Interview with Leon Levitch, June 3, 1977

Toni Goldman:

This is Toni Goldman interviewing Mr. Leon Levitch on June 3rd, 1977 at his office at the Southern Liquor company at 15th and Walnut. Mr. Levitch, to begin with, would you please tell me where and when you were born?

Leon Levitch:

I was born in Louisville, in nineteen- September the 13th, 1903.

T.G.:Your family, you had brothers and sisters?

L.L.:

Yes, I have- I had- there were four boys and two girls. The oldest was Charles of the boys, then there was Jake, and there was Phil, and myself. And then it was my sister Rose who was a [Crenitz 00:00:54], and my sister Sarah, who was married to a Washerman.

T.G.:

Where did your parents come from? How did they decide to come to Louisville?

L.L.:

They came the Louisville approximately in eighteen- 1880, '82 something around that time.

T.G.:

From where?

L.L.:

Russia.

T.G.:

They were married at the time?

L.L.:

They were married, young couple.

T.G.:

And all your brothers and sisters were born in Louisville?

L.L.:

We were all born in Louisville.

T.G.:

Okay. As a young man, as a young boy, where did you live?

L.L.:

I lived... My recollection, 421 East Chestnut. That's my first recollection, but we lived on 6th street between Walnut and Liberty. That's where we were when we 2:00first lived. I don't recall it, but I remember we moved from there to 421 East Chestnut.

T.G.:

Okay. Were you in a neighborhood or an area that was predominantly Jewish people, or your friends?

L.L.:

Yeah, it was a mixture as I recall. Across the street from us was a little church. I remember the Thompsons across the street on the corner of Preston and Chestnut at that time was the city hospital. There was a [Bodhi's 00:02:51] Saloon, Robin [Levitt's 00:02:53] Bakery and Pete Herman's Drugstore. That was the corner, Preston and Chestnut.

T.G.:

So it really was mixed.

L.L.:

It was a mix.

T.G.:

What did your father do?

L.L.:

My father was tailor.

T.G.:

And his business was there?

L.L.:

No, his business, he had a tailor shop. He was a tailor by trade. One time had his own tailor shop I recall somewhere around First and Market. The one time he was in manufacturing of tailoring at one time, so I was told. I was a youngster when he passed away. I was about eight years old when he passed away. My mother passed away a year later.

T.G.:

So who did you live with then- the children?

L.L.:

At that time I went to an orphanage in Chicago. When I became 15 my sister got 4:00married and she brought me back to Louisville.

T.G.:

And your brothers, did they go to the orphanage? Were they already grown?

L.L.:

No, no. They were grown.

T.G.:

You were the youngest?

L.L.:

I was the youngest. There was a six year difference between Phil and myself. And they were all older than me, about a year or so apart, a year and a half apart.

T.G.:

So that then your sister brought you back here and you lived with her?

L.L.:

My sister, Sarah. Yes.

T.G.:

Who is married to whom?

L.L.:

Mr. Washington. Joel Washington.

T.G.:

And then you came back here?

L.L.:

That's correct.

T.G.:

You went to school here. Where did you go to school?

L.L.:

I went to George W. Morris school.

T.G.:

That's on-

L.L.:

Floyd and Chestnut. Yes.

T.G.:

And then you went to Chicago. When you came back did you go back to school?

L.L.:

I went back. When I came, I came back and went to George W. Morris again.

T.G.:

And after that did you continue-

L.L.:

I went to work. As a young man I went to work.

T.G.:

Doing what?

L.L.:

My first job was a page at the library. From there, I got a job at The Courier-Journal working in the advertising department. From there I had various jobs selling insurance for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. I went to work for American Safety razor company. I worked for American Drug [Asinocate 00:05:51]. And from there I got into the whiskey business because the drug houses were handling whiskey during prohibition. And they were all asking me, 6:00"Why haven't you gotten any whiskey to sell?" That's right after repeal. So my sister and my brother and myself formed the [Falsity Hilser 00:06:19] liquor company. And that's my start in the whiskey business.

T.G.:

So that was 1932, '33?

L.L.:

That was was in nineteen-thirty- repeal was in the year of 1939 if I... Because '39 is correct. Let's see.

T.G.:

No one...

L.L.:

I know it was a repeal. Let's see, it was '39, if that's correct.

T.G.:

I'm not sure. I think when Roosevelt came into office, which would have been '33. He was elected in '32 and came into-

L.L.:

I went into business in '34. Correction. I went in business in thirty- right 7:00after repeal, which was '33 and we went in business in April '34. April 30th of '34, to be correct.

T.G.:

Okay. Now you were...

L.L.:

Yes. Go ahead.

T.G.:

Excuse me. You were gone from here about seven years during your childhood, right? Seven or eight years.

L.L.:

About that many years, yes.

T.G.:

Okay. Before you left, was your family associated with the synagogue?

L.L.:

Yes. Same synagogue- in fact, my father is one of the founders of Anshei Sfard. He was one of the founders of that synagogue.

T.G.:

Which you are still associated with?

L.L.:

That is correct.

T.G.:

When you came back from Chicago, did you again associate... What I'm trying to 8:00find out is did you have, in the typical sense, a religious education? Did you go to synagogue? Did you go to the Toma Torah?

L.L.:

I was bar mitzvahed in... I went to an orphanage called Mark's Nathan Orphanages, the Jewish orphanage in Chicago. And I was bar mitzvahed in Chicago. So I got my Jewish education. [Pulmonary 00:08:36] Jewish education in Chicago, at this orphanage, it was strictly a Jewish orphanage. It's no longer in existence. If fact, as we know it today there's no Jewish orphanages.

T.G.:

I guess that's- I guess that's true. At least I'm not aware of any. Alright. When you came back here, was your family associated with Anshei Sfard then? Were 9:00they active?

L.L.:

Yes. Always have been.

T.G.:

Well, I know that you've been very active in the Jewish community, and so I would like to find out what activities your parents did that you can remember and your brothers and sisters when you came back here.

L.L.:

Well, talking about my parents, as I told you, my father was one of the founders of the synagogue. My brother, Phil, became very active in later years with the Federation. He was president of the Federation, so therefore he and I being associated in business, had me involved and the same thing. And I followed 10:00behind his teachings or whatever you want to call it.

T.G.:

Were you as a young man, you said you came back here at about the age of 15, did you go to the YMHA? Were you active there?

L.L.:

Oh, yes. Yes, I went to the YMHA. I played basketball on the team. I ran for the YMHA at long distance. I was on their cross country team. I coached their cross country team. I won the three mile race under their banner, the seven mile race, 10 mile race. I was very active in athletics through the YMHA. The YMHA.

T.G.:

Who were they competing against?

L.L.:

The city. The local community. YMCA, whatever the different teams. They used to 11:00have races on New Year's, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and May 30th, Decoration Day.

T.G.:

This was between the YMHA and the YMCA and church groups and that kind of thing?

L.L.:

Or anybody. It was open, the Athletic- the Athletic AAU sponsored these meets.

T.G.:

Did your social life as a young man pretty much revolve around the YMHA? I mean, I understand that they had dances and they had a summer camp and that kind of thing.

L.L.:

Yes. Yes, I went to their dances, and I went out to their camp on the river. Yes.

T.G.:

So that you were actively in...

L.L.:

I was actively associated with the YMHA.

T.G.:

Were most of your friends, associates, et cetera, as a young man, Jewish people or was there-

L.L.:

Most of them, and a mixture, yes. But most of them were Jewish. I was very close to my cousin, Ray Bear. We played on teams together as young men. And I very close to the Bear family.

T.G.:

What other organizations can you remember yourself or your family being involved in aside from the HA and the the shul?

L.L.:

My brothers were masons. The Elks. Can't think of anything else.

T.G.:

Well, I can remember, you know, my grandfather on both of these organizations had quite a few Jewish men that were involved in them. Did they not? I know they used to have great card games up at the Elks.

L.L.:

That's right.

T.G.:

[laughing 00:13:28] That I can remember.

L.L.:

Yeah.

T.G.:

Can you think how the Jewish community has changed between then and now? Or any evolution that you have seen?

L.L.:

Back in the days where you're talking as I can remember in 1922, '21, when I was 14:00going around the YMHA, it seemed to be more centralized there. It was my hub down in the city. It is spread, it has taken on more activities, more responsibilities, as they are today. The Federation has taken on a tremendous amount of different responsibilities in this community, the age, and various others- other things that they didn't have in those days.

T.G.:

Did you feel or do you feel that the Jewish community was more close knit then, more closely associated? Or do you feel that's true at all?

L.L.:

Well, there was a- after all transportation... In those days... And the people live closer together. They was seeing them more, of a closeness. But I see, as the growth of the community and the growth of the population of the Jewish community, there is a responsibility that they're taking on today, they're taking on pretty great responsibility. The community is. Just a matter of opinion.

T.G.:

Well, that's what we're looking for; your opinion or how you see it or how you remember it.

L.L.:

I saw it... a closeness back there more so than I see today. I have- the- they have their club today. It's more broadened than it was back then.

T.G.:

The club, what are you talking about?

L.L.:

The Standard Club.

T.G.:

Standard.

L.L.:

It takes in- it was a small club when I remembered it on the River Road. It's more of an open club today than it was back in that day- back in those days. Well, to be perfectly frank with you, who could afford it? Everything is relevant. And it was a limited club. And now it's broadened, the community's 17:00bigger. And they've taken on more responsibilities too, and some pretty good ones.

T.G.:

Well, you brought up a subject. You were a member of Anshei Sfard?

L.L.:

Yes.

T.G.:

Now there were three other- four other congregations in the community.

L.L.:

Yes. Back in those days, yes, they were... There was- my recollection is Adath Israel, the one on Floyd street, the one on Preston Street. And this is now, imagine... There was one on Fehr Street, Preston and Fehr. I don't know what that is now. [crosstalk 00:18:01]

T.G.:

Could you remember- do you happen to remember the names of them?

L.L.:

No, I just remembered that it was one on Preston and Fehr, and there was one on Preston and Jefferson. That must be Keneseth Israel. No, that must be...

T.G.:

I remember hearing my parents talking about Benny Yankov. I don't know where that was.

L.L.:

That was on Jefferson, if I... no, it was on... I think it was on Jefferson. And then there was one on... It used to be at Floyd and Chestnut and they moved over to Jacob Street, and now that's-

T.G.:

That's Keneseth.

L.L.:

That's Keneseth.

T.G.:

Right. And then there was Agudas Achim.

L.L.:

There was one out on Jefferson Street, way out there on- well not way out- it 19:00was on 13th or 15th Street. So I think some of these are combined. Anshei Sfard's taken in one of them.

T.G.:

Was there any interactions, social, political, whatever between the congregations, like between Anshei Sfard and Adath Israel, or Brith Sholom?

L.L.:

No, I don't think there was... As I recall, they were separate... a separate identity. I can slightly remember, as a youngster, before I went to Chicago, being at Adath Israel on 3rd Street, going there to Sunday School for some... I can remember being over there, going to a Sunday School. How I got over there, I don't know. You ask me to remember back between the ages of eight [crosstalk 00:20:04]

T.G.:

Yeah, I know it's... Yeah.

L.L.:

I can remember being over there for Sunday School, strange as it may seem.

T.G.:

Did you ever go to Sunday School at Anshei Sfard?

L.L.:

No, I don't recall that. I don't recall that.

T.G.:

The reason I ask this is you mentioned the Standard Club and that was, at that time, primarily people from Adath Israel.

L.L.:

That's when I came back to Louisville. I knew of Standard Club when I came back as a young man knew of Standard Club, but I couldn't afford it. Everything is relevant.

T.G.:

So that most of the people that you knew as a youngster, and growing up the people you were socially friendly with or went to synagogue with, were not members?

L.L.:

Not members of The Standard.

T.G.:

Was there any interaction between Kenesth and Anshei Sfard or Adath Jeshurun?

L.L.:

Interactions between them?

T.G.:

Well, in other words, as a young man, when you were dating, would you date women from any of these congregations? Or did you go to dances? Or did your congregation have dances or social activities that members of other congregations came to?

L.L.:

Most of the activity that I had as far as the dances were concerned, was centered around the YMHA. Our congregation didn't have any dances that I recall. I don't recall.

T.G.:

You know, now every congregation is into fundraising of one sort or another-

L.L.:

Men's clubs and so forth.

T.G.:

Right, right.

L.L.:

But back in- in those days it was- I, can remember the synagogue is for one 22:00purpose, is the purpose of worship for minions and the york side and the high holidays. That's my recollection.

T.G.:

So that it was not a social force then as it is now?

L.L.:

No, no. Never. It wasn't a social force. It has changed considerable, as I see it at the advent of Rabbi Ruddman. Since we moved to Dutchman's Lane and taken on all these other facilities, of buildings and so forth that we have. That it's become active in men's club, and dancing, or whatever activity they have, which all your congregations are doing. The only one that I can recommend as a young man, is Adath Israel wasn't having any real functions of any kind.

T.G.:

Other than actual worship?

L.L.:

Yeah.

T.G.:

Are there any other reminiscences or recollections that you think that we would like to know? Things that, you know, for posterity. With your family? We were talking before and I know you're related- your family is a big family. The interrelation...

L.L.:

Yes. We are a big family. The Brownsteins is... I have my uncle Jake, who had 24:00sons and daughters. I've got so many cousins I can't remember them. It's gotten so... I had my uncle Abe, who had his daughter and one son, who was killed out at Fort Knox by an explosion, Brownstein boy. And then there's uncle Harry that had many children. There's Dave-

T.G.:

And these are all Brownsteins you're talking about?

L.L.:

These are all Brownsteins. It was a big family - the Brownsteins. And then the girls who were married to Baers and the Goldsteins.

T.G.:

What Goldstein?

L.L.:

This is Molly Court and Rebecca Brownstein, two sisters are now passed away. 25:00Kelly Rice and-

T.G.:

Now these were your cousins or your ants?

L.L.:

Cousins.

T.G.:

Your cousins?

L.L.:

Yeah, she was a Goldstein, they were all Goldsteins. So it was large family. And from that, there's many cousins, second cousins, third cousins.

T.G.:

All right. And you had told me previously that you were also related to the Shapiros and the Ben Snyder's.

L.L.:

I was -the Shapiros married into the Snyder family. The Shapiros, a Shapiro- a [Solinger 00:25:43], I think she was. Who- wasn't she a Solinger that married-

T.G.:

Ben Snyder.

L.L.:

Ben Snyder. Or was it Shapiro?

T.G.:

Shapiro.

L.L.:

Shapiro. Yeah. So that's a brother of Mrs. Shapiro. Ben is her brother, so he's 26:00not related to me, he's on the other side. But Ben was, and Joe who was up in Indiana is another, and Mendel was another one.

T.G.:

You're saying Joe Snyder?

L.L.:

Joe Snyder. He's up in I think in Jasper, Indiana. He's got a store up there. And then there's Mendel, you know Mendel. And then there was a sister who had a store in Indiana. And Mrs. Snyder was my ant.

T.G.:

Mrs. Ben Snyder?

L.L.:

Mrs... Ben's mother.

T.G.:

Ah, I see.

L.L.:

Ben's mother was my ant.

T.G.:

So that your family covers a lot of territory,

L.L.:

A lot of family.

T.G.:

Was the family close as you were growing up?

L.L.:

I was close, all, not- I was close to the Bears as a boy because they were my age.

T.G.:

Now you're talking about Abe Bear, Ray bear, Sydney.

L.L.:

Abe Bear, yes. And they were close in the neighborhood to where I lived. They lived on Walnut Street, Floyd and Walnut at the time. I lived on Chestnut street and I would always be over their house on the weekend. Or they one time lived on Madison Street, which was a little closer, and I was closer to the boys. And I used to- everything was in walking distance in those days, and the Goldsteins lived on Brook street and I used to walk over there on a Friday evening. In those days the families - and there were other Brownsteins living on Madison Street, and you can walk around and see your family. There was a closeness that you had in those days with the family because they were close. And-

T.G.:

Physically close, you mean?

L.L.:

Physically close. And as a boy you'd walk in as if... And if it's meal time you sat down and ate.

T.G.:

[laughing 00:28:13] Something our children miss.

L.L.:

Yeah. Yeah. There was a closeness there with the boys growing up and as they played basketball - Ray - and football and I'd always be going to the games and follow 'em. There was a real closeness there. But some of the others were older, like Mendel, Dan, they were older than I was. There wasn't- and they didn't live close so you didn't see them just like everyone else. They drifted apart.

T.G.:

When you came back to Louisville to live with your sister, where did you live?

L.L.:

First we went back to the old home, 421 East Chestnut. Then she bought a place 29:00on Ormsby Street. And then she moved out to 38th Street, and I lived with my sister.

T.G.:

You lived. So about when did she move out to 38th street, approximately?

L.L.:

Oh, it has to be...what did- it could have been in 1930. That's a good enough- that's a good guess, 1930.

T.G.:

Wasn't it rather unusual for Jewish people to move that far in the west and wasn't the migration going the other way?

L.L.:

Yes. Then she built a home and moved up on Kings Highway.

T.G.:

Off Taylorsville Road?

L.L.:

Yeah.

T.G.:

Okay. I see pictures in your office of beautiful children.

L.L.:

Those are mine.

T.G.:

I know they're yours. When were you married?

L.L.:

I was married, it was about 17 years ago. Got a boy, 16. I've got a boy who was 13 yesterday.

T.G.:

Happy birthday.

L.L.:

And I've got a daughter who is eight.

T.G.:

Now was your wife from Louisville?

L.L.:

Yes.

T.G.:

So that you met her here.

L.L.:

That's correct.

T.G.:

Okay. Well is there anything else you'd like your children to know? Because that's really why we're making this so that it will be here for our children and children's children.

L.L.:

I think they know all about me. Here is an article that was published in The 31:00Beverage Journal. They're seven years ago.

T.G.:

This is a trade journal, right?

L.L.:

Yeah. And they at that time, came in and made a similar interview. I was elected at that time, I think as Vice President of the National Federation of Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America. And they interviewed me at that time, and this is similar to what...