Guest Contributor Jodi Elowitz
Posted by Julie | Filed under News
When you speak to anyone who grew up on the North side immediately a smile comes to their face as they begin to reminisce about the neighborhood.
“It was a community, a truly special place that gave us all a sense of well being. We knew everyone and everyone knew us. It was a place you could be night and day and you knew you would be taken care of.”
The Jewish North side is gone, yet remnants remain in the bricks and mortar of a few buildings, but it truly exists in the heart and minds of those former residents.
On a recent historic tour, being someone who is not originally from Minnesota or grew up on that side of town; I was treated to just how special this neighborhood was; as each former resident would surprise us with a story about a significant place which would trigger a fond memory. “The hospital where I was born was over where that empty lot sits now. Over there was a gas station, there was a hardware store where the funeral home is now and there was also pharmacy and a doctor and dentist office.” Others pointed to the spots and joined in the walk down memory lane.
“My parents owned the Homewood Theater.” Someone else then said. “I was an usher at the Homewood.” Then there was laughter and another participant laughed and yelled out, “Ha who wasn’t.” Another conversation ensued. “Your parents owned the theater? I was just telling my friend about how we would sneak in there without paying; I think I might owe you 10-15 cents?” The child of the owners laughed and said, “I am thinking that might be 15 cents with 50 years of interest.”
Former residents pointed to their younger selves in photographs printed for the tour. “Yes that was me, and my friends waiting to get into a matinee.” We loved that theater and spent many a Saturday watching the double features.”
New residents of the area sitting on the steps of their house of worship across from the crumbling remains of a former synagogue questioned some of the tourists about what they were looking for. “We used to live here. This used to be the main street filled with shops, restaurants, and the building across the street was one of the first synagogues.” The residents replied that they had no idea there was so much history here. “Thank you for sharing with us.”
Of course not everyone is happy to see large crowds of people walking the neighborhood but for those who take the time to stop and ask the tourists what they are doing, all get a cheerful reply of “I used to live here, I grew up in the house down the street and have so many fond memories-I just wanted to relive it again.”
The North side story is one of survival and opportunity. The great grandparents of the North side Jews escaped Eastern Europe with nothing more but the clothes on their back. They sold chickens from their front yards, collected and sold scrap from push carts and horse drawn wagons. They sewed clothing, repaired shoes in small apartments, and baked bread, made pastries and candy that they sold out of their homes. The next generation moved into store fronts and worked 24 hours a day six days a week, sometimes seven. They were always on call which was not hard to do since they lived above or behind their stores. Every member of the family helped out in some way, stocking shelves, keeping books, delivering the goods.
Every need was catered to; there were tailors, dry cleaners, shoe makers, dry goods and grocers. Butchers, bakers, so many that Plymouth Avenue smelled like bread. There was a street car that ran down the main street, you could go to downtown Minneapolis but there was no real need. Barber shops, candy stores, bars and pool halls and of course the movie theater were whole afternoons would be spent watching double features, with cartoons and newsreels. There were give-aways, and special performances. In the summer the theater provided a place to cool off from the heat and hardly anyone cared what was playing as they paid their dime.
There were parks, and a library. It was a place not just for Jews but also for many other new immigrants who were not welcomed in other parts of Minneapolis. There were social services and houses of worship that kept the community centered, holding it together in hard times. No one went without. The North side was a place you could live and feel a sense of pride.
That spirit of community has not changed as new residents work just as hard to provide opportunities for their families. The buildings that once sheltered and catered to Jewish families now cater to the new residents. On our tours we saw neighbors tending community gardens, filling houses of worship for Sunday services, or sitting outside catching up on the latest neighborhood news and gossip.
As someone who loves and lives history, nothing captivates me more than walking down streets and imagining who walked them before. I love hearing the stories and think of my own childhood memories about the community I grew up in Detroit. I often wonder what will happen when the people who have these memories of the lost communities are gone.
The Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest asked that question and they answered with their new initiative Placeography. Placeogaphy is an online, interactive wiki that allows those who log on an opportunity to view photos of buildings and neighborhoods throughout Minnesota. Users are able to easily upload their memories and share their stories.
Placeography is about keeping memories of the once thriving Jewish communities alive for future generations but it also allows the current residents to see how their neighborhoods developed and that once there were others just like them who overcame the challenges they faced to provide good lives for their families.
The North side story is just one of the many that will be on Placeography. All areas of Minnesota that were home to vibrant Jewish Communities will be represented. From the Iron Range to St. Paul and all points in between. The first phase of the project has been completed as photos and informational content has been uploaded. The next phase is for people to provide their memories and stories to bring the places to life. The ultimate goal is for one day someone like me can take a walking tour armed with nothing but my iPhone (or whatever other devices we invent) with Placeography as my guide. Although I will always prefer the interaction of the people who lived in these places; at least we will forever be able to access their stories and share in their memories any time we choose. It is up to future generations to take these stories and make them their own.
View photos of our North Side Tour on Facebook.
