Cash Capital 500,000 - Germania Fire Insurance Company - This certifies that F. W. Deitering is entitled to fifteen (15) shares of the Capital Stock of the Germania Fire insurance Company transferable only by the said F. W. Deitering or his attorney on the books of said Company on surrender of this certificate. New York, 16, March 1864.

Germania Fire Insurance Company - 357 Bowery

Library of Congress - Undated

Image courtesy Adam Woodward - April 2018

357 Bowery located near 4th street on the east side of the Bowery is the building with the pool parlor in the lowest level. The three and a half story building was erected in 1870. To the north of 357 this images includes 359 and 361 Bowery. A 1890-93 fire insurance map of the city show 359 Bowery as a brick building and 361 as a wooden building. 357 and 359 are still standing more less looking as they are show in this image. 361 as seen in this image no longer exists.

1895 - 359 Bowery:

"I have sold on the Bowery ... 359 Bowery near Fourth street. Values are not the same at this section as they are at Fourth street, I think they are worth a little more down below Houston; that sale that I speak of was made in June, 1885 ; the lot was 21 feet wide by 70 feet three inches deep, and had four-story brick house on; I was broker for the seller; the property brought $22,250; since then changes have been made in the property, they took the front down and practically made a new building of it; at the time I sold it there was a furniture store."

Supreme Court 1895

Jesse Baldwin Jr. owned 361 Bowey in 1835. Circa 1835 James Crumbie [born circa 1810] was listed as a druggist at 361 Bowery [also listed as the corner of 4th and the Bowery]. Abram [Abraham] Polhemus had a grocery store at 361 Bowery from at least 1848 to at least 1865. In 1898 the following were listed for 361 and 357 Bowery - 361 Bowery, Bauer Charles, Bauer, Valentine, 357 Bowery. See Lower East Side Notables

Museum of the City of New York

Germania Fire Insurance - 175 Broadway

Germania Fire Insurance Company - 357 Bowery - The stories behind the buildings, statues and other points of interest that make Manhattan fascinating.

175 Broadway - New York Times Nov. 1, 2012

Cooper Union, New York. Posted 1911.

Cooper Union located in Cooper Square (Bowery, Third Avenue and 7th Street) was founded in 1859 by Peter Cooper and offered free classes to everyone, regardless of race, gender, religion or social status.

HARPER'S WEEKLY, July 2, 1870

Red Cloud, leader of the Oglala Kakota Sioux spoke at Cooper Institute in New York.

An excerpt from his speech:

"This was all very well until the Great Father sent another kind of men out there — men who drank whiskey; men who were so bad that the Great Father could not keep them at home, so he sent them out there"

Red Cloud did not take part in the Lakota War of 1876-1877 (aka as the Great Sioux War) when Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull led their men in several battles against the United States Army. One of these battles was the the infamous battle of the Little Big Horn.

On February 27, 1860 Abraham Lincoln gave an historic speech on slavery at Cooper Institute.

Steinway Hall, East 14th Street near 4th ave concerts, The World Almanac and Book of Facts 1871

Steinway Hall was built in 1866. It contained concert halls, showrooms and sales rooms for Steinway pianos. Steinway Hall

Third Avenue was a heavily populated street lined with small shops. It did not contain any important public buildings, with the exception of Copper Union.

Cooper Institute Hall East 8th and 3rd ave, concerts and lectures, The World Almanac and Book of Facts 1871.

See Cooper Union above.

Scheffel Hall at 190 Third Ave was built in 1894-94. A beer garden and restaurant it was modeled after a 17th century building in Heidelberg, Germany. New York Architecture

There was a trolley line on Third Avenue from 1853. The Second and Third Avenue lines ran together until Chatham Square. The Third Avenue line ran up the Bowery to Third Avenue (at 6th Street). Originally pulled by horses, the trollies were later run on cables. In 1899 electric cars were introduced.

An elevated railway was constructed on Third Avenue in 1878.

The trollies (or surface cars) and the El were built and operated by different companies.

Private Mailing Card, posted 1904, Cooper Union, 3rd Ave Elevated R. R., New York

Second Avenue also had a trolly line.

SECOND AVENUE LOOKING NORTH FROM ST. MARK'S PLACE

The two buildings on the right are the N. Y. Historical Society and the Second Avenue Baptist Church

"In the quaint and historic structure of St. Marks church, at Tenth Street, is an interesting landmark. For a time this was a part of the German quarter."

The New Metropolis, 1899

King's handbook of New York city: an outline history and description of the of the American metropolis, edited by Moses King, 1892

Located at 137 Second Avenue (near East 8th Street) the German Dispensary was built in 1884. The Dispensary and the library next door were the gifts of Anna and Oswald Ottendorfer the owners of the German/American newspaper, Staats-Zeitung. The dispensary was originally founded in 1857.

The first facility of the German Dispensary was located at 132 Canal Street. In 1862 it moved to 3 East Third Street. By 1887 when it was located at 137 2nd Ave. the Dispensary was treating 28,000 patients a year, most from the neighboring German community. In 1905 the facility moved to Park Ave and 77th Street. It is now the Lenox Hill Hospital.

GERMAN BRANCH Y. M. C. A. 140 and 142 Second Avenue near 9th Street

"The German Branch, on Second Avenue, was organized in 1881 for work among the East-Side Germans, by whom it is greatly appreciated."

Kings handbook of New York City By Moses King

"The reformation and training, industrial, mental and religious, of girls not hardened by vice."

"Girls between the ages of 10 and 21 years may be committed or admitted on their own application or that of their friends; they must remain long enough to show fruits of their training."

The King's handbook of New York City of 1892 shows a 6 story building with a plain facade.

FIRST AVENUE LOOKING NORTH FROM EAST EIGHTH STREET

According to The New Metropolis, 1899 the elevated train gave First Avenue "an air of gloom and poverty".

"It comprises mile after mile of small shops on its west side and generally factories on the eat side, or yards of lumber, coal or stone."

AVENUE A AND TOMPKINS SQUARE LOOKING NORTH FROM EAST SEVENTH STREET

Avenue A was the main thoroughfare of the German community in Lower Manhattan.

"Its entire lower end, from East Houston to Fourteenth Streets, is lined with shops that are German, spread with signs that are German, and promenaded by men and women who are, without question, prosperous German-Americans. A decade ago little else but the German tongue in its various dialects was heard here; now much English, though often a broken English, is to be heard. This is not because the Germans have moved, however. As a matter of fact there are more of this nationality about there than ever before, and Avenue A, for about fifteen blocks, is the pivotal center of "Kleine Deutchland". The reason of this gradual dropping of the German language is the influence of the growing generation which attends American schools. The older generation still speak the dialects of their native land. On the evenings just proceeding Christmas the curbs are lined with booths of decorations and toys, and it takes on an especially picturesque and foreign aspect. Avenue A abounds with "wein stubes," "bier Halles," bowling alleys, and numerous quaint shops."

The New Metropolis 1899

133 is just north of St. Mark's (8th Street). A newer building is at that address today.

Schwenk Bank failure 1914, 7th street and Avenue A - Library of Congress

L. W. Schwenk was a private bank.

"FRAUDULENT BANKING

As a result of investigations made by authority of a new law in New York concerning what are called private savings banks, the state's Superintendent of Banks, Mr. Richards, closed nine of these banks a few months ago. The courts are now beginning to punish the men who, by means of these institutions, robbed the poor of their savings. The first to be prosecuted was Ladislaus W. Schwenk. He had a bank in the great city, with branches in towns on Long Island. The poor were induced to place $700,000 in his hands. He lost nearly all of it in speculation. Knowing that he was insolvent, he continued to seek and to receive deposits until the end of July last, when the state authorities interfered.

He has been convicted and sent to the penitentiary for a term which must be two years and may be four years and a half. Four more "bankers" of the same kind await trial. Their deposits were nearly $5,000,000. In all the nine banks closed by Superintendent Richards the deposits amounted to $11,173,000, and nearly all of this sum has been lost by men and women who could not afford to lose anything. There should be severe punishment for those who are guilty of this stealing and responsible for at least a dozen suicides. Schwenk's sentence shows what others soon to be tried may reasonably expect."

(The Independent, Volume 81)

1910 Census: Bedford ave Brooklyn, Ladislaus Schwenk 40, banker, born Austria Poland, marriage 2, immigrated 1893, Katherine Schwenk 24, wife, marriage 1, Victor Schwenk 19, son, junior banker, Mary Schwenk 16, servant

He was listed in the 1915 and 1920 censuses in Queens with his wife, son and servants.

Ladislaus Schwenk was pardoned December 30, 1918 and released from Sing Sing Prison.

14 Ave. A

In 1895 George Lutz Jr ran a florist at 14 A between 1st and 2nd streets.

He was listed in the 1892 directory at that address.

See Lower East Side Notables

70 Ave. A

1895: Keller Brothers Reliance Wine Company 70 Ave. A between 4th and 5th Ry and burbon Whiskeys Cognac Brandies

1892: Theodore Keller, wines 70 Avenue A - Keller, Bros wine 70 avenue A.

101 Ave. A

101 Avenue A, built in 1876 between 6th and 7th. The upper floors were apartments the ground floor pallor was used as a meeting place.

In January 1895 the Journal of the Dauntless Pleasure Club* advertised:

Note: Grover Cleveland was president of the USA in two non consecutive terms 1885 - 89 and 1893 - 97. Benjamin Harrison was president in the term in between Cleveland's two terms. (1889-1893). Levi P Morton was vice president under Harrison and served as United States Ambassador to France, as a Representative from New York, and as the 31st Governor of New York. William L. Strong was the mayor of New York from 1895 to 1897.

In 1891 George Fritz, Liquors, was listed at 101 Ave. A in the city directory.

In 1892 the East Side Ladies Aid Society was listed at 101 Ave. A (Directory of Social and Health Agencies of New York City, Volume 5)

In 1892 The Marschner Mannerchor and the Arion Quartett Club were listed at Fritz Hall, 101 Ave. A. (Columbus-Feier Saenger-Verband: Festschrift fur das Columbus-Concert zur 400)

In 1892 Geo Fritz beer, 101 Ave. A, was listed in the city directory

1894: George Fritz of 101 Ave. A listed as a member of the Democratic Party.

1901: Charles Wunderlich 102 Ave. A, picture frames

History of 101 Avenue A

* Adam Woodward shared a page from the Journal of the Dauntless Pleasure Club in April 2018.

102 Ave. A

1870: 7th street, Charles Wunderlich 38, cabinet maker, Saxony, Henrietta Wunderlich 30, Prussia, Robert Wunderlich 81 Julie Wunderlich 6 Amelia Wunderlich 4, children born NY

1880: 102 Avenue A Charles Wunderlich 48, picture framer, bron Saxony, Henriette Wunderlich 40, Robert Wunderlich 17, framer, Julia Wunderlich 15, Amalia Wunderlich 13, Richard Wunderlich 9

Five families in the building in 1880.

1895: Charles Wunderlich manufacturer of Looking Glasses - window cornices and picture frames - ceiling moldings put up - No. 102 Avenue A. between 6th and 7th

1900: 102 Avenue A Charles Wunderlich 68, frame maker, Henrietta Wunderlich 60, 5 children 4 living, Richard Wunderlich 29, frame maker - five families i the building.

170 Ave. A

1888: 170 Ave. A Bakery (The City Record: Official Journal, Volume 16, Part 4)

1895: B. Schwartz, Jr. Bread, Cake and Pie Bakery also Fine Confectionary, no 170 Avenue A, bet. 10th and 11th, Wedding Cakes a Speciality

245 Ave. A

In November 2018 Dr. Robert G Behrens wrote of his ancestor, Johann Behrens (born 1855 in Lilienthal, Hanover,) and his older brother, Hinrich, who together had a grocery store at 245 ave A near 14th street.

Birth of Johann Beherns: c 1855 Lilienthal, Hanover Germany

Immigration:

Marriage of Johann Behrens: Mary/Marie Pebler -

1880 census: - 290 Ave A. George Pebler 45, butcher, born Bavaria, Lizzie Pebler 46, born Bavaria, Kate Pebler 20, Mary Pebler 18, Ella Pebler 16, Clara Pebler 14, Eugene Pebler 12, Lillie Pebler 10, Anna Pebler 7, children all born New York

Children:

1. John circa 1884

2. Dora/Dorothy c 1887 - married Otto Muller - 01 February 1905 - Manhattan (LDS)

3. Claire c 1889 - married Harry Serenbetz - 12 October 1912 - Manhattan

1920 Census: Brooklyn - Harry Serenbetz 33, clerk bank, Claire Serenbetz 31 Winifred Serenbetz 4
4. Alice c 1892

5. Catherine c 1893

   Death: October 11, 1918

   Behrens - Catherine Helen on Wednesday October 9 in her 27th years, beloved daughter of John and the late Marie Pebler, and sister of John, Jr., Dorothea, Claire, Alice and Henry - 245 Ave A. (New York Tribune)

6. Henry George 1898

   Death: Henry George Behrens Birth 16 Mar 1898 Birth Place: Manhattan, Death Date: Jan 1968 Death Place: New Hyde Park, Nassau County, New York, United States of America Father: John (Johann) Behrens Mother: Marie Behrens Spouse: Claire Behrens (Find A Grave)

1900: 245 Ave A. multi family, John "Behans" 42, grocer, Mary Behans 38, wife, 7 children 6 living, John Behans 17, grocer, Dora Behans 13, Clara Behans 11, Alice Behans 9, Katie Behans 8, Henry Behans 2, Mary Weiss 17, servant

1900: June 12, Star-Gazetter Elmira NY - Gertrude Bass, a four year old child fell four floors from a fire escape at the rear of 245 Avenue A in Manhattan. She did not survive.

1903: New York Times 25 July 1903 - Alterations No 245 Avenue A to a four story brick tenement - J Behrens premiss owner

1905: 245 Ave. A, John Behrens 49, groceries, Mary Behrens 38, wife

At same address John age 22 clerk and Adeline wife age 20

1906: City Record - Department of Health - John Behrens & Son, to sell milk at No. 245 Avenue A.

1907: City Record, John H. H. Behrens, Jr., No. 245 Avenue A.

1910: 245 Ave. A. "Beyrens" John age 54, grocery, own store, Marie, wife, age 49, 6 children 6 living, Claire, daughter, 21, Alice, daughter, 18, Catherine, daughter, 17, Henry, son, 12, and a servant

At same address John H Behrens 27, grocery, own store, Adaline Behrens 25, 2 children 2 living, Adaline M Behrens 62, mother in law 6 children 4 living, widowed, John H Behrens 4, Margurite A Behrens 2

1918: Death of Marie Pebler Behrens born 12 September 1863 died 19 June 1918 buried Lutheran All Fath, Queens

1920: 245 Ave. A. John H H, 36 Adeline, wife, 35, clerk grocery, John H. H. son, 13 Marguerite daughter, 11 Dorothy, daughter,7 Schaummann, Adeline, mother in law 70 widowed immigrated 1906

at the same address, Behrens John Sr. 65 immigrated 1875, naturalized, proprieter grocery, Alice, daughter, 28, Henry G son, 22. Muller, Ann May niece 1ge 14

1925: 6 Michigan Road, Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, Behrens, John 70 retired, Alice, daughter, 27, Muller, Anna M, niece, 18, college

Death: John (Johann) Behrens Birth 26 Oct 1855, Death Date: Dec 1926 Cemetery: Lutheran All Faiths Cemetery Spouse: Marie Behrens

Children per Find a Grave: Catherine H. Behrens, Dorothea Elizabeth Muller, Claire Helen Serenbetz, Alice Ruth Behrens, George F. Behrens, Henry George Behrens

Find a Grave, with images

Dr. Behrens also wrote:

"My great grandaunt is the Vaudeville star Lottie Gilson, also known as the Little Magnet. Lottie Gilson was born as Lydia Degan in 1862 in Basel, Switzerland and died 10 Jun 1912 in Manhattan. Her real name is Lydia Degan, born to Heinrich Johann(??) Degen who was born in Switzerland, died in Manhattan 1876 and to Sophie Wildenstein born 1836 Kandern, Loerrach, Baden and died after 1900 in Orangetown, Rockland County, New York. It is not clear when Lottie Gilson made her stage debut, but it is believe to have been Miners London Theater in the Bowery. Lottie Gilson is probably most famous for singing "The Sunshine of Paradise Alley" and "Sidewalks of New York". Lottie Gilson died destitute and is buried in the Actors' Society plot in evergreens Cemetery, Brooklyn."

St Marks' place is "8th Street" between 3rd Avenue and Avenue A.

The Hamilton-Holly House 4 St Mark's Place was built in 1831. Originally a private home the building was later used as a meeting hall and apartments.

The German American Shooting Society Clubhouse 12 St. Marks Place. The Deutsch-Amerikanische Schuetzen Gesellschaft at 12 St. Mark's place was headquarters for 24 German shooting clubs from New York City and adjoining areas. The shooting ranges were mainly located on Long Island to the south and east of Brooklyn.

"It has a fine club-house at 12 St. Mark's Place, near Third Avenue, which contains, besides the usual club-apartments, a large hall for social events."

King's handbook of New York city: an outline history and description of the of the American metropolis, edited by Moses King, 1892

The Erxmeyer brothers, Fred and Henry, were members of the Hoboken Schuetzen Club. They were active in shooting events in the New York City area. Fred was on the Advisory Board of the National Schuetzen Bund in 1891. See Fred Erxmeyer and/or Henry Erxmeyer

Daniel LeRoy House, 20 St Mark's Place, was constructed in 1820.

Arlington Hall, 21 St. Marks Place was the headquarters of the Arlon Society, a German musical club from 1870 to 1887.

King's handbook of New York city: an outline history and description of the of the American metropolis, edited by Moses King, 1892 Children's Aid Society Girls Lodging

From King's handbook of New York city: an outline history and description of the American metropolis, edited by Moses King, 1892

The cornerstone was lain for the German Odd Fellows building on November 19, 1889.

Margaret Goehle was born at 374 E 4th Street in April 1897. I do not know when the family left 88 Sheriff Street and moved to 4th Street nor when they moved on again to 709 East 12th Street.

Lena Goehle, the last child of Peter and Wilhelmine was born at the Lying In Hospital. The family address was 709 E 12th Street. A modern Google map shows this between Avenues C and D.

"John Pierpont Morgan, an affluent patient of Dr. Markoe, was responsible for the next important advance, the purchase in 1894 of the Hamilton Fish Mansion on Second Avenue and 17th Street to be used as the Lying-In Hospital. This was later expanded toward 18th Street. In 1899, the facilities were overtaxed and the need for a larger hospital was evident. The generosity of Morgan made possible the demolition of the mansion and the construction of a modern, eight-storied hospital that opened in 1902."

Lying-In Hospital of the City of New York

At this period of time most babies were born at home. The fact that Lena was born in a hospital could indicate that there was some issue with Wilhelmine's pregnancy.

The general impression of the tenements is one of poverty, dirt, cramped courters, cold water flats, and other discomforts. In fact tenement immigrates were often clean, hard working and industrious. People made do with what they had and most stove for a better life. See Tenement Life now or at the bottom of the page.

This image shows the feather beds and pillows out to air.

No's 639 to 647 East 12th Street, north side, west of Avenue C."

Tompkins Square is located between Avenues A and B, 7th and 10th Streets. The park, which opened in 1850, was a breath of fresh air in the congested area of Little German. It was also the scene some unrest:

• 1857 — immigrants demonstrated against unemployment and food shortages and were attacked by police

• 1863 — Draft Riots

  See 1863 Draft Riots now or at the bottom of the page

• 1871 - German Peace Celebration.

  The celebration included a parade which culminated at Tompkins Sqaure. See German Peace Celebration below.

• 1874 — Labor riots.

  See image below

• 1877 — conflict between the National Guard and crowd gathered to head Communist revolutionary speeches

The park contains a monument to the victims of the General Slocum boat disaster in 1904. See General Slocum Disaster

"Tompkins Square is one of the largest in the city, and is laid off without ornament, being designed for a drill ground for the police and military. It occupies the area formed by avenues A and B, and Seventh and Tenth streets."

"Lights and Shadows of New York Life: or, the Sights and Sensations of the Great City" by James Dabney McCabe, 1872

POOR PEOPLE'S PARKS — TOMPKINS SQUARE

TOMPKIN'S SQUARE, NEW YORK - OUT FOR A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

Those lucky enough to live close to one of the few parks in the Lower East Side could enjoy a more pleasant space — no traffic, less noise, trees, greenery.

The church in the background is St. Bridget's Roman Catholic started in 1848 by famine survivors. It is at Avenue B and East Seventh Street. The church has been the center of a lot of controversy in the last several years as the Archdiocese of New York sought to demolish the building. In May 2008 an anonymous donor gave $20 million to save the building and provide an endowment for the parish.

THE RED FLAG IN NEW YORK - RIOTOUS COMMUNIST WORKINGMEN DRIVEN FROM TOMPKINS SQAURE BY THE MOUNTED POLICE, TUES JANUARY 13th

There were not that many open spaces in the lower part of the city. A group of mostly immigrant, working-class, laborers requested a permit to demonstrate in the square. Political leaders suspected the group of Communist leanings and at the last minute revoked the permit to hold the rally. Large numbers of men and their families had gathered without realizing they no longer had a permit. Mount police wielding clubs rode down on the crowd.

"THE RED FLAG IN NEW YORK"

The so-called workingmen of the American Commune were announced to meet in Tompkins Square on Tuesday morning January 13th, and by ten o'clock at least 6,000 persons had assembled in the square. Many were also outside the railing inclosing the square and in the adjoining streets. Suddenly squads of police marched to the center of the square, crowds quickly hemming them in. Commissioner Duryea formed the men in line, and ordered the crowd to disperse. The officers, at almost the same moment, made a rush upon the crowd, which broke and ran, hotly pursued by the police who used their clubs indiscriminately. The square was soon cleared, except one portion, where Christian Meyer held froth as a leader of the Tenth Ward Association. He defied the police, and, with his crowd made a desperate resistance. He struck Sergeant Berghold with a hammer on the head, laying open the scalp a length of three inches. The sergeant's wounds were dressed at the station. His assailant was severely clubbed, and, with several of his bodyguards, was arrested. Several policemen were severely cut while taking the prisoners to the station house.

In the crowd were several hundred Communists, with red flags. The Central Committee of the Workingmen left the Casino, in Houston Street, at eleven A. M. followed by mounted police. On reaching Topmpins Square, the crowd hooted and yelled and stoned the police. While Captain Walsh was clearing the square his attention was suddenly directed to a body of men, numbering about two hundred, who were marching down the avenue followed by numerous rabble. The leader, Justus Swab, a Communist, carried an immense red flag which he defiantly waved over his head. When he reached the square, Captain Allaire arrested him and sent the flag to the police station. The First Avenue Station-house was besieged for several hours by the friends of those who were confined there. Our illustration represents the mob flying before the police."

Tompkins Square, between c 1910 and c 1915, Bain News Service

Playground Tompkins Square Park

Tompkins Square Park circa 1903

In 1900 it was stated:

"Hamilton Fish Park in Sheriff st, in front of Public School No. 22, occupies two blocks which until the buildings were torn down, was the most densely populated part of the city."

See 88 - 90 Sheriff street

Visable in the background is Houston Street at the corner of Sheriff Street.

I believe that this view is of the Stanton Street side of Hamilton Fish Park.

To see more images of Hamilton Fish Park go to Children, New York City, Tenement Life

Peter Goehle lived at 139 Pitt Street from his marriage to Catherine Christ in 1875 until at least the birth of his daughter Elizabeth in 1876. This image is of the Hamilton Fish Park Pool and gymnasium which backs up to the 100 block of Pitt Street (between Stanton St. and Houston St.). The buildings to the right in back of the gymnasium is the approximate location of 139 Pitt Street. The park was completed in 1904 as part of a slum clearance project.

Note: While the New York City Public Library grants permission to web sites like mine to use the images in their digital gallery for free, they charge $50 to get an image of better quality. Because that price would make the whole thing a little too expensive I have had to settle for images that are not as sharp and detailed as I would like.

The Goehle family subsequently moved one block down to 80 Pitt Street (between Stanton and Rivington Streets). They were at 80 Pitt Street for the birth of Frank in November 1878 and at his death in September 1880. A daughter, Louise, was born at that address in June 1880.

Hamilton Fish Park, undated, Bains News Service

Hamilton Fish Park, undated, Bains News Service

Not posted

The sign post says Rivington Street

The Ghetto

This district, located on the East side, is one of the most densely populated areas in the city. The narrow streets are lined with push-cart venders, dealing in all classes of food stuffs. Electric cars traverse very few of the streets, as the old-fashioned horse car is still to be found, moving slowly through the narrow street.

The street sign says RIVINGTON ST

Sunday morning at Orchard and Rivington, New York City c. 1915 Photo by Bain News Service

Comments with this image:

"Rivington Street, north side, at Columbia Street. The view shows the DeWitt Memorial Church at No 280 Rivington Street, between Columbia and Cannon Streets. These buildings are reported to be over congested; 1 building having 96 people in 62 rooms."

The following two wonderful old photos of East Rivington Street where graciously shared by Mary Canzler, September 2006

"My great great grandfather, Philipp Meckel immigrated from Germany sometime around 1865-1870, worked hard and made enough money to send for his best gal, Katharina Knapp to come over and become his wife. He also put a down payment on two brand new buildings, 246 and 248 Rivington Street. Each building was 4 stories with two stores fronts in each.

My grandfather, Michael Koch opened a barber shop in one of the store fronts at 248 sometime around 1890-1892. He then won the heart and hand of Philipp's daughter Elizabeth and they married. At that time, Philipp was proprietor of Meckel's Orange County Dairy and was also one of the founding fathers of the New York dairymen's league. He picked up the milk from the train station at 11th Avenue. A cousin (or a nephew, family lore is not clear) of Philipp's came over after his mother died. John Meckel had been an officer's chef in the German army, and he worked in the dairy making creamed pickled herring and pot cheese (now known as cottage cheese). Philipp died in 1904 and Michael took over the running of the dairy store and changed the name from Meckel Dairy to Koch Dairy, and added groceries. After Michael died, a man named Joe Rempe bought the business. I believe there is a connection to Joe via a marriage of Philipp Meckels son Philip P. to Mary M. Rempe. It is possible Joe was Mary's brother as I remember "Uncle" Joe as a young girl and he was pretty old then.

As for the people in the photos, none of them look "familiar" to me, they were probably just passersby hamming it up for a moment in eternity.

At least one of the buildings on Rivington Street stayed in the Koch family until around 1956 or so as my Great Aunt Marie and Great Uncle Philip (brother and sister) inherited them. One of the buildings may have already been sold, but one was still in family hands, though not for long. I have a letter from my aunt reporting on the progress of the workers who were taking measurements and discussing the problems of collecting the rents from the apartments. The postmark on the letter was 1956. I have a sad suspicion that when I make my road trip in the spring, I will find that those buildings have been razed and something new and ugly will be in their place. Progress."

For more information on the Meckels and some additional great photos go to Meckel

Public School No 4, Rivington St. near Ridge. (1853)

See 88 Sheriff Street for more information on Grammar School No 4.

Public School, Suffolk and Rivington ca. 1897

Public School, Rivington, Forsyth and Eldridge ca. 1897

Public School, Hester and Ludlow circa 1897

The first free public baths in New York City opened in March 1901 at 326 Rivington Street.

326 Rivington was just east of Columbia St. The address no longer exists.

My grandfather, Frank Goehle, was born at 88 Sheriff Street in March 1894

While a current Google map shows 88 Sheriff between Houston and Stanton, an 1899 map from the New Metropolis shows 100 Sheriff at the corner of Sheriff and Stanton, which would put 88 Sheriff in the middle of the block between Rivington and Stanton on the West side — approximately across the street from the above image.

I found it quite exciting that one of the clearest and largest images in the New York Library Digital Gallery was actually of the back of at least a part of 88 Sheriff Street.

Notice the outdoor latrines.

The Goehle family was at this address in the fall of 1890. A federal census was taken in 1890 but New York City officials decided that that census did not reflect a true accounting of the citizens of the city so the New York City policemen did another census between September 19 and October 14, 1890. The count was 13% higher than the federal census. The really fortuitous part of the Police Census is that when the federal census burned before it could be microfilmed the Police Census remains for historians and genealogists to work with.

Frances Goehle was born at 88 Sheriff in May 1891. Her brother, and my grandfather, Frank Goehle, was born here in March 1894. Their father, Peter Goehle, was the son of Franz Goehle. He tried through two marriages to have a son named Frank (Franz). He had nine children by his first marriage including a Frank and a Frances who both died in their infancy. He was in his second mariage and age 39 when Frances was born. He had five children from the second marriage. The last when he was 47.

See Peter Goehle

88 Sheriff Street had a notoriously bad reputation. See 88-90 Sheriff Street

This image is labeled "No 86 Sheriff" Street but I am not sure if 86 Sheriff Street is the building to the right, the empty lot or the building in the background. In any event, it gives a feel for the neighborhood.

90-94 Sheriff March 4, 1937

Sheriff Street south of Houston. The original of this image focused on the Hamilton Fish Park but I am more interested in the buildings.

Hamilton Fish Park, ca. 1890

Again, the images original focus was on the playground activity, but I chose to empathize the buildings.

These buildings are all gone.

Hamilton Fish Park currently encompasses the area between E. Houston, Stanton, Sheriff and Pitt streets. It includes a part of what once was Willett street.

The Gymnasium, located on the western edge of the park, is the only part of the original as designed in 1898. The address given for the Gymnasium is 130 Pitt Street. The park was opened in 1900.

Hamilton Fish Park, ca. 1890, facing the corner of Sheriff and Stanton.

The building with the kind of eyebrow effect over the windows was NY Grammar School #22, located at the corner of Stanton and Sheriff.

NY Grammar School #22, located at the corner of Stanton and Sheriff.

1898: Stanton Street A large crowd of children entering a public school on Stanton Street. A police officer presides over the crowd.

See 88 - 90 Sheriff street

1916 map showing location of school in relationship to the Hamilton Fish Park.

88 Sheriff Street is now in the middle of the Masaryk Towers. See 88 Sheriff Street

The Park at the center of Masaryk Towers.

The Goehle family lived at 80 Pitt street between 1878 and 1880.

I believe 80 Pitt was between Stanton and Rivington. There are housing developments at this location today.

Pitt street between Houston and Stanton during the construction of Hamilton Fish, 1930.

Willett Street

No date

There was another copy of this card for sale on ebay in January 2012 with a post mark of 1907.

In March 2016 Fred Buck wrote:

"a colorized version of a black-and-white photograph of Hester Street from its east end where it used to T into Clinton Street. I believe that the photo was taken in about 1888. The first building on the right side of the photograph is No. 1 Hester Street. That was the address of my great-grandfather Henry (Hinrich) Buck's grocery store between 1881 and 1883. Henry Buck and his family lived just around the corner on Clinton Street (first door down the street to the right of the photo. Church baptismal records from St. Matthew's Lutheran Church (Elizabeth Street) state that my father's Aunt Minnie (full name Margareta Hermina Buck, married name Kerbs) was born at the Clinton Street address in 1881. My great-grandfather was listed as living at that address and running a grocery on Hester Street from 1881-1883 in NYC Directories. A version of the original B&W photo can be found at Hester and Clinton

The Buck (Bock) Family

Birth of Henry Buck: circa 1847 Germany

Immigration: c 1867

Marriage: Rebecca Wilkens

Children:

1. Henry Nikolous Buck Gender Male Birth Date 15 Oct 1878 Birthplace BIRTH CERTIFICATES, MANHATTAN, NEW YORK, NEW YORK Father's Name Henry Buck Mother's Name Rebecke Wilkens Buck (New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909 - LDS)

   1917: Henry Nicholas Buck Nassau New York born 15 Oct 1878 carpenter John R Hill, wife Minnie Georgina Buck, Post ? ave, Westburg, Nassau, NY Draft Board: 2

2. Margaretha Wilhelmina aka Minnie

   Margrethe Wilhelmine "Bock" Event Type Birth Event Date 24 Jul 1881 Event Place Manhattan, New York, New York, United States Gender Female Father's Name Henry "Bock" Mother's Name Rebeke Wilkens (New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909 - LDS)

   Marriage 1902:

   Marriage: Miss MinnieBuck daughter of Mr. nad Mrs. Henry buck of Jericho married William Kerbs in the German Lughteian Chruch in Hicksville in November 1901. Agusta Buck was her sister's bridesmaid. Brooklyn Daily Eagle

   Name Hermine Margaretha Kerbs Maiden Name Buck Event Type Burial Event Date 1964 Event Place Hicksville, Nassau, New York, United States of America Photograph Included Y Birth Date 24 Jul 1881 Death Date 20 Nov 1964 Affiliate Record Identifier 118401015 Cemetery Plainlawn Cemetery

3. Agusta/Gussie circa 1884, per 1900 census

4. Frederick William Buck Gender Male Birth Date 08 Aug 1885 Birthplace Brooklyn, Kings, New York Father's Name Henry Buck Mother's Name Rebecca Wilson Buck (New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909 - LDS)

   1917: Frederick William Buck, married to Minnie, 342 Park ave Brooklyn, born August 8, 1885,, tool maker, Community Mach. and Tool co.

1880: 66 Hester Street, Buck Henry, age 35, retail grocer, Rebecca 30 both born Prussia, Henry son age 2 born New York.

1900: Oyster Bay, Henry Buck 53, hotelkeeper, immigration 1867, Rebecca Buck 46, 8 children 4 living, immigration 1872, Minna Buck 19, Gussie Buck 16, Frederick Buck 14

1910: Brooklyn Ward 7, Kings, New York Street Park Ave House Number 342, Rebbecca Buck 56, widowed, rent, house, Agusta Buck 26, Fred Buck 24, Chas Beder 35

See Tenement Life now or at the bottom of the page.

Hester Street 1898

In Hester St., N. Y., Candy, Alfred Campbell c 1896, stereograph

In March 2016 Fred Buck wrote that this images:

"is actually not of Hester Street. In fact, in its actual composition, it is actually not a single photo. The upper 70% or so of the image is from an 1896 photograph of Orchard Street looking south from its intersection with Hester Street. The original photograph can be found at tenement.org - Orchard street

When I first saw the image you posted, I said to myself that someone had taken almost the exact photograph of the photo found at the web address that I listed -- I know the image -- the building in the backgound at the end of the street are on Division Street and are still there today -- the roof-line has been altered with the additions of a Mansard rough, but its essentially the same view today as in the late 1800s. Then, when I started comparing the photo images more closely, I recognized that the vehicles down close near the far end of the street were the same -- this led me to think that both photographs were taken by the same photographer a short time apart. However I then started comparing the images crossing the street about 30% upwards from the bottom of the page and I realized that the image that you posted on your webpage is a composite -- the top 70% is from the 1896 photo that I cited and the bottom 30% or so from a single character-study-type photo or a collage of a number of photo images. It appears that a photographer wanted to sell a Lower-East image and thought the original photo could be jazzed up with a busier foreground.

My interest in the photo that I cited is that my great-grandfather Hinrich had run a grocery store at 38 Orchard Street, which is the address for the corner store on the extreme left of the photo. He and his family lived at 66 Hester Street, which will the first door to the left of the end of the photo."

The previous three images are on one sheet with the following comment:

"HESTER STREET MARKET ON FRIDAY

Here is Hester Street, scene of the wonderful market of the Ghetto. See on Thursday afternoon and evening and Friday morning, when all the housewives are making their purchases for the Shabbas...It is then a most picturesque spectacle, as the sun beats down on it, heightening and brightening the kaleidoscope effect. Miles of push carts, filled with shimmering glistening fish, stretch far away down the adjoining streets. Other hundreds of carts, filled with fruit, vegetables, neckwear, linen, tinware, and merchandise of all sorts and descriptions, crowd in between the fish carts, choking the way. About these carts there swarms and jostles and crowds and jabbers and bargains and barters a heterogeneous mass of people, such as is to be scene nowhere else on the face of the earth"

A Scene on Hester Street, New York City

In March 2016 Fred Buck wrote that this images was NOT of Hester street, but rather of Orchard Street.

Garbage at Essex and Hester Sts (before School 26) circa 1911, garbage collectors strike

The Goehle family was living at 63 Columbia street from 1885 to 1889.

Note: The New York Public Library Digital Gallery does have some other images of Broome Street near Columbia, but the images are so small and the quality so poor that they unfortunately do not give much more than an impression of the area.

Corner Broome and Columbia, Harpers Weekly, February 18, 1893

Goerck Street no longer exists. A 1917 map show that it ran from Grand to Houston street.

Rivington and Goerck Streets, Harpers Weekly, February 18, 1893

Goerck and Delancy Streets, Harpers Weekly, February 18, 1893

Goerck Street, Harpers Weekly, February 18, 1893

A 1917 map show that Lewis Street ran from Grand to 8th street. A section still exists between Grand and Delancy. The rest is gone.

Lewis and Delancy, Harpers Weekly, February 18, 1893

Lewis Street from Delancy Streets, Harpers Weekly, February 18, 1893

Lewis Street North of Delancy Street, Harpers Weekly, February 18, 1893

Clinton Street North of Rivington, Harpers Weekly, February 18, 1893

Wooster and Third Streets, Harpers Weekly, February 18, 1893

Note: Worster is actually not in the Lower East Side.

At the death of Frances age 2 months, in May 1883 the Goehles were at 63 Columbia Street just north of Delancey. Peter used this address when he was naturalized in October 1883. And the twins, Marie and Peter, were born here in June 1885. The family was still at 63 Columbia at the birth of Clara in 1887. Peter's wife, Catherine, died here of acute post partum hemorrhage in October 1888. A little over three months later in January 1889 when Peter married Wilhelmina Lindemann this was the address listed.

The stay at 63 Columbia Street is a mini versions of the trials, travails and joys of immigrant life in the Lower East Side. Infant mortality was high as was death related to childbirth. Families were large in these days before birth control and when a young mother died it was practical to remarry as soon as possible so the remaining children would have proper childcare.

The family had been moving on an average every two years before the move to 63 Columbia. Frequent moves were common occurrences in immigrant families. The stay of six years at 63 Columbia may indicate some stability in the family's finances.

Wilhelmine (Winifred) Goehle was born in December 1889 at 145 Norfolk Street. A current Google map shows that mid block between Stanton and Rivington Streets.

The stay at this address was relatively short. In the 1890 New York City Police Census the Goehle family was listed at 88 Sheriff Street.

1859 Letterhead of C. Scheig, cabinetmaker 33 First Street. Image courtesy of Adam Woodward, April 2018

Bedstands, Bureaus, Wash Stations etc. Wholesale and Retail

33 First street was on the south side of First between First and Second Avenues.

1865: Cabinet Makers Scheif, Conrad r[ear] 33 First street

(Wilson's Business Directory of New-York City)

1874: "No. 33 First Street (rear), six story, brick, 22 x 60 Iron shutter on side Cabinet manufactory." (Proceedings of the Board of Assistant Aldermen of the City of ..., Volume 135)

See Lower East Side Notables

Undated map, New York Public Library digital collection showing 33 First street. The "6" notation indicates it was a 6 story building.

The yellow buildings were constructed of wood. The pink buildings were constructed of brick. The greenish/blue buildings indicated some sort of insurance issue such as the use of flammable substances on the property.

In 1888 William C. Doscher was listed at 33 Fist street (The Republican Club of the City of New York)

He was also listed in the city directory for 1888 as, Doscher, William C. Mirrors 33 First home 263 11th street.

1880: 263 11th street, Magdl. Doscher 60, born Hanover, Clausine Doscher 33, daughter, Matilda Doscher 30, daughter, Wm. Doscher 23, son, glass manufacturer, Clausine Seaman 16, daughter, Chas. Wilson 25, son in law, real estate, Magdelena Wilson 24, daughter, and three servants.

1893: Willliam C. Doscher, mirror mfc., 404 E 14th street (Club Men of New York)

St Nicholas Church, rectory, and convent on 2nd Street between First Avenue and Avenue A. The church and convent are no longer standing.

Another view of St. Nicholas Church and rectory. My grandparents, Isabelle Walsh and Frank Goehle, were married in this church on February 6, 1921. See Frank Goehle

The first church of St. Nicholas was build on Second street in 1836 and the first mass was said there on June 28, 1836. A second church of St. Nicholas was build in 1848. The school was build in 1868. The rectory on 2nd street was built when Father Nicholas Sorg was pastor (after 1879 and before 1888).

Deutsche RomischKatholische Kirche in New York c. 1848

Image courtesy Adam Woodward, April 2018

Theodore G. Dimmers born in Germany circa 1838 had a photography studio at 388 Bowery as early as 1868.

NY Turn Verein

New York Turn Verein

German Societies in NYC

Aschenbroedel Verein 74 East 4th Street, built in 1874, home of a a professional Orchestra, music society's social and beneficial association. When the society moved to Yorkville in 1892 the building became the home of the Gesangverein Schillerbund one of the leading singing groups in Keindeutschland. The facade was altered in 1892. It is currently home of LaMama experimental theater.

In 1895 Fritz M. Meyer was the lessee of Schillerbund Hall at 74 East 4th street. It was advertised as being First Class with a large hall, elegant lodge rooms, bowling alleys and the best accommodations.

93 4th street:

Cooper Station Post Office 93 4th street

"GVSHP has unearthed incredible documentation showing the house's original owner built the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean (nearby Avenue D was the East River's edge, which in the early 19th century was full of working piers before shipping activity shifted to the wider and deeper Hudson); that in the late 19th century these houses were transformed from homes of successful merchants into tenements to house the waves of immigrants moving into the area; that in the early 20th century 326 and 328 East 4th Street were converted to house a Hungarian Synagogue, as the Lower East Side became the largest Jewish community in the world; and that in the 1970s, they became the home of the Uranian Phalanstry, a self-described "anarchist utopian commune for practitioners of art and cosmology," which still resides there today. Amazingly, through all of these changes, the architectural detail of these 170 year old houses remains remarkably intact. We hope that this, along with the incredible history we have documented, will convince the the Landmarks Preservation Commission to take a second look at these buildings, and not allow them to be destroyed on their watch."

This images is from the book about the General Slocum disaster of 1904. It shows the shop of Henry Seigwart at 225 East 5th street.

Caroline age 9 and Pheobe age 6 died in the Slocum disaster. See General Slocum

This images is from the book about the General Slocum disaster of 1904. It shows the door to the home of the Deppert [Dippert] family at 328 6th street. The awning at the right would indicate that there was a store at this address in 1904.

See General Slocum

The above image is from the book about the General Slocum disaster of 1904. It shows the doorway and first floor windows of the "tenements" at 54and 52 7th street near 2nd avenue.

See General Slocum

This images shows 64 7th street -the parsonage for St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church and the home of the Rev. and Mrs. Haas in 1904. It also shows 62 and 66 7th street. These addresses are between 1st and 2nd avenues. 62 is on the right. This images is from the book about the General Slocum disaster of 1904.

Notice the shutter which are not in good shape, but they are closed in mourning - which must have made the house very dark inside.

See General Slocum