TANTA MARY (1885 - 1978)
Mary decided to move near the factories and their workers to make it possible for her kids to hawk them to buy anything for some coins. She figured they could sell a little bit of pretzels and candy. That’s how it goes. Whenever they were short for rent Frank used to have to take his suits and go to the pawnshop. He would get $5 for a suit, give Rose $4, and keep a dollar for himself. They lived in a one-room house with no water; there was a spigot outside that she had to pump. The young boys caught the attention of a man from the factory. The factory man asked the boys what they were doing. The boys told him their father died and they have nothing to live on. The factory man asked to meet their mom, and see where they lived. At the time the kids were sleeping in baskets. He was a Jewish man, but nobody knew he was Jewish, and he didn’t want to give himself up for a Jew. He wanted to help them. He was a wealthy man. He didn’t make a living for them, but he helped them a little at a time to get along. It was nothing romantic. Eventual- ly, he helped her to buy an old Chevy. Then it became a little bit easier. The responsibility on Frank eased. He started dating. Mary wanted him to make a home for himself. She didn’t want him to sacrifice all his life for her and her children.
In 1905, Miriam Shus- ter (1886-1978), arrived in America a few years before her brother. By the time he arrived, she was married to Israel Lesnick (1885-1911) and they had three boys:
Morris (1904); Harry (1906); and Reuben (1908). They lived on the third floor of a simple apartment in a poor neighborhood, 210 Fulton Street, Philadelphia. Her husband worked in a clothing factory as a presser. A presser uses a large ironing machine to give clothing a fine line and clean appearance. 1908, Frank Shuster (18) arrives in Amer- ica, penniless. 1910, the census shows Frank Shuster (20), single, living with his sister. His occupation is listed as a baster [bāst-er]. A baster is a person that stitches fabric together loosely before cutting. 1911, Mary has a fourth child, a baby girl, named Rose. The same year, her husband, Isre- al(26), dies of an internal obstruction. Dora Shooster - Mary was left with four children and not one dollar. Frank was making $10 a week. It wasn’t much for six people. He had to help his sister and their children. He needed to earn more money so he started a business cleaning clothing. He found a location at 19th and Madison and told the owner how poor they were in the
hope they would sympathize with him. It worked. That’s how he start- ed his first business in America. Mary, taking care of four small kids also helped as she could making $5 a week sewing sweaters. Frank, started to meet girls. Mary told him ‘I don’t want to slave you up for the rest of your life. [sic] You have a life of your own, and I want you to go on with your life. We will manage somehow. They struggled.
Mary’s kids - Rose, Reuben, Harry, and Morris Lesnik.
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