The following collection of articles relates to Harry Winberg (also spelled Wineberg), the self-made, Donald-Trump-like Toronto real estate mogul who owned and published the Hebrew Journal, and who was likely the city’s first Jewish candidate for Mayor in 1915; there are also articles related to his wife and in-laws, the well-known Bachrach family. These articles…
On Goldhars, Golds, Greens & Grinsteins
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Sam Goldhar, age 62, and his sons Bernie, 33, and Jack 29, were purveyors of Nu-Jersey Creme seltzer via their company, Jersey Creme Beverage Distributing Co. Ltd., located at 299 Manning Avenue, according to a story in the Canadian Jewish News of July 4, 1985. The seltzer came spouting out of genuine, original Nu-Jersey Creme…
Phil Givens in conversation, 1984
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Former Toronto Mayor Phil Givens grew up on Augusta Avenue and later Euclid Avenue, attended school at Parkdale and Harbord Collegiate, and got his education at the old Talmud Torah Eitz Chaim on D’Arcy Street, the Canadian Jewish News reported in a story by Gary Cohen on March 15, 1984. Then finishing a 10-year term…
Pioneers of Toronto’s Jewish Community
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From The Jewish Times, 1912 (as reprinted in The Jewish Standard, 1934) by S. J. Birnbaum The Jewish Standard’s introduction: The following article is part of a thesis written by Mr. Birnbaum, now an attorney in Toronto, when he attended the University of Toronto. It is to our knowledge the most authoritative history of Toronto’s…
More ‘Unbuilt Toronto’: An airport at Sheppard & Bathurst
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Airstrip envisioned in countryside north of city, now the heart of North York From the Toronto Telegram, July 1928 Newspaper drawing of 84 years ago shows the Canadian Air Express Ltd.’s newly proposed flying field for Bathurst Street near Sheppard Avenue. The caption explains that the property was formerly the Salvation Army farm, which had…
Shapira family held key to Terauley Street synagogue
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Zelig Shapira, who lived in Toronto from 1890 to 1907, was remembered at a family reunion that 93 of his descendants attended in Toronto in October 1983, according to a story that appeared in the Canadian Jewish News of November 3, 1983. Shapira was born in 1851 in Pamoren, Galicia, and was active in the…
Rose family has 35th annual gathering, 1980
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Because Beryl and Mintzi Rose wanted the family to stay together, Beryl organized a family club in Toronto in 1945, shortly before he died. In 1980, more than 100 members of the Rose clan attended a 35th anniversary reunion at Beth Torah Synagogue, the Canadian Jewish News reported on October 2, 1980. Eleven of Beryl…
100 Years Ago: Toronto’s Dickens society in 1912
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From the Star Weekly, February 3, 1912 Toronto boasts the largest Dickens society in the world Centenary of Famous Novelist Will Be Celebrated with Much Feeling Next Wednesday — Over 1,000 Members in Dickens Fellowship Next Wednesday (February 7, 1912), the centenary of the birth of Charles Dickens, will be celebrated throughout the English-speaking world…
A Victorian Detective: Police Inspector Alf Cuddy
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After 30 years on the force, acclaimed Toronto police inspector and detective Alf Cuddy retired in February 1912, one century ago this month, and shortly thereafter moved to Calgary, where he assumed the role of police chief. Here are a couple of stories, published in February 1912, celebrating Cuddy’s immeasurable contribution to law and order…
Obit: Nathan Smith (d. 1936)
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From the Jewish Standard, January 1937 With the passing of Nathan Smith, Toronto was bereaved of one of the most interesting and one of the most remarkable Jews in its city. The late Nathan Smith was like an oak transplanted from the old Jewish forest of Eastern Europe, a sturdy young oak which has taken…
