1922 - 1929 "We're in the money!" The Roaring 20's The decade began with Fischel Reiter's death and the arrival of three new grandsons to carry his name: Philip Blitzer, son of Lena and Adolph, Philip Reiter, son of Sarah and Hyman Reiter, and Philip Levy, son of Fanny Reiter and Robert Levy. For thousands of years, the Jewish practice of naming newborns after grandparents and/or a deceased relative provided a living chronicle of the family tree. Because of it, I have been able to approximate birth and death dates of our ancestors. "The Roaring 20s" The phrase "big boom" was used to describe the 1920's automobile sales explosion. In an article about Wall Street history, Brian Turnbore, President/Editor of StocksandNews.com states "Total U.S. sales reached 1.4 million in 1921. By 1929 the figure was 4.5 million, with GM and Ford being joined by Chrysler as the giants of the auto industry." Immigrants were riding the coattails of good times, too. Uncle Julius broke away from the neighborhood, moving his family further west to Rosewood Avenue, a non-Jewish area close to Toledo University in the Nathan Hale school district. My mother attended night classes to learn English. She and Adolph attended performances by great artists and played records on the newly purchased victrola. Adolph, a violin devotee, had Sidney begin lessons at age 6. Sidney, bright and talented, showed promise. Our parents bought a Krakauer upright piano--a fine instrument for Helen to practice her lessons. Frankie recalls watching the movers hoist the piano up over the second story porch either when it was delivered or when we moved. Blankenstein home on Jerome Street, c mid-1920s Music, art, education, culture-- these were the corner stones of our parents' interest and values. It was not unique as there is a legacy stemming from the heritage of Eastern European Jews. But among the extended families and friends whose economic circumstances were about the same as Adolph and Lena's, it was unusal. Chana's background influenced Lena. Chana claimed to be related to the Fleischmann family known back in Austria-Hungary in the early 1800s for their method of making yeast. Charles Fleischmann, (1836-1889), founder of the Cincinnati company, graduated in engineering from Prague university. Chana had two brothers, who my mother said were astronomers. All this and Adolph 's love for the arts made our home a rich blend of ideals, esthetics, and a standard for high achievement. Miraculously, their children possessed the talent to meet the parents' dreams. About this time, Cohn, Friedlander, and Martin was bought out by the Red Fern company. Toledo has a history of union dissension and during the mid 1920s the company had a strike. My father crossed the picket line, and a stink bomb was thrown into our living room window landing in the beautiful Krauker piano--its lingering odor always a reminder of that day and the times. In 1925, Ephraim/Frank Zuker-Reinstein, Adolph's maternal grandfather died. (1840-1925). Another member of this generation passed on. Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next Page . . . Home - Introduction - Prologue - Preface - Table of Contents - Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Guest Book - References

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