Floods--Kentucky--Louisville

= Audio Available Online
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Berman, a Louisville native, recalls family immigration, reasons for immigration, and European conditions. His parents were Meyer Berman of Covna and Esther Spindler of Grodna, Poland. He discusses associated families such as Goldsmith, Fink, Schuster, Sher Askenaz, Frehling, Mandel, Banshek (St. Louis), Goldberg, Bornstein, Goc, Arthur Kling, Israel and Zehavi Naamani. He describes Louisville merchants in 1912; family life; traditions; the University of Louisville in 1929; Market Street; 4th and Hill Streets; neighborhood stables; Ali Bornstein, builder; Ohio River's importance; Young Men's Hebrew Association; Jewish Hospital; Louis Hebrew School; Jewish Professionals; the Haymarket; Demolay for Boys; Congregations. Tape 2: Discusses Rabbi Zarchy; Rabbi Madlebaum 1940 - as president Kennesseth; World War II; B'nai B'rith; the 1937 flood; shabbat; Four Courts.
2257
Joe Conniff was ten years old at the time of the 1937 flood. He lived with his parents and older sister on Twentieth Street between Bank and Griffin Streets in Louisville's West End. When the floodwaters covered the streets in their neighborhood, Joe and his family moved to Fern Crerek and stayed with his cousin. He recalls riding to Fern Creek in an Army truck and driving through the water. He discusses what it was like staying in Fern Creek and his impressions of the flood. He also talks about the return to their home after the flood. He also compares the 1937 flood to the 1945 flood. Index available.
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Louisville native Hanna Fleck discusses her family coming to Louisville. Her father came from Kovna Guberniya to Baltimore to Portsmouth, Virginia, to Louisville. He first peddled in the country then opened a store at Shelby and Market Streets. Her mother was Rosa Berman. She remembers the 1937 flood, anti-Semitism, Mary Cohen, Bernard Berman, Levine, Lilly Meyers, Rabbi Gittleman, Lillian Goldberg Berman, Stella Levine, theater prices, Young Men's Hebrew Association, Girls High (1929), old Louisville landmarks.
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Annette Gale's parents were Jenny and Aaron Vine, her grandmother was Blema Vine. They were all from Poland and immigrated to New York and then to Louisville in 1922. She tells of her youth and the Walnut to Magnolia and Brook Street areas. Her parents had a grocery store. Associated families: Eva Yussman, Herman Cohen, Freda Gurwitch, Minnie Cohen, Rose Tarbis. Discusses Jewish merchants, the American Grocery Co., the University of Louisville, Girls High School, transportation, Adath Jeshurun, Talmud Torah, going to Keat's Theatre at 5th and Walnut, radio, Young Men's Hebrew Association, World War II, and the 1937 flood.
2255
Marianne Glass was seven years old and a second grader at Emerson School at the time of the 1937 flood. She lived with her grandparents and parents and one sister at 1127 Sylvia Street in the Germantown area of Louisville. Her home was not in the flood area but water came wihin two blocks of her home. She gives her recollections of the flood as a seven-year-old and recalls the fear that she felt as a child going through the flood. She also discusses what she did to pass the time during the flood. Index available.
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Hyman Gurwitch's father, David Lee Gurwitch, arrived in the USA in 1910. His mother followed with his sisters Mildred, Molly, then Freda and Bessie. David Lee Gurwitch bought a butcher shop on 7th Street. Associated families/people: Nathan Khan, Flumbaum, Baniss Cohen, Sol Waxman, Eichel, Lipetz, Goldsmith, O'koon, Streicher, Shaiken, Joseph Friedman, Rosen, Harry Goldberg, Block, Fehr, Rosenbaum, Eichenholtz, Morgan, Ethel Sher, Jerome Binder, Harry Cole, Willie Waits, Ike Gumer. Discusses Sidney Passamaneck/Leonard Stern and the Model Drugstore. Discusses Young Men's Hebrew Association, Adath Israel Sabbath School, Talmud Torah, Brook and Floyd (Simon's Grocery), 7th Street, Liberty and Jefferson. Graduate in pharmacy. Discusses YMHA Basketball, gold, handball, 1936 car prices, 1937 flood, 1974 tornado, and a tribute to Pauline (Sandler) Brill.
2258
Richard N. (Buddy) Kern was ten years old at the time of the 1937 flood. He lived with his parents and three brothers upstairs over the tavern his father owned at Thirty-fourth Street and Michigan Avenue (now called Muhammad Ali Boulevard) in Louisville's West End. When the floodwaters arived at their front doorsteps Buddy, his mother and his brothers moved in with his grandfather at Preston and Eastern Parkway. Buddy recalls watching the water rise from several directions to converge at his home and then having to walk across a railroad overpass spanning floodwaters to reach his grandfather's car in order to be evacuated from the flood. Buddy also recalls the living conditions at his temporary home and what he and his brothers did to pass the time during the flood. After the floodwaters receded, Buddy and his family moved back home even though utilities had not yet been restored. Buddy talks about helping his father serve food from the upstairs portion of their home to the workers cleaning up after the flood. Index available.
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William F. Kern, Junior was thirty-six years old at the time of the 1937 flood. He lived with his wife and four children upstairs over the tavern he ran at Thirty-fourth Street and Michigan Avenue (now called Muhammad Ali Boulevard) in Louisville's West End. When Mr. Kern's home became flooded, he moved his family to Preston Street and Eastern Parkway in Louisville. He then returned to his home where he and two other men operated a dispatching station for police and other officials in boats since his building had the only operating phone in the area. He also was an auixiliary policeman deputized by the City of Louisville and as such went on patrols in boats in the flooded area. He was forced to leave his home when a fire on Fourteeenth Street threatened to set the floodwaters ablaze. Mr. Kern tells of his experiences in the flood such as shooting at rats floating by from the second floor of his home. He also tells of going to Washington, D.C. to meet with government officials about problems in Louisville from the flood. He describes meeting President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Oval Office of the White House. Index available.
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Klein's father was Frank Leon Klein; his parents came from Russia 1880s. His mother was Ida Natofsky Klein; she was a Louisville native. Her parents arrived in 1859 and joined Adath Jeshurun, then called Green Street School. Murrel was born in Jewish Hospital, Louisville, in 1905. His father's business necessitated several moves. He had his bar mitzvah in Louisville (Rabbi Zarchy). Discusses: 1910-1916 Taustine Deli; Jewish life of times; Dr. Leon L. Solomon (identified as first Jewish doctor). Klein went to Washington and Lee in 1921. He discusses the Young Men's Hebrew Association Baseball League, 1926-1931; Young Men's Hebrew Association Camp in 1919; Troop 30 Boy Scouts; Market Street Jews - most from Russia, most Orthodox. He discusses World War II, war bonds and World War II YMHA dances and brunches. He also discusses the 1937 flood. Associated names: Charles W. Morris, Frank Garlove, Harry Klein, Meyer Klein, Sol Natofsky, Oertmer, Rosenberg's Mose and Pearl Marks, Oscar Leibson, Joe Garfein, Poachy Marks, O'Mara White.
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A Louisville native, Kling's grandparents came from Germany to Aurora, Indiana, and then to Louisville where they started the Kling Stationary Co. His parents were Arthur and Selma Marcus Kling. He grew up in the east end. There were few Jewish merchants in the Highland. He discusses attending the Spencerian School, serving in the Army, and attending the Speed School at the University of Louisville. He was a member of the Hi-Fi Society, and Louisville Photographic Society and was a stamp collector. He was a Civil Air Patrol Instructor - at West Point 1965, learned to fly. His parents were very civically involved - Club 60, Selma with refugee settlement, Arthur with scouts, politics and senior citizens. Temple Shalom - deep involvement started in his kitchen. He also discusses Young Men's Hebrew Association, River Camp, Jewish Community. He also talks about the Flood of 1937.