- Ottawa Jewish Archives
- Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
- Interview with Harry Goldstein
Interview with Harry Goldstein
Description only — contact the archiveO0045
- Held by
- Ottawa Jewish Archives via Canadian Jewish Heritage Network (incl. Alex Dworkin Canadian Jewish Archives)
- Dates
- November 7, 2000 (indexed as 2000)
- Level
- item
- Scope & content
- Subject: Harry Herman Goldstein Interviewer: Adele Sidney Date: November 7, 2000 Interview Location: Ottawa, ON Length of Time: Tape 1 (62:50) Tape 2 (7:15) **content warning: mentions of sex work** -Herman (Harry) Goldstein was born in 1917. He grew up in Uszhorod, Czechoslovakia where his father ran an inn. Harry speaks of his childhood around the inn; he recalls his father taking rent in various forms, such as suits from a tailor living at the inn. Harry also speaks of the very common practice of his father renting rooms for prostitution in the town. -Harry recalls his home growing up; he had 7 siblings and his father treated them well. The house he grew up in had no plumbing and he had to walk to the well every morning to pump water. -Harry talks of his Cheder school growing up. He attended regular elementary school from 8AM-1PM everyday then Cheder from 1PM-8 or 9PM. He remembers learning a lot and found it very hard. He has fond memories of a teacher Mr. Goldberg (?). -Harry never got an allowance growing up. He used to steal candy as a child and he tells a story of working his way into the circus so he could see the elephants. -Harry attended elementary school in Ukrainian and then middle school in a Czech language. He had 9 years of schooling before he had to leave to work. -He got his first job in 1932 as a machinist for the railway and once he had finished that he went on to work for a local plumber. He recalls it being very slow work and not very busy. -On November 2nd 1933 he came to Canada for work. His older brother Sam and Sister Rose were already in Ottawa. Harry stayed with Sam until Christmas when he began work as an electrician. -Harry discusses the process of becoming an electrician in Ottawa. -During this time Harry recalls having to buy a new car each year as the Ottawa winter would always destroy his car. -in 1936 Harry was not making much money as an electrician so he bought a ticket to Sudbury. There he got a job selling washing machines, he was successful since they would send him to little Ukraine and he spoke ukrainian. He was also able to save more money as he would offer electrical work to the houses. He stayed in SUdbury for 6 months but he got very lonely and he returned to Ottawa in June of 1937. -In 1939 there was an offer for him to purchase a restaurant for $3000; he bought this grill on Rideau Street and began making improvements. He talks of the first year running the restaurant. -Harry’s sister Rose then came to him and asked for help as she and her husband had been unlucky in business. He let them buy the restaurant from him for $3000. Harry used the money to buy a truck. In 1948 Sam and Harry decided to go 50/50 on a store and they became partners in business. From here he discusses the stores they had and the various locations. -In 1966 there was a fire in one of their buildings. Around this time Harry left the business. -Harry had various contracts for his electrical work; he speaks of his suppliers and the industry. He never made much money as an electrician since he offered such low prices. -Harry then discusses various finances, loans, etc. in his company. -In Harry’s personal life he was active in the Labour Zionist Party; he discusses his work with the cause. -Harry then discusses Camp Gesher, (?) he began working for the camp as a councillor and then the camp was bought by the Toronto Zionist party. He became very involved in the camp and talked of his work on the electrical and cabins. Harry then took over most camp operations; he made many improvements including canoes, a boat, fixing up the cabins and the fields. END OF TAPE 1 -Harry also donated the big hall building to the camp. He spent his own money and built it for the camp. -Then some large investors came to the camp and wanted to take over the operations, Harry reluctantly left the camp when they joined. -Harry discusses his work as an electrician; he had apprenticed under Sam and Sam had apprenticed under Schwartz (?) END OF TAPE 2
- Location
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More details
- Extent
- 2 tapes
- Genre / form
- sound recording
- Format
- Audio
- Harvested
- 2026-10-17T20:12:50Z · source datestamp n/a · cjhn