- Ottawa Jewish Archives
- Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
- Interview with Joe Murray
Interview with Joe Murray
Description only — contact the archive8
- Held by
- Ottawa Jewish Archives via Canadian Jewish Heritage Network (incl. Alex Dworkin Canadian Jewish Archives)
- Dates
- May 25, 2005 (indexed as 2005)
- Level
- item
- Scope & content
- Joe Murray was born in Ottawa in 1928, and grew up on St. Patrick’s Street, right across from where De La Salle School is today. His father came to Canada in 1924 sponsored by a local farmer, Sam Greenberg, and later brought over his mother. His father was a food peddler who delivered using a horse and buggy. Though they were poor, Joe felt that he didn’t really notice it since everyone around him was in a similar situation. Joe remembers his childhood in Lowertown fondly, especially because his Bubbe and two aunts lived next door to his family home. He recalls a grocery store, bakery, and several kosher butchers, such as Weinstein and Staslav’s, on St. Patrick Street that his mother would often send him to to do the shopping. He mentions how Murray Street was predominantly Jewish at the time because of its proximity to several shuls and Jewish businesses. Joe’s family belonged to Murray St. Shul, and recounts the Sunday tea fundraisers, as well as gossip and tales from his time there, joking that they could make a movie about it. He remembers there always being joy there, even in the Depression, as they gave out sodas, food, and were always dancing. Joe attended York Street School and later Ottawa Tech for highschool. At 17 years old, Joe worked for Archie Goldfield at his butcher's shop, and later got a job at an aircraft plant during the war. Joe recalls going for walks on Friday evenings in the summer, usually on Rideau Street, and sometimes along Sparks St. and Bank St. as well. He discusses some of the stores and merchants along these streets, such as the elaborate window displays at Freiman’s, or the friendly pharmacists at Molot’s Drugstore that would give them candy. He also remembers other business downtown, including department stores Larocque’s, Schaffer’s, and Caplan’s, the Capital Hotel owned by Marty Weiss, food suppliers such as Welkman’s and Rideau Bakery, and clothing retailers, including Joe Feller’s Menswear and Appel Ladieswear. He also discusses a multi-story building, where the main floor was a shoe store, and the second floor was a big hall where Labour Zionists would hangout, sing, and dance the hora. In regards to his relationship with zionism, he said it was more of a social aspect for him, and he never went to Israel like many of his friends. Joe continues to reminisce about downtown businesses, by going through a directory and adding his own anecdotes about each business. This included the size of the sandwiches at Nickelberg’s Delicatessen, the breakfast and snack bar delivery service at Chateau Laurier, his father’s suit being shrunk by Star Cleaners before Rosh Hashanah, his uncle taking him to Rideau Bowling Alley after his bar mitzvah, and playing pool with other Jewish boys above the Rideau Theatre. Lastly, Joe reflects on him becoming a teacher, teaching primarily History, Geography, and English, and later becoming a principal with the Carleton School Board. He opened Terry Fox school, and his last school was Covenant Glen, where he would often get called “Father Murray” due to the school’s name.
- Location
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Where
More details
- Genre / form
- sound recording
- Format
- Audio
- Language
- English
- Harvested
- 2026-10-17T20:12:50Z · source datestamp n/a · cjhn