Employment and Business
The Jews of Owen Sound make up but a small fraction of the total population, less than 1%. However, they were present early on in the downtown shopping area and hence prominent members of the larger community. Among the early Jewish settlers, a Mr. Goldheimer was in business as a furrier. He was succeeded by Ben and Pearl Gorbet, who arrived with their children in 1919. Their fur business, B. Gorbet and then B. Gorbet & Sons Ltd., was located at 947 2nd Avenue East, opposite City Hall. It remained in operation for 76 years. Other downtown clothing businesses included Ida Hershorn’s store, called Royal Ladies Wear, and Samuel’s, a men’s wear store run by Samuel Fishman. Mr. Sussman and Mr. Wisefeld also operated men’s wear stores, the latter together with his son Marvin, while Izzy Goldenberg sold ladies’ wear. While most ran clothing businesses, Nathan Rabovsky began with a second hand shop that evolved into Nathan Robovsky Furniture, which was a familiar presence on 8th Avenue during its many years of operation.
Other early examples in Owen Sound include Mr. Reuben, who ran a “Bargain Centre” on 2nd Avenue East, and the Bernstein brothers, one of whom ran a second-hand store and the other a scrap business. A more unusual occupation among Jewish immigrants was that of music dealer. This was the business started by Louis Bloch. The Blochs lived on 7th Street East in Owen Sound and were able to afford a servant. In an ad from the 1911-1912 Owen Sound Directory, Bloch proudly announced his ability to offer “a full line of Heintzman & Co. Pianos.”
As the community grew, a second and then a third generation came to maturity. Conditions were not as tough for them as for the first immigrants. In some cases, the next generation continued the family business. Others started their own enterprises. Among the second Owen Sound generation, Ben and Pearl Gorbet’s sons Abraham and Norman, along with their wives Tillie and Ruth, carried on B. Gorbet & Sons Ltd, expanding it to carry ladies’ sportswear and other clothing. Samuel Fishman’s son Bernie became active in his own businesses and in municipal politics. Isaac Cadesky’s daughter Sarah ran a general store until her death in 1995. His granddaughter, Sadie, opened the Towne Shoppe, selling Ladies Wear. Sadie’s sister and brother, Mike and Bertha, later joined her in operating the store. Samuel Fishman, in turn, came to Owen Sound with his wife Rose in 1933-34. His brother Mendel and wife Goldie and their son Seymour survived the Holocaust. They spent some years in Owen Sound after the war, during which time Mendel and Goldie owned and ran the Windsor Hotel on 8th Street.
Kornblum’s Men’s Wear was also a successful store that was established after the Second World War. It celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2007 and is still going strong today. Store owner Lorne Rich is the third generation to run this family business.
An Honest Business
Mike Rabovsky recounts how his wife Miriam’s honesty as a salesperson helped develop the business’ good reputation in the community.
Interview with Mike Rabovsky, 13 June 2007, Sharon Gubbay Helfer. OJA, Oral History #296.
