WEBVTT
00:00:02.000 --> 00:01:49.000
Robert Candee: Let's start over again. Well, just your name again. We'll
start over again, Mother. Because of the machine. And you're 92. Sonia
Baum: Sonia Baum. Candee: And you were born in Pittsburgh? Baum: North
Side. And your mother was born in New York. In New York. And her maiden
name was. Just. Um, can you give me any other information about your
mother's family? Is long lived in New York. She was born in New York and
they all lived in. I used to go to Europe to visit them all the time. Was
alone with. Nurse. Uh, what nationality were your parents? My mother was
from New York and my father was from. Where was he from? Austria. He was
from the eastern part of Germany. I don't know what city he was from. I
never did hear that. No, I didn't know it. I. His name was. Castle Solomon.
And what nationality was your mother from? You know what her background
was, where her parents had come from, Iran. I knew they. What languages do
you yourself speak? One. What languages? What language do?
00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:57.000
What languages do you speak, Mother? English. I don't know how good it is.
00:01:57.000 --> 00:02:21.000
Daughter: And so you have a smattering of German, too? Yes, maybe. No is.
Hardly. She knows German, French and Hebrew and English. She's smart, girl.
What? Religion. Are you like orthodox conservatism?
00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:24.000
I was very buried in.
00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:53.000
Baum: First wedding. Mr. Bohm was from Germany. Was here when I met. He
was already in. We've been here quite a while. Oh, yes. He came over and he
was 16 years old. Um. What? Political inclinations have you had?
00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:57.000
One political. Ben.
00:02:57.000 --> 00:03:54.000
Daughter: You're going to Republican all the time, haven't you? Sure, I. I
hope. I don't want that peanut, man. Um, speaking of presidents, they
suggest. I asked, uh, who did you or your family vote for when Eugene Debs
was running for president in 1920? What organizations for Jewish people
have you belong to? So Jewish woman Next all is. Where you Belong. The Road
of Sholom. The Road of Sholom. Sisterhood. Yes. And I don't know. Do you
belong to the Ladies Hospital? Yes. Blind associate. You see? I can't see.
I mean, I can see that you're sitting there.
00:03:54.000 --> 00:04:00.000
But I don't know what you look.
00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:20.000
Baum: To the right and can't see you. So I can't see the. The nurses. What
is there? Landsmanshaft. Landsmanshaft means dear people.
00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:31.000
Who come from the same. The group that would come from Wilkinsburg might in
some form.
00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:32.000
Baum: Get together.
00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:43.000
Once more. Area. Now again.
00:04:43.000 --> 00:05:15.000
Daughter: But what? Before you were married, you worked at the Henry
Kaufman settlement, didn't you? At the settlement house. What was that
called? The Irene Kaufman settlement. You taught sewing, sewing and
cooking. The cooking wasn't much. Why not? Because I couldn't. They had.
They were orthodox, some of the children. Of course what I taught them to
cook. It was wrong because if they ate fish at one time, they couldn't eat
meat then.
00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:22.000
And it was too much of a job and a nuisance. So I gave that up. But I kept
on selling.
00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:44.000
Baum: I can see them. Do you happen to remember an Anna B Heldman? Anna B
Heldman. Do you remember Anna Heldman? Oh, sure. What did she do? Mother,
do you remember? She was the head of the Iron Council.
00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:47.000
This is hell. Hell, no. Hell.
00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:51.000
Daughter: Hellman. Hellman.
00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:53.000
Well, very nice.
00:05:53.000 --> 00:07:11.000
Daughter: Was that when you taught sewing? She was ahead of it then. She
was the head of it when you were teaching sewing? That's right. Do you
remember crusades on the part of the Irene Kaufmann settlement to clean up
Pittsburgh? To make. Gentlemen, are there any kinds of crusades or special
efforts to clean up Pittsburgh? You're aware of? Where did your father come
in? To the United States. What made you come in through New York? Maybe. Or
maybe he came into Connecticut. My father. Mr. Bond. But he landed in New
York. My father landed in New York. All right. And your father from Prussia
or East Germany? He came in that way. He went to New London. New London,
Connecticut. I don't know why he went there. I never heard why he went
there. Do you know what year?
00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:13.000
I would have no idea.
00:07:13.000 --> 00:08:04.000
Candee: Do you know his original intention on coming to immigrate or to
visit? So he came to live here, didn't he? Oh, sure. You see. That time.
The boys. The men. Young fellas. If they stayed in Germany, they were
drafted into the army. So they came. Get out of that. Well, is that where
your father came over, too? And. I don't know. Your husband. Are you okay?
Uh, what year did Mr.. You must have many. I think I think it was about
1886.
00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:12.000
In 1873. It was about 14 when he.
00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:36.000
Candee: When did your parents move to the Pittsburgh area? I don't know
when my father came. From Connecticut. But, of course, admired my mother.
And she came from Pittsburgh. Again. She had come over here. He had already
been living for. Yeah. Well, didn't he work for.
00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:40.000
His brother in law when he worked for Mr.. For the Gusky's?
00:08:40.000 --> 00:09:26.000
Baum: Oh, yes. Miss, My. My mother's brother. Store on Market Street.
Department stores. It's a small store. He was very charitable. He was
brought up in Lancashire. And every Christmas.
00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:30.000
Yes, he always had a wagon load of toys to every orphanage.
00:09:30.000 --> 00:10:00.000
Baum: In the city. And then the album is an elephant out. Fenway Park. And
if you missed it. He gave them the elephant they always called him. Just
isn't living anymore. We used to be at the zoo. I remember. Yes, that's
right. What did your father do for Mr. Gusky? He worked in the store?
00:10:00.000 --> 00:11:56.000
Baum: Oh yes. He ran the store. Later he went into business for so. That
was called what? What was it? First Solomon and Reuben or Kasal Kasali
Company. And then it was Solomon and Reuben and then Solomon and me. Well,
that was different. That was your brother and your brother in law that had
that. It was Mark and Jack that had the song. Morgan Jack. And Solomon,
bro. Well, I think this my father and so he had King Solomon Company, as I
recall, down on on Smithfield Street. So that was awesome. Is that where
Frank and Cedars had their store? No, he had a small store. Well, I thought
Solomon and Solomon. Jack Riro's father. Jimmy's father? Yeah, well, I was
on the jet. Yeah, that's right. And Uncle Mark. And they went into business
together on Market Street. That's right. That song. And. Is your brother in
law? Did your mother work outside of the house or did she stay in the
house? House. He never did anything. Was there extra income? Was there
somebody else working who mentioned your brother? No, my father. She had
help. You know, we had a nurse with us all the time. How long was Lizzie
with us, baby? Oh, 58 years. She came originally as a wet nurse, for she
came she came as a witness from.
00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:01.000
She stayed on and on. And she was with us, 58 years old.
00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:08.000
Daughter: A housekeeper. And then when your father died, he pensioned her
and she lived in a little house of her own. But she always helped members.
00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:14.000
Of the family who needed help when they moved. Or she.
00:12:14.000 --> 00:13:51.000
Baum: She was. Uh, what time did your brother about what age did your
brother start? The family. Thank you, Father. When did he go to work? How
old was he? I don't know. How many brothers and sisters do you have? Just
four of us. Three girls and a boy. And your nurse? Because there were three
girls and a boy and two parents and. Although there was other help too,
wasn't there? Sure we had. Coconut. Took care of us. Coachman. See, my
mother used to go to New York very often. So listen. She was. Weren't
allowed to chew gum. A lot of things weren't a lot of roller skating, you
know. But she wouldn't let us chew gum. She told us that we chew gum and
someone came in the movie. We had the gum in our mouth and swallowed it and
bind around our stomachs. So you. Well, you lived on Ridge Avenue?
00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:58.000
Yes. Balkans. J.n.l. Don't be like.
00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:02.000
Baum: And when you got across in the locker.
00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:05.000
And right next to Dennis.
00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:36.000
Daughter: That's where the community college is. That's right. Well, you
lived on Beach Street before that, didn't you? No, we moved from
hemorrhage. I mean, we moved to Beach Street. Oh. And then you moved to
Morewood and we moved to Morewood after. Where is Meat Street? Beach. Beach
Street. Where is the elegant and elegant? You know, about what time did you
move there? What you. 15 or 16 years old.
00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:40.000
How old were you when you moved to Morewood Avenue?
00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:48.000
Baum: Just before I was married. About what year was that? What year was
that you were married?
00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:58.000
In 1970. Was the first wedding in the temple's new sanctuary.
00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:27.000
Candee: Was that because of a policy change of the temple? No. The temple
had been on eighth Street and had just moved out here. The building, New
Eighth Street. And then after you were married, you lived in the Schenley
Hotel, you said? That's right. Married? I lived in the hotel for a year and
a half, and then we moved up to Market Street.
00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:44.000
You are on.
Baum: Bartlett Street until 1946. And after Bartlett Street. To what used
to be more wood gardens.
00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:49.000
Which is now part of tech, you know. Then when tech took.
00:15:49.000 --> 00:16:26.000
Baum: Over this building. Film. Yes. I've been living here over 20 years.
What were the reasons for your family moving from the first place? Across
from Laughlin to beach. And then later. No. Finally, they moved on Beech
Street from Ridge Avenue to Beech Street. Do you know why they made later
moves away from the beach to more? What? Was there any particular reason
for moving out this way.
00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:38.000
Rather than staying on the north side? My father liked it. So of course the
house isn't here anymore.
00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:44.000
Baum: It's torn down.
00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:46.000
Right where the bend on Morewood is where.
00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:47.000
Daughter: There's a complex.
00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:57.000
Of attorney houses. It's been sold after your father died then. Your
guardian, Jack. Your sister and brother in law.
00:16:57.000 --> 00:17:31.000
Daughter: Continue to live there a while. And then the house was sold to
Mr. Pickering. And then after that. Was eventually sold to a fraternity
house and then they had a fire in. They tore it down. We handle the Maine
Kadjar. House on Moreland Avenue. Mr. Pickering nodded. He always.
00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:41.000
So. I think that's a procedure. I'd like to.
00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:53.000
Candee: Let's start asking now about yourself, your education. To the
Fifth Ward school.
00:17:53.000 --> 00:18:05.000
Didn't I go away to school and. Messages. Finally.
00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:35.000
Candee: When you studied home economics, among other things, when you went
to LaSalle, you said. It was. You lived in a special house. That's. A home
Economics. Each of the. How many girls were there there? Six. Each one is
something different each week. That's right. Put one way in a way, just one
way.
00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:41.000
And a hostess one way.
00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:54.000
Candee: We're just talking. That brings up something I forgot to ask
about. How many children do you have?
00:18:54.000 --> 00:19:29.000
Daughter: No, you don't. I'm the one that has those. You have me. John.
You want to. My son is a mathematics teacher at Oberlin College in. About
how old? How old is he? How old is. He'll be 58 in July.
00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:38.000
Yeah. Yeah. I'm 60. Then I have another boy who is my brother's boy.
00:19:38.000 --> 00:21:17.000
Baum: His mother died when he was five years old. He's at the Harvard
faculty. Biophysical. Good. He's coming here on the 6th of May and June.
He's going to give a lecture at Shady Side Academy. It's LaSalle
University, which. That's a university or college level. No, it's called La
Salle Seminary. What you call it? Finishing school, I guess. Yeah, that's
right. Oh, and you said that one girl was a cook one week and one was a
waitress and one was the hostess. What did the other ones do? One was a
chambermaid. Laundry. Morning. Got breakfast and one is a dessert cook. One
was the hostess. Did you have other training or education after that? Like
a special education. And just learning to be a housewife. Uh, did you
happen to have any jobs outside of being a health. There was a little shop
called the Industrial League.
00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:19.000
And I ran. Was a.
00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:39.000
Baum: Volunteer. Volunteer about what year or years? Quite a little window
closed, Mattie. Do you remember? Oh, in the middle 1950s, I. 58. I'm not
certain. It was a project of the Council of Jewish Women.
00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:46.000
Daughter: And the purpose was during the Depression years to give work to
women who could not work outside.
00:21:46.000 --> 00:22:03.000
Their homes. So they came into the shop and they got materials and
instructions. They went home and they so different. Underwear. I pillows
children's.
00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:07.000
Daughter: Them in to the shop when they.
00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:12.000
Man. They didn't have to wait until.
00:22:12.000 --> 00:23:43.000
Daughter: My mother was treasurer from bookkeeper from. When you were the
chairman or one of the board, It was a project of the Council of Jewish
Women. That's right. And it concluded because there were no longer enough
people needing this type of work because anybody could take on the shop,
you know. So I gave it up. But it was mainly because you had so few women
who then needed this. They could get jobs elsewhere and or they weren't
equipped to do fine. About what year did it end? Do you know what year it
was? I came across the minutes of the last meeting and threw them out. Not
long ago, I think it was. And when did it start? Started during the
Depression. Started in the early seconds. I was. 20s went on for a number
of years. The Council of Jewish Women would have a record of it. It was a
nice thing to do. It gave me busy. I went to the shop every day. Held
without charge accounts. Where, you know.
00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:51.000
She was one of my customers. Were.
00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:59.000
Candee: Was there a special clientele of the shop? Would they have been?
Certain types of people that will come.
00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:08.000
Okay. And I am.
00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:37.000
Baum: Credit where? Credit? It doesn't take any. It was a very high type.
Stop. Wrong. It was near Bouquet Street and Fourth Street. It started
originally in someone's home, and then they got this very attractive little
shop, which is now.
00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.000
It's very high class.
00:24:38.000 --> 00:25:15.000
Baum: I only lost one. And every year we have a display of our things and.
Criticism stops. Did you know it was an evening? Suspenders? Yeah. Well,
tuxedo. These women are employed.
00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:36.000
I swear, there's just so much.
00:25:36.000 --> 00:26:06.000
Candee: Did you have other jobs after that? That was the only one you had.
Mhm. Which was probably. This is what my mother always had help. Okay. Um.
I think I asked already why your father came here to work.
00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:19.000
For. You find? Ripen in New.
00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:57.000
Baum: York. And now I don't know why he came to Pittsburgh. Do you know
why they lived on chose to live in Ridge Avenue on Ridge? Why? Why? Why?
They chose to live on Ridge Avenue. Well, I guess I. It was a very nice
section. See. Anyways. The Watsons.
00:26:57.000 --> 00:27:12.000
Watson. Watson. Watson. To the lawyer. Name? I'm not.
00:27:12.000 --> 00:28:20.000
Baum: Sure. The buyers live nearby. The. Very good lawyer. Well, whose
wallet did Mark? Fine. Did you say was it? Wasn't that. That's. That's
Watson, isn't it? Watson. Watson. So what's. Watson. Mr. Watson. Watson.
Yeah, that's right. I took it to him. He told me he took it to the house.
She. She dropped it in front of the house. They want to give him a tip. He
wouldn't take it. Wallet because he thought it belonged to. Was there a
particular ethnic group that lived in that area or the background of the
people that lived there? Were they of a certain ethnic group, you know?
00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:27.000
Oh, yes, they were very.
00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:32.000
Baum: What origin, mostly. I don't know what I.
00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:51.000
Daughter: Would have been Protestants, wouldn't they? Mostly what they're.
They weren't Jewish people in Rich. I used to deal with bugs and variables
like as a department store.
00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:57.000
Mother. Thank you, Mr. Boggs. That's where we all get to centers.
00:28:57.000 --> 00:29:00.000
Baum: Yeah, that's right. You know, the market used to be across.
00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:07.000
The street from Bart's for years. You see. Yeah.
00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:13.000
Baum: Farmers came to the market and they had stands outside the.
00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:20.000
The house or others. What's your name?
00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:45.000
Daughter: Henry Spear. Grandmother was crazy. Mother. Said he always went
to the opening game. Plus. World Series games. He always went. He was a
very nice man. When your mother went in the carriage, didn't she pick up?
Yes. Close the carriage.
00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:53.000
Horses. My father used to go. If.
00:29:53.000 --> 00:30:53.000
Baum: Everything was done. My horse. Was there much difficulty in moving
to Pittsburgh? Moving. Moving to Allegheny from Pittsburgh. Was there any
problem? What was the neighborhood? The ethnic background of the
neighborhood here at that time when you moved, your family moved here.
Nice, Harry. Cousin. Stanford White, didn't he? Did he shoot Stanford
White? That's right. Well, it wasn't the house here at the corner. Wright's
house was at the. Somebody says.
