PEOPLE
J
JEWISH COMMUNITY
J
JEWISH COMMUNITY
THE COHENS OF BELL ISLAND
Created by Gail Hussey Weir
October 2023
Created by Gail Hussey Weir
October 2023
INTRODUCTION
This page contains information from various sources, as indicated below, regarding the history of the Cohen business people of Bell Island. Some background on how they and other Jewish merchant families came to Newfoundland is found in "Hebrew Congregation" in The Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, vol. 2, p. 901:
Between 1880 and 1910, two million of East Europe's Jews immigrated to North America to escape the wave of pogroms that followed the assassination of Czar Alexander II. Most of the new immigrants settled in New York City's East Side...Peddling, and labouring in one of the East Side's numerous garment factories were the predominant means of livelihood. While these two occupations were not lucrative, they did allow the immigrant to settle among relatives, to get by with little English, and observe the Sabbath and holy days with minimal disturbance...In 1891, Israel Perlin, a Russian Jew from Poland, left New York for Newfoundland and began to sell dry goods in the isolated communities of Placentia and Fortune Bays. He and his brother, Frank, opened a wholesale and retail store on Water Street, St. John's, I.F. Perlin & Co., and began to bring relatives and family acquaintances to work for them as peddlers in the outports...By 1913, some of the more successful of Perlin's peddlers...including Abraham Cohen of Vilna, Poland, had set up their own businesses on Water Street in competition with the Perlins.
NOTE: Members of the Cohen/Kolonel family of Newfoundland, in documents down through the years, have given many different spellings for the name(s) of the town of their birth, such as Plutz, Russia; Polotsk, Russia; Polstzk, Russia; Polotak, Russia; Polock, Russia; Lepel, Russia; Vilna, Poland; and Vilnius, Lithuania. No explanation was found as to why there are so many different spellings or seemingly-different locations for their origins.
Even though he himself does not seem to have done business on Bell Island, the story of the Cohens of Bell Island starts with Simon Kolonel, who, according to the 1921 Newfoundland Census, was born in Plutz, Russia, c.1877. The following information is found in the book, Grand Falls-Windsor: the place and its people, the Grand Falls-Windsor Heritage Society, 2005. Cohen excerpts by Boyd Cohen and Ron Southcott, pp. 177-178, 389-390:
The Cohens were originally named Kolonel, which proved too difficult for the locals to pronounce, so it was changed to Cohen. Simon Cohen, with his wife and three sons, Charles, Arthur and Michael, moved to Newfoundland from London, England, in 1904 to work with the White Clothing Co. in St. John's. After a stint in the United States working in an ammunitions plant during World War I, the family moved back to St. John's to start a poultry farm, but this failed to pay the bills. In 1919, Simon and his eldest son, Charles, opened a general store in Grand Falls Station, which later became the Town of Windsor. Charles soon left [c. 1922; he is living in Grand Falls in the 1921 Census] to open a general store in Wabana, Bell Island.
Another version of how the Cohens came to Newfoundland is found Robin McGrath's book, Salt Fish & Shmattes: a history of the Jews in Newfoundland and Labrador from 1770, Creative Book Publishing, 2006:
Simon Kolonel came from England with the Newfoundland Clothing Company in 1906, then moved to the U.S. for a time, but only after he had brought his brothers, Jack, Nathan, Isaac and Abraham, to the country.
The photo below, from McGrath, p. 167, is of brothers, Abraham (1873-1940), Nathan (1882-1977), Isaac and Simon Cohen (1876-1957).
Between 1880 and 1910, two million of East Europe's Jews immigrated to North America to escape the wave of pogroms that followed the assassination of Czar Alexander II. Most of the new immigrants settled in New York City's East Side...Peddling, and labouring in one of the East Side's numerous garment factories were the predominant means of livelihood. While these two occupations were not lucrative, they did allow the immigrant to settle among relatives, to get by with little English, and observe the Sabbath and holy days with minimal disturbance...In 1891, Israel Perlin, a Russian Jew from Poland, left New York for Newfoundland and began to sell dry goods in the isolated communities of Placentia and Fortune Bays. He and his brother, Frank, opened a wholesale and retail store on Water Street, St. John's, I.F. Perlin & Co., and began to bring relatives and family acquaintances to work for them as peddlers in the outports...By 1913, some of the more successful of Perlin's peddlers...including Abraham Cohen of Vilna, Poland, had set up their own businesses on Water Street in competition with the Perlins.
NOTE: Members of the Cohen/Kolonel family of Newfoundland, in documents down through the years, have given many different spellings for the name(s) of the town of their birth, such as Plutz, Russia; Polotsk, Russia; Polstzk, Russia; Polotak, Russia; Polock, Russia; Lepel, Russia; Vilna, Poland; and Vilnius, Lithuania. No explanation was found as to why there are so many different spellings or seemingly-different locations for their origins.
Even though he himself does not seem to have done business on Bell Island, the story of the Cohens of Bell Island starts with Simon Kolonel, who, according to the 1921 Newfoundland Census, was born in Plutz, Russia, c.1877. The following information is found in the book, Grand Falls-Windsor: the place and its people, the Grand Falls-Windsor Heritage Society, 2005. Cohen excerpts by Boyd Cohen and Ron Southcott, pp. 177-178, 389-390:
The Cohens were originally named Kolonel, which proved too difficult for the locals to pronounce, so it was changed to Cohen. Simon Cohen, with his wife and three sons, Charles, Arthur and Michael, moved to Newfoundland from London, England, in 1904 to work with the White Clothing Co. in St. John's. After a stint in the United States working in an ammunitions plant during World War I, the family moved back to St. John's to start a poultry farm, but this failed to pay the bills. In 1919, Simon and his eldest son, Charles, opened a general store in Grand Falls Station, which later became the Town of Windsor. Charles soon left [c. 1922; he is living in Grand Falls in the 1921 Census] to open a general store in Wabana, Bell Island.
Another version of how the Cohens came to Newfoundland is found Robin McGrath's book, Salt Fish & Shmattes: a history of the Jews in Newfoundland and Labrador from 1770, Creative Book Publishing, 2006:
Simon Kolonel came from England with the Newfoundland Clothing Company in 1906, then moved to the U.S. for a time, but only after he had brought his brothers, Jack, Nathan, Isaac and Abraham, to the country.
The photo below, from McGrath, p. 167, is of brothers, Abraham (1873-1940), Nathan (1882-1977), Isaac and Simon Cohen (1876-1957).
Simon Cohen's brothers, Abraham and Nathan, and his son, Charles, all had long-term businesses on Bell Island.
Abraham (Abram) Cohen (1873-1940)
Broadway House of Fashion, Town Square
Broadway House of Fashion, Town Square
As far as can be determined, Abraham (Abram) Cohen (1873-1940), was the first Cohen in business on Bell Island. Details about him and his movements throughout his life are sparse. From United States Naturalization and Citizenship documents (see further down the page in the "Biographical Information" section) he states that he emigrated to New York City in July 1904 on the ship, Patricia, out of Hamburg, Germany. In one of these documents, he says that he was also known as "Abram Kleoner." A Hamburg passenger list (written in German) for the July 1904 sailing of the Patricia to New York has a passenger "Abram Klonner, Russian, age 32, residence Polock, occupation tailor, married [although his wife is not on the passenger list]. Other information from his 1925 U.S. citizenship application says he was 5' 6" tall with a fair complexion and blue eyes.
According to the 1921 Census for Newfoundland, Abram Cohen immigrated to Newfoundland in 1905. He is not listed in the 1908 Directory for either St. John's or Bell Island. Perhaps in his first few years in Newfoundland he was working as a travelling peddler for Israel Perlin, as mentioned in the introduction above. The first mention I found for who I believe was him on Bell Island was in the Daily News of 1909 when "A. Cohen [presumably Abraham/Abram] was timekeeper for the Bell Island Regatta." Then in 1910 when: "the store and dwelling of Canning and Pine were auctioned on Dec. 14th and sold to Mr. Cohen" [presumably Abraham/Abram].
From the Passenger List for the S.S. Rosalind, sailing from St. John's to New York, NY, on April 4, 1911:
"Abraham Cohen, 38, born 1873, at Leppel, Russia; storekeeper, married; last residence: Bell Island, Nfld., final destination: Newfoundland; 5' 5", light-colour hair, gray eyes, fair complexion; person in old country: Mrs. Abr. Cohen, wife, residence: Bell Island."
In 1912, there was "a big fire on The Green on July 17th when stores owned by R.T. Kent and Abram Cohen were destroyed." [R.T. Kent's store was just south of where Jim Yick's Service Store (still standing in 2023) is located, so Abram Cohen's store would have been in that area as well.] So, we have Abraham Cohen and his wife owning a shop on The Green, Bell Island, c.1909 to 1912. Perhaps the fire that destroyed his shop was the reason he moved to St. John's. As seen in the introduction above, by 1913, some of the more successful of Perlin's peddlers...including Abraham Cohen...had set up their own businesses on Water Street in competition with the Perlins. The St. John's Newfoundland Directory 1913 shows Abraham Cohen as proprietor of The House of Fashion at 340 Water Street, with his residence at 16 Springdale Street. He had four employees at this shop. He was the only Cohen listed in St. John's. (Women were only listed if they were widows or had an occupation outside the home.) He was not in the directory listings for Bell Island that year, but his brother, Nathan Cohen, was listed as a grocer on Bell Island in 1913 and 1915.
There is no listing for Abraham Cohen in McAlpine's St. John's City Directory 1915 in either St. John's or Bell Island, however, a 1916 document does place him on Bell Island that year. That document is a "New York Passenger Arrival List" for October 2, 1916, for his wife, Sarah Cohen. This is the only official documentation I have found for Abraham's first wife, Sarah. She was 35 years old in 1916, so born about 1881; her birth place was St. Petersburg, Russia. She was 5' 2" with brown hair and eyes and dark complexion. She gave her last permanent address as St. John's, Nfld., and her nearest relative as her husband, Abraham Cohen of Bell Island. (There were no children travelling with her and I have not found any evidence that she and Abraham had children.) Her contact person in the United States was an uncle, M. Milan. She may have died shortly after this, but I have not found a death record or a headstone for her, or she may have divorced Abraham. In any event, he remarried in 1921. (See below.) Robin McGrath gives the following information about Sarah (nee Sidel) Cohen in her book, Salt Fish & Shmattes, Creative Book Publishing, St. John's, 2006, p.64-65:
The first of the Sidels to come to Newfoundland was Sarah Sidel, who married Abraham Cohen of Bell Island. Sarah actively helped others of her family to emigrate...According to a sworn deposition made in 1916, cousins Otto and Aaron Sidel came to Newfoundland via Liverpool, England, from the town of Disna in the territory of Vilkna, Russia, in approximately 1908. Otto’s papers were lost in a fire when Abraham Cohen’s house was burned [this was probably the 1912 fire, mentioned above] and this caused some difficulty during World War I as he was suspected of being a German spy…Otto Sidel was not German but, [like many other Jewish emigrants] did not speak Hebrew either. They could read the Hebrew letters, but spoke and read and wrote Yiddish, a form of Hebrew-influenced German dialect.
The St. John's City Directory 1919 lists Abraham Cohen as having a dry goods store on Bell Island that year. On January 20, 1920, he was a passenger on the Rosalind, travelling alone from St. John's to New York City as a tourist. On June 6, 1921, Abram Cohen married Etta [a.k.a. Ethel] Kunstreisch in Manhattan, New York. In the 1921 Census for Newfoundland, Abram Cohen, 43 [sic: 48], merchant; was living on Patrick Street, St. John's; had immigrated to Newfoundland in 1905 and was naturalized in 1907. His wife, Ethel, 35, was born in Austria. Milton Cohen, 10, was born in New York and was listed as Abram's son, but was actually his step-son, Ethel's son by her first husband.
On October 21, 1921, Ethel Cohen and her 10-year-old son travelled to New York City on the S.S. Rosalind. She gave her previous name as Kunstrech, and her husband's name as A. Cohen of 363 Water St., St. John's. On December 31, 1921, Mr. A. Cohen travelled on the Kyle to North Sydney, NS, destined for New York. On April 21, 1922, their daughter, Ruth, was born in New York.
Abram's March 29, 1929 "Application for Naturalization" (see below), seems to imply that he spent the majority of the 1920s in the United States, but it was noted in the Daily News in 1927, that "Abram Cohen opened a branch of the Broadway House of Fashion on Town Square." A February 1928 item in the Daily News noted that "Leonard Cull was then manager of the local branch of the Broadway House of Fashion owned by Abram Cohen." Then, in January 1929, "The dry goods business of Abram Cohen on Town Square closed that month. Walter Chafe of St. John's was manager at the time. The building was owned by Kalleen Noah."
Abram Cohen is listed in the Newfoundland Directory 1928 as a merchant with the Broadway House of Fashion, 331-333 Water Street, and living at 16 Sudbury Street, St. John's. [The St. John's Broadway House of Fashion was in business at least since 1924, but Abram Cohen is not listed that year, and the directory does not indicate who the owner was, just that Harry Cohen was the manager. I have not been able to find anything else on Harry Cohen, except for a Harry "Coen," from Latvia, who was a merchant in Grand Falls in 1945.]
The 1930 United States Federal Census lists Abraham Cohen, 54, born Russia, farmer with "own farm," living
in Dover, New Jersey [about 30 miles west of New York City]; Ethel Cohen, 41, born Austria; and daughter, Ruth Cohen, 8, born New York.
Ethel Cohen applied for U.S. Citizenship on February 24, 1931. This document (see below) gives the date of her marriage to Abram Cohen and their present address in New York City. It gives birth and emigration information about both of them, and Abram's Naturalization on March 3, 1930; her previous married name and when she divorced her first husband; names and birth dates of her two children, and that Milton was her son by her first husband. There is no mention of Newfoundland.
Abraham Cohen donated $1,000 [a substantial sum of money at the time] to help build the Henry Street (St. John's) Jewish synagogue in 1931. (McGrath, p. 168)
In the St. John's Classified Business and City Directory 1932, A. Cohen is a dry goods merchant residing in Sheehan's Lane. There is also a listing under "Canned Food Products Manufacturers" for "Cohen's, Portugal Cove Road." (There was a listing in the 1928 Directory for "A. Cohen, Portugal Cove Road.")
In the 1935 Newfoundland Census, Abram Cohen, 60, dry goods merchant, was boarding in a small hotel in Corner Brook, along with his nephew, Arthur Cohen [son of Simon], 33, furniture store manager. Abram may have been in Corner Brook on a selling trip at the time the Census was taken.
In the Newfoundland Directory 1936, Abraham Cohen is listed as manager of the Broadway House of Fashion, 332 Water Street, St. John's, residing at 8 Forest Avenue.
Abraham Cohen died Bell Island, NL, October 10, 1940. No obituary was found for him, but an item in The Daily News, Oct. 11, 1940, gave the following details: "Abram Cohen, Bell Island businessman...had been in ill-health for some time...The late Mr. Cohen was well-known in the business life of the country [of Newfoundland]. He was formerly proprietor of the Broadway House of Fashion, St. John's, and for the past few years has been conducting a business on Bell Island."
His headstone in the St. John's Jewish Cemetery, Blackmarsh Road, St. John's, NL, reads:
"Abraham Cohen, died Oct. 10, 1940, aged 68 years."
According to the 1921 Census for Newfoundland, Abram Cohen immigrated to Newfoundland in 1905. He is not listed in the 1908 Directory for either St. John's or Bell Island. Perhaps in his first few years in Newfoundland he was working as a travelling peddler for Israel Perlin, as mentioned in the introduction above. The first mention I found for who I believe was him on Bell Island was in the Daily News of 1909 when "A. Cohen [presumably Abraham/Abram] was timekeeper for the Bell Island Regatta." Then in 1910 when: "the store and dwelling of Canning and Pine were auctioned on Dec. 14th and sold to Mr. Cohen" [presumably Abraham/Abram].
From the Passenger List for the S.S. Rosalind, sailing from St. John's to New York, NY, on April 4, 1911:
"Abraham Cohen, 38, born 1873, at Leppel, Russia; storekeeper, married; last residence: Bell Island, Nfld., final destination: Newfoundland; 5' 5", light-colour hair, gray eyes, fair complexion; person in old country: Mrs. Abr. Cohen, wife, residence: Bell Island."
In 1912, there was "a big fire on The Green on July 17th when stores owned by R.T. Kent and Abram Cohen were destroyed." [R.T. Kent's store was just south of where Jim Yick's Service Store (still standing in 2023) is located, so Abram Cohen's store would have been in that area as well.] So, we have Abraham Cohen and his wife owning a shop on The Green, Bell Island, c.1909 to 1912. Perhaps the fire that destroyed his shop was the reason he moved to St. John's. As seen in the introduction above, by 1913, some of the more successful of Perlin's peddlers...including Abraham Cohen...had set up their own businesses on Water Street in competition with the Perlins. The St. John's Newfoundland Directory 1913 shows Abraham Cohen as proprietor of The House of Fashion at 340 Water Street, with his residence at 16 Springdale Street. He had four employees at this shop. He was the only Cohen listed in St. John's. (Women were only listed if they were widows or had an occupation outside the home.) He was not in the directory listings for Bell Island that year, but his brother, Nathan Cohen, was listed as a grocer on Bell Island in 1913 and 1915.
There is no listing for Abraham Cohen in McAlpine's St. John's City Directory 1915 in either St. John's or Bell Island, however, a 1916 document does place him on Bell Island that year. That document is a "New York Passenger Arrival List" for October 2, 1916, for his wife, Sarah Cohen. This is the only official documentation I have found for Abraham's first wife, Sarah. She was 35 years old in 1916, so born about 1881; her birth place was St. Petersburg, Russia. She was 5' 2" with brown hair and eyes and dark complexion. She gave her last permanent address as St. John's, Nfld., and her nearest relative as her husband, Abraham Cohen of Bell Island. (There were no children travelling with her and I have not found any evidence that she and Abraham had children.) Her contact person in the United States was an uncle, M. Milan. She may have died shortly after this, but I have not found a death record or a headstone for her, or she may have divorced Abraham. In any event, he remarried in 1921. (See below.) Robin McGrath gives the following information about Sarah (nee Sidel) Cohen in her book, Salt Fish & Shmattes, Creative Book Publishing, St. John's, 2006, p.64-65:
The first of the Sidels to come to Newfoundland was Sarah Sidel, who married Abraham Cohen of Bell Island. Sarah actively helped others of her family to emigrate...According to a sworn deposition made in 1916, cousins Otto and Aaron Sidel came to Newfoundland via Liverpool, England, from the town of Disna in the territory of Vilkna, Russia, in approximately 1908. Otto’s papers were lost in a fire when Abraham Cohen’s house was burned [this was probably the 1912 fire, mentioned above] and this caused some difficulty during World War I as he was suspected of being a German spy…Otto Sidel was not German but, [like many other Jewish emigrants] did not speak Hebrew either. They could read the Hebrew letters, but spoke and read and wrote Yiddish, a form of Hebrew-influenced German dialect.
The St. John's City Directory 1919 lists Abraham Cohen as having a dry goods store on Bell Island that year. On January 20, 1920, he was a passenger on the Rosalind, travelling alone from St. John's to New York City as a tourist. On June 6, 1921, Abram Cohen married Etta [a.k.a. Ethel] Kunstreisch in Manhattan, New York. In the 1921 Census for Newfoundland, Abram Cohen, 43 [sic: 48], merchant; was living on Patrick Street, St. John's; had immigrated to Newfoundland in 1905 and was naturalized in 1907. His wife, Ethel, 35, was born in Austria. Milton Cohen, 10, was born in New York and was listed as Abram's son, but was actually his step-son, Ethel's son by her first husband.
On October 21, 1921, Ethel Cohen and her 10-year-old son travelled to New York City on the S.S. Rosalind. She gave her previous name as Kunstrech, and her husband's name as A. Cohen of 363 Water St., St. John's. On December 31, 1921, Mr. A. Cohen travelled on the Kyle to North Sydney, NS, destined for New York. On April 21, 1922, their daughter, Ruth, was born in New York.
Abram's March 29, 1929 "Application for Naturalization" (see below), seems to imply that he spent the majority of the 1920s in the United States, but it was noted in the Daily News in 1927, that "Abram Cohen opened a branch of the Broadway House of Fashion on Town Square." A February 1928 item in the Daily News noted that "Leonard Cull was then manager of the local branch of the Broadway House of Fashion owned by Abram Cohen." Then, in January 1929, "The dry goods business of Abram Cohen on Town Square closed that month. Walter Chafe of St. John's was manager at the time. The building was owned by Kalleen Noah."
Abram Cohen is listed in the Newfoundland Directory 1928 as a merchant with the Broadway House of Fashion, 331-333 Water Street, and living at 16 Sudbury Street, St. John's. [The St. John's Broadway House of Fashion was in business at least since 1924, but Abram Cohen is not listed that year, and the directory does not indicate who the owner was, just that Harry Cohen was the manager. I have not been able to find anything else on Harry Cohen, except for a Harry "Coen," from Latvia, who was a merchant in Grand Falls in 1945.]
The 1930 United States Federal Census lists Abraham Cohen, 54, born Russia, farmer with "own farm," living
in Dover, New Jersey [about 30 miles west of New York City]; Ethel Cohen, 41, born Austria; and daughter, Ruth Cohen, 8, born New York.
Ethel Cohen applied for U.S. Citizenship on February 24, 1931. This document (see below) gives the date of her marriage to Abram Cohen and their present address in New York City. It gives birth and emigration information about both of them, and Abram's Naturalization on March 3, 1930; her previous married name and when she divorced her first husband; names and birth dates of her two children, and that Milton was her son by her first husband. There is no mention of Newfoundland.
Abraham Cohen donated $1,000 [a substantial sum of money at the time] to help build the Henry Street (St. John's) Jewish synagogue in 1931. (McGrath, p. 168)
In the St. John's Classified Business and City Directory 1932, A. Cohen is a dry goods merchant residing in Sheehan's Lane. There is also a listing under "Canned Food Products Manufacturers" for "Cohen's, Portugal Cove Road." (There was a listing in the 1928 Directory for "A. Cohen, Portugal Cove Road.")
In the 1935 Newfoundland Census, Abram Cohen, 60, dry goods merchant, was boarding in a small hotel in Corner Brook, along with his nephew, Arthur Cohen [son of Simon], 33, furniture store manager. Abram may have been in Corner Brook on a selling trip at the time the Census was taken.
In the Newfoundland Directory 1936, Abraham Cohen is listed as manager of the Broadway House of Fashion, 332 Water Street, St. John's, residing at 8 Forest Avenue.
Abraham Cohen died Bell Island, NL, October 10, 1940. No obituary was found for him, but an item in The Daily News, Oct. 11, 1940, gave the following details: "Abram Cohen, Bell Island businessman...had been in ill-health for some time...The late Mr. Cohen was well-known in the business life of the country [of Newfoundland]. He was formerly proprietor of the Broadway House of Fashion, St. John's, and for the past few years has been conducting a business on Bell Island."
His headstone in the St. John's Jewish Cemetery, Blackmarsh Road, St. John's, NL, reads:
"Abraham Cohen, died Oct. 10, 1940, aged 68 years."
Charles Cohen (1900-1977)
Charles Cohen & Son(s) Ltd., Town Square
Charles Cohen & Son(s) Ltd., Town Square
Charles Cohen was born May 6, 1900, to Ida and Simon Kolonel in Vilnius City Municipality, Vilnius, Lithuania. The family emigrated to Newfoundland from London, England, in 1904, and Simon worked for a while with the White Clothing Co. in St. John's. After a stint in the United States working in an ammunitions plant during World War I, the family moved back to St. John's to start a poultry farm, but this failed to pay the bills. In 1919, Simon and his eldest son, Charles, opened a general store in Grand Falls Station, which later became the Town of Windsor. Charles married Molly Cooper (July 12, 1900-1987) in 1921. She was born in Russia, and was a U.S. citizen who had emigrated to Newfoundland in 1920 to work as a saleswoman with S. Cohen & Sons of Grand Falls. The couple left Grand Falls in 1921 or 1922 for Wabana, Bell Island. Charles is first mentioned in local news in 1922 when he took part in a CLB concert on April 17th. Before starting his own business, he may have been working for his uncle, Nathan Cohen, who had been in business on Bell Island for at least 10 years by then. His uncle, Abraham Cohen, may have also still had business premises on Bell Island, even though records indicate he was working between St. John's and New York City during this time.
On October 15, 1925, Charles opened his own business on Town Square in premises previously occupied by William Cahill. The business was one of about 20 stores and homes that were destroyed by fire on the night of January 14, 1937. He, along with most of the other businesses, rebuilt that year. Many teenaged girls had their first job experience working part-time at Charles Cohen's, and many women found full-time employment there over the years. In October 1959, the store celebrated its 34th anniversary, with the following item appearing in the local newspaper:
COHEN PAYS TRIBUTE TO EMPLOYEES. Mr. Bob Cohen [c.1922-2008, son of Charles and Molly Cohen], manager of the Charles Cohen and Son enterprise here, said yesterday that the 10 personally-selected female employees of the big Cohen store are "among the very best to be found anywhere." Paying tribute to them on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of the Charles Cohen firm, Mr. Cohen said the employees are equipped by intelligence and training to show the shopping public every courtesy and service. He said he was "quite pleased" with the employees setup as far as the store was concerned.
Robert (Bob) Cohen's wife, Ruth (nee Levitz, 1922-1965) died while on a trip to Rome in 1965, and he left Bell Island in 1966 or 67, shortly after the mines closed. Charles and Mollie's second son, Donald Kolonel (1924-2013), had returned to Bell Island about 1964 and began working at the store. He became manager after Robert left. Charles Cohen died in 1977. The store closed about 1979 (the last year it is listed in the Telephone Directory), after 64 years of operation.
Charles Cohen died December 20, 1977, age 77. Mollie Cohen died July 16, 1987. They are buried St. John's Jewish Cemetery, Blackmarsh Road, St. John's, NL.
In the c.1960 photo below, the Charles Cohen store is on the right-hand side. (Source: A&SC MUN Library: James Carew 92-022.)
On October 15, 1925, Charles opened his own business on Town Square in premises previously occupied by William Cahill. The business was one of about 20 stores and homes that were destroyed by fire on the night of January 14, 1937. He, along with most of the other businesses, rebuilt that year. Many teenaged girls had their first job experience working part-time at Charles Cohen's, and many women found full-time employment there over the years. In October 1959, the store celebrated its 34th anniversary, with the following item appearing in the local newspaper:
COHEN PAYS TRIBUTE TO EMPLOYEES. Mr. Bob Cohen [c.1922-2008, son of Charles and Molly Cohen], manager of the Charles Cohen and Son enterprise here, said yesterday that the 10 personally-selected female employees of the big Cohen store are "among the very best to be found anywhere." Paying tribute to them on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of the Charles Cohen firm, Mr. Cohen said the employees are equipped by intelligence and training to show the shopping public every courtesy and service. He said he was "quite pleased" with the employees setup as far as the store was concerned.
Robert (Bob) Cohen's wife, Ruth (nee Levitz, 1922-1965) died while on a trip to Rome in 1965, and he left Bell Island in 1966 or 67, shortly after the mines closed. Charles and Mollie's second son, Donald Kolonel (1924-2013), had returned to Bell Island about 1964 and began working at the store. He became manager after Robert left. Charles Cohen died in 1977. The store closed about 1979 (the last year it is listed in the Telephone Directory), after 64 years of operation.
Charles Cohen died December 20, 1977, age 77. Mollie Cohen died July 16, 1987. They are buried St. John's Jewish Cemetery, Blackmarsh Road, St. John's, NL.
In the c.1960 photo below, the Charles Cohen store is on the right-hand side. (Source: A&SC MUN Library: James Carew 92-022.)
Newspaper Items Regarding Cohen Business People on Bell Island
Below, in chronological order, are items about the Cohens of Bell Island from Addison Bown's "Newspaper History of Bell Island," a compilation of Bell Island news stories gleaned from the St. John's newspaper, The Daily News, between 1895 and 1939:
1909, p. 29, col. 1: A. Cohen [presumably Abraham/Abram] was timekeeper for the Bell Island Regatta that year.
1910, p. 34, col. 1: The store and dwelling of Canning and Pine were auctioned on Dec. 14th and sold to Mr. Cohen [presumably Abraham/Abram].
1912, p. 38, col. 2: There was a big fire on The Green on July 17th when stores owned by R.T. Kent and Abram Cohen were destroyed.
1922, p. 67: Charles Cohen took part in a CLB concert on April 17th.
1925, p. 12, col. 3: Charles Cohen opened business on Town Square in premises previously occupied by William Cahill.
1927, p. 19, col. 1: Abram Cohen opened a branch of the Broadway House of Fashion on Town Square.
1928, p. 22, col. 1: Leonard Cull was then the manager of the local branch of the Broadway House of Fashion owned by Abram Cohen.
1928, p. 24, col. 3: Nathan Cohen purchased a piece of land on the north side of Middle Street [later known as Bennett Street] for a gymnasium, billiard room and bowling alley. Construction started on Sept. 1. The building was to be 60' x 80'. It was located on the new street between the [Main] Office bridge and Kennedy's Corner...Construction of Cohen's gymnasium, billiard room and bowling alley was proceeding steadily with seven carpenters employed under the direction of Walter Smith. The completion of the building was being awaited with much interest by local sports fans. It was ready on Dec. 18 and the alleys opened in February 1929. A new sport for Bell Island [bowling] was soon to come into prominence.
1929, p. 27, col. 1: In January 1929, the dry goods business of Abram Cohen on Town Square was closed. Walter Chafe of St. John's was manager at the time. The building was owned by Kalleen Noah.
1929, p. 27, col. 1: A new sport made its appearance on the Island in the winter of 1929 with the opening of the first bowling alley on February 6. It was owned by Nathan Cohen and the building was run by Joseph Cohen, with Harry Strange of St. John's in charge of the alleys. After a few weeks of practice, a league was formed on February 20 with George Rideout as president; F.J. Wade, vice-president, and A.E. Stares, secretary. 14 teams entered the series. The first game on the new alleys was played between a team from the Staff House against All Comers. The latter [which included Nathan Cohen] won all three games.
1930, p. 32, col. 1: Cohen's bowling alleys on Bennett Street were completely destroyed by fire on April 30th. The loss was placed at $23,000.
1932, p. 44, col. 2: Nathan Cohen's lower store on Town Square was destroyed by fire on April 10th.
1932, p. 46, col. 2: Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Cohen moved to the City in July after having lived on the Island since 1906. [By 1935, they were living back on Bell Island according to the Census of 1935.]
1932, p. 47, col. 1: In August, [presumably after their store had been destroyed by fire and they had moved to St. John's] a bull, while being led through Town Square, saw its reflection in the plate glass windows of Nathan Cohen's store and, mistaking it for another bull, charged through the window, shattering the glass. [Perhaps the store had not been completely destroyed by the fire in April, or perhaps it had been rebuilt in the meantime? On the other hand, it's possible that the reporter said "Nathan" instead of "Charlie" Cohen, whose store was across the street from Nathan's.]
1937, p. 62, col. 2: The businesses of Charles and Nathan Cohen were both destroyed by the fire that destroyed much of Town Square on January 14-15, 1937.
Bown's "Newspaper History" ended with 1939 news stories. The following are two later items from The Daily News:
1958: In July, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Cohen visited their son, Norman, on Bell Island.
1960: The Dec. 31st issue of The Daily News had an advertisement for Charles Cohen and Sons, Ltd.
1909, p. 29, col. 1: A. Cohen [presumably Abraham/Abram] was timekeeper for the Bell Island Regatta that year.
1910, p. 34, col. 1: The store and dwelling of Canning and Pine were auctioned on Dec. 14th and sold to Mr. Cohen [presumably Abraham/Abram].
1912, p. 38, col. 2: There was a big fire on The Green on July 17th when stores owned by R.T. Kent and Abram Cohen were destroyed.
1922, p. 67: Charles Cohen took part in a CLB concert on April 17th.
1925, p. 12, col. 3: Charles Cohen opened business on Town Square in premises previously occupied by William Cahill.
1927, p. 19, col. 1: Abram Cohen opened a branch of the Broadway House of Fashion on Town Square.
1928, p. 22, col. 1: Leonard Cull was then the manager of the local branch of the Broadway House of Fashion owned by Abram Cohen.
1928, p. 24, col. 3: Nathan Cohen purchased a piece of land on the north side of Middle Street [later known as Bennett Street] for a gymnasium, billiard room and bowling alley. Construction started on Sept. 1. The building was to be 60' x 80'. It was located on the new street between the [Main] Office bridge and Kennedy's Corner...Construction of Cohen's gymnasium, billiard room and bowling alley was proceeding steadily with seven carpenters employed under the direction of Walter Smith. The completion of the building was being awaited with much interest by local sports fans. It was ready on Dec. 18 and the alleys opened in February 1929. A new sport for Bell Island [bowling] was soon to come into prominence.
1929, p. 27, col. 1: In January 1929, the dry goods business of Abram Cohen on Town Square was closed. Walter Chafe of St. John's was manager at the time. The building was owned by Kalleen Noah.
1929, p. 27, col. 1: A new sport made its appearance on the Island in the winter of 1929 with the opening of the first bowling alley on February 6. It was owned by Nathan Cohen and the building was run by Joseph Cohen, with Harry Strange of St. John's in charge of the alleys. After a few weeks of practice, a league was formed on February 20 with George Rideout as president; F.J. Wade, vice-president, and A.E. Stares, secretary. 14 teams entered the series. The first game on the new alleys was played between a team from the Staff House against All Comers. The latter [which included Nathan Cohen] won all three games.
1930, p. 32, col. 1: Cohen's bowling alleys on Bennett Street were completely destroyed by fire on April 30th. The loss was placed at $23,000.
1932, p. 44, col. 2: Nathan Cohen's lower store on Town Square was destroyed by fire on April 10th.
1932, p. 46, col. 2: Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Cohen moved to the City in July after having lived on the Island since 1906. [By 1935, they were living back on Bell Island according to the Census of 1935.]
1932, p. 47, col. 1: In August, [presumably after their store had been destroyed by fire and they had moved to St. John's] a bull, while being led through Town Square, saw its reflection in the plate glass windows of Nathan Cohen's store and, mistaking it for another bull, charged through the window, shattering the glass. [Perhaps the store had not been completely destroyed by the fire in April, or perhaps it had been rebuilt in the meantime? On the other hand, it's possible that the reporter said "Nathan" instead of "Charlie" Cohen, whose store was across the street from Nathan's.]
1937, p. 62, col. 2: The businesses of Charles and Nathan Cohen were both destroyed by the fire that destroyed much of Town Square on January 14-15, 1937.
Bown's "Newspaper History" ended with 1939 news stories. The following are two later items from The Daily News:
1958: In July, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Cohen visited their son, Norman, on Bell Island.
1960: The Dec. 31st issue of The Daily News had an advertisement for Charles Cohen and Sons, Ltd.
Listings for Cohen in Bell Island Directories & Lists of Electors
1913 Directory: Nathan Cohen, grocer, etc. [Also, the 1913 Directory has Teddy Swedlin, a retail dealer. Teddy's sister, Lottie, married Nathan Cohen.]
1915 Directory: Nathan Cohen, dry goods, Bell Island Mines
1919 Directory: Abraham Cohan, dry goods, Wabana
Nathan Cohan, dry goods, Wabana
1928 List of Electors: Nathan Cohen, Lottie Cohen, Charles Cohen, Mollie Cohen
1936 Directory: There were 2 listings for Charles Cohen, one as merchant and one as store keeper
There was no listing for Nathan Cohen in the 1936 Directory. After being burnt out in 1932, he had moved his family to St. John's for a few years, but returned to Bell Island in 1935. Perhaps the directory was compiled in 1935 before he had returned but did not get published until 1936.
1948 List of Electors: Charles Cohen, Lottie Cohen, Mollie Cohen, Nathan Cohen, Norman Cohen
1949 Telephone Directory: Charles Cohen Store & Residence (one number)
Nathan Cohen Store & Residence (one number)
1952 Telephone Directory: Charles Cohen and Son store
Nathan Cohen and Son store & residence
Nathan Cohen residence Town Square
1954 Telephone Directory: Charles Cohen (residence)
Charles Cohen & Son store
Nathan Cohen (residence)
Nathan Cohen & Son store
1955 List of Electors: Norman Cohen, merchant, East Track (residence)
Robert Cohen, merchant, East Track (residence)
Ruth Cohen, housewife, East Track
Sonia Cohen, housewife, East Track
1957 Telephone Directory: Charles Cohen (residence)
Charles Cohen & Son Ltd., Town Square
Nathan Cohen (residence)
Nathan Cohen & Son, Town Square
Norman Cohen (residence)
Robert Cohen residence
1959 Telephone Directory: Charlie Cohen Store, Town Square
Nathan Cohen & Sons Ltd., Town Square
Norman Cohen, Front Rd. (East Track)
Robert Cohen, Front Rd. (East Track)
1960 Telephone Directory: Charles Cohen Store, Town Square
Nathan Cohen & Sons Ltd., Town Square
Norman Cohen, East Track Rd.
Robert Cohen, Town Square
1961, 1962 and 1963: Same as 1960.
1963 was the last telephone listing for Nathan Cohen & Sons Ltd. and for Norman Cohen.
1964 Telephone Directory: Charles Cohen & Son Ltd.
Robert Cohen, East Track
Don Kolonel, Main St.
1965 and 1966: Same as 1964.
1967 Telephone Directory: Charles Cohen & Son Ltd.
Don Kolonel, Main St.
1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979: Same as 1967.
1979: Last year that Charles Cohen & Son Ltd. was listed in the Telephone Directory.
1915 Directory: Nathan Cohen, dry goods, Bell Island Mines
1919 Directory: Abraham Cohan, dry goods, Wabana
Nathan Cohan, dry goods, Wabana
1928 List of Electors: Nathan Cohen, Lottie Cohen, Charles Cohen, Mollie Cohen
1936 Directory: There were 2 listings for Charles Cohen, one as merchant and one as store keeper
There was no listing for Nathan Cohen in the 1936 Directory. After being burnt out in 1932, he had moved his family to St. John's for a few years, but returned to Bell Island in 1935. Perhaps the directory was compiled in 1935 before he had returned but did not get published until 1936.
1948 List of Electors: Charles Cohen, Lottie Cohen, Mollie Cohen, Nathan Cohen, Norman Cohen
1949 Telephone Directory: Charles Cohen Store & Residence (one number)
Nathan Cohen Store & Residence (one number)
1952 Telephone Directory: Charles Cohen and Son store
Nathan Cohen and Son store & residence
Nathan Cohen residence Town Square
1954 Telephone Directory: Charles Cohen (residence)
Charles Cohen & Son store
Nathan Cohen (residence)
Nathan Cohen & Son store
1955 List of Electors: Norman Cohen, merchant, East Track (residence)
Robert Cohen, merchant, East Track (residence)
Ruth Cohen, housewife, East Track
Sonia Cohen, housewife, East Track
1957 Telephone Directory: Charles Cohen (residence)
Charles Cohen & Son Ltd., Town Square
Nathan Cohen (residence)
Nathan Cohen & Son, Town Square
Norman Cohen (residence)
Robert Cohen residence
1959 Telephone Directory: Charlie Cohen Store, Town Square
Nathan Cohen & Sons Ltd., Town Square
Norman Cohen, Front Rd. (East Track)
Robert Cohen, Front Rd. (East Track)
1960 Telephone Directory: Charles Cohen Store, Town Square
Nathan Cohen & Sons Ltd., Town Square
Norman Cohen, East Track Rd.
Robert Cohen, Town Square
1961, 1962 and 1963: Same as 1960.
1963 was the last telephone listing for Nathan Cohen & Sons Ltd. and for Norman Cohen.
1964 Telephone Directory: Charles Cohen & Son Ltd.
Robert Cohen, East Track
Don Kolonel, Main St.
1965 and 1966: Same as 1964.
1967 Telephone Directory: Charles Cohen & Son Ltd.
Don Kolonel, Main St.
1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979: Same as 1967.
1979: Last year that Charles Cohen & Son Ltd. was listed in the Telephone Directory.
Census Listings for Cohens of Bell Island
In the 1921 Newfoundland Census for Twillingate District, Charles Cohen was living in Grand Falls, NL, with his parents and siblings:
Simon Cohen, Head, 44, born c.1877 in Plutz, Russia; U.S. citizen, emigrated 1919 to Nfld.; salesman with S. Cohen & Sons; [1919 was the year he emigated to Nfld. from the U.S., but he originally emigrated to Nfld. from England in 1904 or 06.]
Ida Cohen, wife, 40, born c.1881 in Vilna, Russia.
Charley Cohen, son, 21, born c.1900 in Vilna, Russia; salesman.
Arthur Cohen, son, 19, born c.1902 in London, England; salesman.
Michael Cohen, son, 17, born c.1904 in London, England; salesman.
Anna Cohen, daug., 15, born c.1906 in St. John's, NL.
Jack Cohen, son, 12, born c.1908 in New Haven, U.S.
Maurice Cohen, son, 9, born c.1912 in New Haven, U.S.
Norma Cohen, daug., 2, born c.1918 in New Haven, U.S.
Other people in household:
Philip Meltzer, boarder, 26, born in Russia; salesman with S. Cohen & Sons; emigrated 1919 to Nfld.
Molly Cooper, visitor, 20, born c.1901 in Russia; saleswoman with S. Cohen & Sons; U.S. citizen, emigrated 1920 to Nfld.
Simon Cohen, Head, 44, born c.1877 in Plutz, Russia; U.S. citizen, emigrated 1919 to Nfld.; salesman with S. Cohen & Sons; [1919 was the year he emigated to Nfld. from the U.S., but he originally emigrated to Nfld. from England in 1904 or 06.]
Ida Cohen, wife, 40, born c.1881 in Vilna, Russia.
Charley Cohen, son, 21, born c.1900 in Vilna, Russia; salesman.
Arthur Cohen, son, 19, born c.1902 in London, England; salesman.
Michael Cohen, son, 17, born c.1904 in London, England; salesman.
Anna Cohen, daug., 15, born c.1906 in St. John's, NL.
Jack Cohen, son, 12, born c.1908 in New Haven, U.S.
Maurice Cohen, son, 9, born c.1912 in New Haven, U.S.
Norma Cohen, daug., 2, born c.1918 in New Haven, U.S.
Other people in household:
Philip Meltzer, boarder, 26, born in Russia; salesman with S. Cohen & Sons; emigrated 1919 to Nfld.
Molly Cooper, visitor, 20, born c.1901 in Russia; saleswoman with S. Cohen & Sons; U.S. citizen, emigrated 1920 to Nfld.
In the 1921 Newfoundland Census for Habour Main-Bell Island District, Nathan Cohen's was the only Cohen family living on Bell Island:
Nathan Cohen, Head, 35, , born c. 1886 in Russia; emigrated to Nfld. in 1906; naturalized in 1911; merchant.
Lottie Cohen, wife, 33, born c.1888 in Russia; emigrated to Nfld. in 1910.
Isaac Cohen, son, 10, born c.1910 on Bell Island. (See biographical information below.)
Rosie Cohen, daug., 6, born c.1915 on Bell Island.
Norman Cohen, son, 2, born c.1919 on Bell Island.
Other people in household:
Corrie [or Carrie] Bickford, servant, 19, born Bell Island.
Max Brown, boarder, 43, born Russia; Hebrew; emigrated to Nfld. in 1910; travelling salesman.
In the 1935 Newfoundland Census for Harbour Main-Bell Island District, the following Cohens were listed for Bell Island:
Nathan Cohen, Head, 48,
Lottie Cohen,
Norman Cohen,
Rosie Cohen,
Ruth Cohen.
[However, after the names were taken, a line was drawn through them and a note added that said "This family's Census taken at St. John's. Moving to Bell Island this month."]
Here is the 1935 Census information for Nathan Cohen and family at 155 Patrick St., St. John's West:
Nathan Cohen, head, 48, born Russia; emigrated 1905; merchant, shoe store.
Lottie Cohen, wife, 46, born Russia.
Isaac Cohen, son, 23, born Newfoundland; clerk at N. Cohen.
Rose Cohen, daug., 20, born Newfoundland; at home.
Norman Cohen, son, 16, born Newfoundland; at school.
Ruth Cohen, daug., 13, born Newfoundland; at school.
John Cohen, son, 7, born Newfoundland; at school.
Charles Cohen, head, 35, born Poland; emigrated to Newfoundland 1906; dry goods merchant.
Molly Cohen, wife, 34, born Poland.
Robert Martin Cohen, son, 13, born Newfoundland.
Donald Cohen, son, 10, born United States.
Other people in household:
Margaret Maud Churchill, 22, born Newfoundland; domestic.
Nathan Cohen, Head, 48,
Lottie Cohen,
Norman Cohen,
Rosie Cohen,
Ruth Cohen.
[However, after the names were taken, a line was drawn through them and a note added that said "This family's Census taken at St. John's. Moving to Bell Island this month."]
Here is the 1935 Census information for Nathan Cohen and family at 155 Patrick St., St. John's West:
Nathan Cohen, head, 48, born Russia; emigrated 1905; merchant, shoe store.
Lottie Cohen, wife, 46, born Russia.
Isaac Cohen, son, 23, born Newfoundland; clerk at N. Cohen.
Rose Cohen, daug., 20, born Newfoundland; at home.
Norman Cohen, son, 16, born Newfoundland; at school.
Ruth Cohen, daug., 13, born Newfoundland; at school.
John Cohen, son, 7, born Newfoundland; at school.
Charles Cohen, head, 35, born Poland; emigrated to Newfoundland 1906; dry goods merchant.
Molly Cohen, wife, 34, born Poland.
Robert Martin Cohen, son, 13, born Newfoundland.
Donald Cohen, son, 10, born United States.
Other people in household:
Margaret Maud Churchill, 22, born Newfoundland; domestic.
In the 1945 Newfoundland Census for Harbour Main-Bell Island District, the following Cohens were listed for Bell Island:
Nathan Cohen, head, 57, born Russia; Jewish; merchant.
Lottie Cohen, wife, 56, born Russia.
Norman Cohen, son, 25, born District of Harbour Main; soldier.
Jack Cohen, son, 17, born District of Harbour Main; student.
[In 1945, Isaac Cohen, 34, born Bell Island, was living in St. John's East (no occupation listed), with his wife, Kathleen, 36, and son, Paul M., age 1.]
Charles Cohen, head, 44, born Vilna, Poland; merchant.
Mollie Cohen, wife, 43, born Vilna, Poland.
Robert M. Cohen, son, 23, born Bell Island.
Ruth Cohen, daughter-in-law, 23, born St. John's Centre.
Donald Cohen, son, 21, born Bell Island; soldier [?]POW[?] U.S.A.
Nathan Cohen, head, 57, born Russia; Jewish; merchant.
Lottie Cohen, wife, 56, born Russia.
Norman Cohen, son, 25, born District of Harbour Main; soldier.
Jack Cohen, son, 17, born District of Harbour Main; student.
[In 1945, Isaac Cohen, 34, born Bell Island, was living in St. John's East (no occupation listed), with his wife, Kathleen, 36, and son, Paul M., age 1.]
Charles Cohen, head, 44, born Vilna, Poland; merchant.
Mollie Cohen, wife, 43, born Vilna, Poland.
Robert M. Cohen, son, 23, born Bell Island.
Ruth Cohen, daughter-in-law, 23, born St. John's Centre.
Donald Cohen, son, 21, born Bell Island; soldier [?]POW[?] U.S.A.
Headstone Information for Cohens of Bell Island
Abraham Cohen, [1873] - Oct. 10, 1940, age 68, buried St. John's Jewish Cemetery, Blackmarsh Road, St. John's, NL.
Charles Cohen, May 6, 1900 - Dec. 20, 1977, buried St. John's Jewish Cemetery, Blackmarsh Road, St. John's, NL.
[Husband of Mollie Cohen, 1900-1987.]
Donald Joseph Kolonel, Nov. 11, 1924 - Mar. 7, 2013, buried Holy Rosary Cemetery, Portugal Cove, NL.
[Husband of Elizabeth Kolonel, 1925-1980.]
Elizabeth (nee Kent) Kolonel, June 24, 1925 - May 26, 1980, buried St. Michael's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Bell Island, NL.
[Wife of Donald Joseph Kolonel, 1924-2013.]
Lottie Cohen, Sept. 27, 1888 - June 17, 1961, buried St. John's Jewish Cemetery, Blackmarsh Road, St. John's, NL.
[Wife of Nathan Cohen, 1882-1977.]
Mollie Cohen, July 12, 1900 - July 16, 1987, buried St. John's Jewish Cemetery, Blackmarsh Road, St. John's, NL.
[Wife of Charles Cohen, 1900-1977.]
Nathan Cohen, Mar. 26, 1882 - Mar. 28, 1977, buried St. John's Jewish Cemetery, Blackmarsh Road, St. John's, NL.
[Husband of Lottie Cohen, 1888-1961.]
Norman Cohen, Sept. 26, 1919 - Oct. 18, 1997, buried Mount Sinai Memorial Park, Toronto, ON.
[Husband of Sonia Cohen, 1923-2009.]
Ruth (nee Levitz) Cohen, Feb. 19, 1922 - Oct. 15, 1965, buried St. John's Jewish Cemetery, Blackmarsh Road, St. John's, NL.
[Wife of Robert Cohen, c.1922-2008.]
Sonia Cohen, Dec. 22, 1923 - May 12, 2009, buried buried Mount Sinai Memorial Park, Toronto, ON.
[Wife of Norman Cohen, 1919-1997.]
Charles Cohen, May 6, 1900 - Dec. 20, 1977, buried St. John's Jewish Cemetery, Blackmarsh Road, St. John's, NL.
[Husband of Mollie Cohen, 1900-1987.]
Donald Joseph Kolonel, Nov. 11, 1924 - Mar. 7, 2013, buried Holy Rosary Cemetery, Portugal Cove, NL.
[Husband of Elizabeth Kolonel, 1925-1980.]
Elizabeth (nee Kent) Kolonel, June 24, 1925 - May 26, 1980, buried St. Michael's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Bell Island, NL.
[Wife of Donald Joseph Kolonel, 1924-2013.]
Lottie Cohen, Sept. 27, 1888 - June 17, 1961, buried St. John's Jewish Cemetery, Blackmarsh Road, St. John's, NL.
[Wife of Nathan Cohen, 1882-1977.]
Mollie Cohen, July 12, 1900 - July 16, 1987, buried St. John's Jewish Cemetery, Blackmarsh Road, St. John's, NL.
[Wife of Charles Cohen, 1900-1977.]
Nathan Cohen, Mar. 26, 1882 - Mar. 28, 1977, buried St. John's Jewish Cemetery, Blackmarsh Road, St. John's, NL.
[Husband of Lottie Cohen, 1888-1961.]
Norman Cohen, Sept. 26, 1919 - Oct. 18, 1997, buried Mount Sinai Memorial Park, Toronto, ON.
[Husband of Sonia Cohen, 1923-2009.]
Ruth (nee Levitz) Cohen, Feb. 19, 1922 - Oct. 15, 1965, buried St. John's Jewish Cemetery, Blackmarsh Road, St. John's, NL.
[Wife of Robert Cohen, c.1922-2008.]
Sonia Cohen, Dec. 22, 1923 - May 12, 2009, buried buried Mount Sinai Memorial Park, Toronto, ON.
[Wife of Norman Cohen, 1919-1997.]
Biographical Information for Cohens of Bell Island
Gleaned from Obituaries & Other Sources as Noted
(In alphabetical order by first name)
Gleaned from Obituaries & Other Sources as Noted
(In alphabetical order by first name)
Abraham Cohen (1873-1940):
From "Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934," 1904:
Abram Klonner [This may or may not be Abraham Cohen, who gave his "other" name as "Kleoner" on his 1925 Declaration of Intention to seek citizenship (see below). He is listed as married in this 1904 passenger list.] All the other information on this "Hamburg Passenger List" matches information on Abraham Cohen: "Russian, age 32 (so born c.1872); place of residence: Polock; departure date: July 22, 1904 [the dates he gave in his applications below may have been mis-remembered?]; departure: Hamburg, Germany; arrival place: New York; occupation: tailor; ship name: Patricia;
Information from his United States "Declaration of Intention" [to seek U.S. citizenship] dated March 19, 1925:
He stated that he was also known as Abram Kleoner [presumably his spelling of his original Russian name, spelt "Kolonel" by his brother, Simon]. He was born in Polotsk, Russia, on November 16, 1873. He had emigrated to the United States from Hamburg, German on the vessel Patricia, arriving at port in New York on July 16, 1904. He was then (in 1925) 52 years old, a buyer of general merchandise [perhaps for his Cohen relatives' stores back in Newfoundland?], had a fair complexion, was 5' 6" tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and "a bruised right thumb." He now resided at 260 West 117th Street, New York City with his wife, Ethel, who was born in Austria. [Also living with him, but not mentioned in this document, was their daughter, Ruth, age 3. Ethel also had a son by her first marriage, Milton, who was about 14.] It is interesting that in answer to the question regarding his "last foreign residence," he gives Polotsk, Russia, not Newfoundland. (Perhaps he considered Newfoundland to be part of the United States?)
Information from his application for Naturalization dated March 29, 1929:
He gives his present address as 61 East 113th Street. His occupation is Commission Merchant. This document gives his birth date as November 6, 1873, and his emigration to the U.S. as July 8, 1904 (which may have been the date the ship left Hamburg?). He states that Ethel was born March 21, 1887 at Rzeszow, Austria, and that he has one child, Ruth, born New York on April 21, 1912, which is a typo as census documents all indicate she was born in 1922. He states that he has "resided continuously in the U.S. for the term of five years at least immediately preceding the date of this petition, to wit, since July 1904,* and in the State of New York continuously next preceding the date of this petition since April 1918,** being a resident within this State at least one year next preceding the date of this petition."
*[This statement is somewhat confusing when evidence from other documents is taken into account, such as the 1921 Newfoundland Census, in which he gave the year 1905 as when he emigrated to Newfoundland.]
**[He is listed in the 1919 Directory for Bell Island, but it is possible that information for that directory was taken in 1918 before he left for the United States. However, he is also listed in the 1921 Newfoundland Census for St. John's, and in the Newfoundland Directory 1928 for St. John's.]
From the St. John's Newfoundland Directory 1913:
p. 135: Cohen, Abraham, prop. The House of Fashion, 340 Water St., h[ome] 16 Springdale.
p. 231: Advertisement: The House of Fashion, A. Cohen, Prop., General Importer, Dry Goods, Millinery, Ladies' and Gent's Furnishings, Boots and Shoes, Furniture, etc., etc. Wholesale and Retail. 338 Water Street, Cor. of Adelaide Street, St. John's, Nfld.
Information from Ethel Cohen's Petition for Citizenship [U.S.] February 24, 1931:
She states that she married Abram Cohen June 7, 1921 in New York, that he was born in Polstzk, Russia on November 28, 1873 and entered the U.S. at New York in June 1904 for permanent residence, and now resides at 615 W. 184th Street. He was naturalized March 3, 1930 in New York. She has two children: Milton, born August 16, 1911 and Ruth, born April 21, 1922, both in New York. Milton was born from her first marriage; her first husband was still living in New York; she divorced him in 1918. Ethel emigrated under the name Ethel Kunstrich.
From The Daily News, Oct. 11, 1940, p. 3:
Abram Cohen, Bell Island business man was found dead in his room at Cahill's Hotel, Bell Island yesterday morning...The deceased had been in ill-health for some time... The late Mr. Cohen was well-known in the business life of the country. He was formerly proprietor of the Broadway House of Fashion, St. John's and, for the past few years, has been conducting a business on Bell Island. He was about 65 years old.
From The Daily News, Oct. 12, 1940, p. 12:
A magisterial enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of the late Abram Cohen on Bell Island is being conducted by Magistrate Mulcahy.
From "Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934," 1904:
Abram Klonner [This may or may not be Abraham Cohen, who gave his "other" name as "Kleoner" on his 1925 Declaration of Intention to seek citizenship (see below). He is listed as married in this 1904 passenger list.] All the other information on this "Hamburg Passenger List" matches information on Abraham Cohen: "Russian, age 32 (so born c.1872); place of residence: Polock; departure date: July 22, 1904 [the dates he gave in his applications below may have been mis-remembered?]; departure: Hamburg, Germany; arrival place: New York; occupation: tailor; ship name: Patricia;
Information from his United States "Declaration of Intention" [to seek U.S. citizenship] dated March 19, 1925:
He stated that he was also known as Abram Kleoner [presumably his spelling of his original Russian name, spelt "Kolonel" by his brother, Simon]. He was born in Polotsk, Russia, on November 16, 1873. He had emigrated to the United States from Hamburg, German on the vessel Patricia, arriving at port in New York on July 16, 1904. He was then (in 1925) 52 years old, a buyer of general merchandise [perhaps for his Cohen relatives' stores back in Newfoundland?], had a fair complexion, was 5' 6" tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and "a bruised right thumb." He now resided at 260 West 117th Street, New York City with his wife, Ethel, who was born in Austria. [Also living with him, but not mentioned in this document, was their daughter, Ruth, age 3. Ethel also had a son by her first marriage, Milton, who was about 14.] It is interesting that in answer to the question regarding his "last foreign residence," he gives Polotsk, Russia, not Newfoundland. (Perhaps he considered Newfoundland to be part of the United States?)
Information from his application for Naturalization dated March 29, 1929:
He gives his present address as 61 East 113th Street. His occupation is Commission Merchant. This document gives his birth date as November 6, 1873, and his emigration to the U.S. as July 8, 1904 (which may have been the date the ship left Hamburg?). He states that Ethel was born March 21, 1887 at Rzeszow, Austria, and that he has one child, Ruth, born New York on April 21, 1912, which is a typo as census documents all indicate she was born in 1922. He states that he has "resided continuously in the U.S. for the term of five years at least immediately preceding the date of this petition, to wit, since July 1904,* and in the State of New York continuously next preceding the date of this petition since April 1918,** being a resident within this State at least one year next preceding the date of this petition."
*[This statement is somewhat confusing when evidence from other documents is taken into account, such as the 1921 Newfoundland Census, in which he gave the year 1905 as when he emigrated to Newfoundland.]
**[He is listed in the 1919 Directory for Bell Island, but it is possible that information for that directory was taken in 1918 before he left for the United States. However, he is also listed in the 1921 Newfoundland Census for St. John's, and in the Newfoundland Directory 1928 for St. John's.]
From the St. John's Newfoundland Directory 1913:
p. 135: Cohen, Abraham, prop. The House of Fashion, 340 Water St., h[ome] 16 Springdale.
p. 231: Advertisement: The House of Fashion, A. Cohen, Prop., General Importer, Dry Goods, Millinery, Ladies' and Gent's Furnishings, Boots and Shoes, Furniture, etc., etc. Wholesale and Retail. 338 Water Street, Cor. of Adelaide Street, St. John's, Nfld.
Information from Ethel Cohen's Petition for Citizenship [U.S.] February 24, 1931:
She states that she married Abram Cohen June 7, 1921 in New York, that he was born in Polstzk, Russia on November 28, 1873 and entered the U.S. at New York in June 1904 for permanent residence, and now resides at 615 W. 184th Street. He was naturalized March 3, 1930 in New York. She has two children: Milton, born August 16, 1911 and Ruth, born April 21, 1922, both in New York. Milton was born from her first marriage; her first husband was still living in New York; she divorced him in 1918. Ethel emigrated under the name Ethel Kunstrich.
From The Daily News, Oct. 11, 1940, p. 3:
Abram Cohen, Bell Island business man was found dead in his room at Cahill's Hotel, Bell Island yesterday morning...The deceased had been in ill-health for some time... The late Mr. Cohen was well-known in the business life of the country. He was formerly proprietor of the Broadway House of Fashion, St. John's and, for the past few years, has been conducting a business on Bell Island. He was about 65 years old.
From The Daily News, Oct. 12, 1940, p. 12:
A magisterial enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of the late Abram Cohen on Bell Island is being conducted by Magistrate Mulcahy.
Donald (Cohen) Kolonel (1924-2013), from his obituary in The Evening Telegram, Mar. 9, 2013:
Passed peacefully away in the presence of his loving family. Predeceased by the loving wife and mother of his children, Elizabeth Kolonel (Kent) and son Mark. Leaving to celebrate his life, loving daughters: Val, Lynne (Keith), Elaine (Ken), Jill, Lori (Chris), and loving sons: Glenn (Bernadette), and (Fr.) Jeff; and five grandchildren. Also his faithful and loving companion, Vera (nee Farrell) Doherty and her family...Don will always be remembered for his willingness to give and for his involvement and commitment in community organizations...He was a businessman, a leader in his community, coached track & field and hockey, was an avid gardener, and well-known for his sociable manner...Resting at Carnell's Funeral Home...Mass of Christian Burial from Holy Rosary Parish, Portugal Cove, March 11, 2013.
Passed peacefully away in the presence of his loving family. Predeceased by the loving wife and mother of his children, Elizabeth Kolonel (Kent) and son Mark. Leaving to celebrate his life, loving daughters: Val, Lynne (Keith), Elaine (Ken), Jill, Lori (Chris), and loving sons: Glenn (Bernadette), and (Fr.) Jeff; and five grandchildren. Also his faithful and loving companion, Vera (nee Farrell) Doherty and her family...Don will always be remembered for his willingness to give and for his involvement and commitment in community organizations...He was a businessman, a leader in his community, coached track & field and hockey, was an avid gardener, and well-known for his sociable manner...Resting at Carnell's Funeral Home...Mass of Christian Burial from Holy Rosary Parish, Portugal Cove, March 11, 2013.
Isaac Cohen (1910-2005), from his 2005 obituary in "Funeral Alternatives of Washington, Inc.":
Born 10/11/1910 in Bell Island, NL, the eldest of five children of Nathan and Lottie Cohen.
He was educated at Bishop Feild College and Memorial University in St. John's, NL, and Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS.
In the 1930, he was a noted bandleader, with a passion for music throughout his lifetime.
He was a member of Whiteway Masonic Lodge.
In 1940, he married Kay Woodman. They lived in St. John's and then Orillia, ON. Kay died in 1981. He then married Katie (nee Kearney of St. John's) Campbell in Lacey, Washington. Katie died in 2002.
At the time of Isaac's death, his only living sibling was Jack (John, wife Lynda) of Toronto.
He died January 1, 2005 at age 94 in Lacey, Washington, U.S.A.
Robin McGrath wrote in the "condolences" section of Isaac Cohen's obituary: I am writing a history of the Jewish community in Newfoundland...I knew Isaac only by mail; he wrote wonderful letters. It was Isaac who established our cemetery so many years ago on Blackmarsh Road.
From Robin McGrath, Salt Fish & Shmattes, Creative Book Publishing, St. John's, 2006, p. 71:
Isaac Cohen was rejected by the Air Force because of flat feet and poor eyesight, so he joined the Home Defense and did security patrols.
pp. 102-103:
In 1932 [sic: infant Roger Woodman Cohen died Aug. 16, 1943, so the 1932 date is incorrect]...Isaac Cohen and his wife lost their firstborn child, Roger, a 16-day-old infant. Isaac, a non-observant, agnostic Jew, was devastated by the loss and the undertaker was worrying him about where the child was to be buried. Isaac was not a member of the Hebrew congregation [in St. John's] but it was a Sunday morning, and he knew there was usually a meeting at the shul, so he went there...and brought up the subject of the cemetery. He was told there was no formal cemetery but, at some point in the past, the community had obtained a land grant in the area of Blackmarsh Road to serve as a cemetery. Nobody had been willing to take responsibility for it and nothing had been done to prepare the land for burials. The grieving father lost his temper and, in his own words, "gave them hell!" The elders then automatically voted him a member in good standing of the synagogue, handed him a blank cheque and told him he had the job [of establishing the cemetery]. That was the start of 20 years of service as the Secretary/Treasurer of the community. "I began with surveyors, engineers, boundaries, cast-iron fencing, gates, and lots of positioning on several master plans. We found nine unmarked mounds, all unknown and unmarked without any written records or history." A visiting Rabbi from New York heard about the project and assisted by inspecting and blessing the cemetery. What had been almost a garbage dump was turned into a clean, grassy, peaceful park where people could find consolation in times of mourning.
Born 10/11/1910 in Bell Island, NL, the eldest of five children of Nathan and Lottie Cohen.
He was educated at Bishop Feild College and Memorial University in St. John's, NL, and Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS.
In the 1930, he was a noted bandleader, with a passion for music throughout his lifetime.
He was a member of Whiteway Masonic Lodge.
In 1940, he married Kay Woodman. They lived in St. John's and then Orillia, ON. Kay died in 1981. He then married Katie (nee Kearney of St. John's) Campbell in Lacey, Washington. Katie died in 2002.
At the time of Isaac's death, his only living sibling was Jack (John, wife Lynda) of Toronto.
He died January 1, 2005 at age 94 in Lacey, Washington, U.S.A.
Robin McGrath wrote in the "condolences" section of Isaac Cohen's obituary: I am writing a history of the Jewish community in Newfoundland...I knew Isaac only by mail; he wrote wonderful letters. It was Isaac who established our cemetery so many years ago on Blackmarsh Road.
From Robin McGrath, Salt Fish & Shmattes, Creative Book Publishing, St. John's, 2006, p. 71:
Isaac Cohen was rejected by the Air Force because of flat feet and poor eyesight, so he joined the Home Defense and did security patrols.
pp. 102-103:
In 1932 [sic: infant Roger Woodman Cohen died Aug. 16, 1943, so the 1932 date is incorrect]...Isaac Cohen and his wife lost their firstborn child, Roger, a 16-day-old infant. Isaac, a non-observant, agnostic Jew, was devastated by the loss and the undertaker was worrying him about where the child was to be buried. Isaac was not a member of the Hebrew congregation [in St. John's] but it was a Sunday morning, and he knew there was usually a meeting at the shul, so he went there...and brought up the subject of the cemetery. He was told there was no formal cemetery but, at some point in the past, the community had obtained a land grant in the area of Blackmarsh Road to serve as a cemetery. Nobody had been willing to take responsibility for it and nothing had been done to prepare the land for burials. The grieving father lost his temper and, in his own words, "gave them hell!" The elders then automatically voted him a member in good standing of the synagogue, handed him a blank cheque and told him he had the job [of establishing the cemetery]. That was the start of 20 years of service as the Secretary/Treasurer of the community. "I began with surveyors, engineers, boundaries, cast-iron fencing, gates, and lots of positioning on several master plans. We found nine unmarked mounds, all unknown and unmarked without any written records or history." A visiting Rabbi from New York heard about the project and assisted by inspecting and blessing the cemetery. What had been almost a garbage dump was turned into a clean, grassy, peaceful park where people could find consolation in times of mourning.
Lottie Cohen (nee Swedlin, 1888-1961), from her obituary in the St. John's Daily News, June 30, 1961, p. 24:
Mrs. Nathan Cohen. The many friends of Mrs. Nathan Cohen were deeply grieved to learn that she had passed away at Boston on Saturday, June 17th. Mrs. Cohen was the former Lottie Swedlin and was born at Kharkov, southern Russia, on September 27, 1888. As a young girl, she moved to Vitebsk in White Russia and spent her early life there. In 1910, she and her brother [Theodore, aka Teddy] came to Newfoundland. She met and married Nathan Cohen in St. John's, and went to live at Bell Island later that year. Mr. Cohen had earlier established a business in the mining town and together they followed the fluctuating fortunes of Wabana for nearly 50 years, during which she was wife and business partner to Nathan Cohen, owner of one of the largest dry goods stores on the Island. Mrs. Cohen was unable to speak the language when she came to Newfoundland and it was the late Bessie English [editor of The Bell Island Miner newspaper, 1917-c.1941] who taught her to read and write English after she arrived on the Island. To the vicissitudes of fortune resulting from the rise and fall of mining operations between the two world wars was added loss by fire. In January 1937, Mr. and Mrs. Cohen had the misfortune, with other business people of Bell Island, of losing their home and all their worldly possessions in the disastrous fire that destroyed 20 stores and dwellings on Town Square. But, finding temporary quarters until a new home and store could be built, they bravely carried on and in time built a greater business on the ruins.
Many changes have taken place on the Iron Isle in the past half-century but through them all the late Mrs. Cohen pursued the even tenor of her way, unruffled by the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. By her calm, soothing presence, she was a tower of strength to her husband and family in every setback. To the community itself she contributed much by her readiness in every emergency to help those in need. She is gratefully remembered for her tireless efforts in knitting and sewing on behalf of the Women's Patriotic Association and the Red Cross during the two wars. She was also a very active member of the Women's Relief Committee in collecting and making clothing for the poor during the great depression of the 1930s.
In her home, Mrs. Cohen was the soul of hospitality. She was a thoughtful and generous neighbour whose passing is mourned by a large circle of friends, and to her family the loss of their mother, guide and counsellor is irreparable.
Some five years ago [c.1956] she and her husband moved to St. John's and lived in semi-retirement while their son, Norman, carried on the business at Bell Island. She still continued active, however, and was a member of the Hadassah and sisterhood chapters of the Hebrew congregation during her residence in the city. Her last illness began in January this year and, although everything possible was done to arrest the onset of disease, (she underwent surgery both at St. Clare's Mercy Hospital and at the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston) she passed away at the latter institution, having passed the allotted span of life by three years. The remains arrived in St. John's on the Wednesday following her death, and on Thursday afternoon, June 22nd, she was laid to rest in the Jewish cemetery on Blackmarsh Road. The last rites were conducted by Mr. D.C. Saxon, lay reader, one of the oldest friends of the family. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Carnell's Funeral Home and the following pall-bearers: Robert Cohen of Bell Island, Louis Wolfson of Sydney, and Sydney Epstein and Maurice Wilansky of St. John's. A large number of friends from Bell Island were present for the funeral and four prominent members of the mining community acted as honorary pall-bearers in the persons of Dr. Walter Templeman, Mayor of Wabana, and Messrs. Cyril Moakler, George Carbage and Joseph Basha.
Left to mourn their great loss are two daughters: Rose, Mrs. Meyer Brandschain of Philadelphia; Ruth, Mrs. Louis Wolfson of Sydney; three sons: Isaac in St. John's; Norman on Bell Island; and Jack in Toronto; one sister, Sonia, in the U.S.S.R., and one brother, David, in Halifax. Eleven grandchildren are also left to mourn her passing.
From Robin McGrath, Salt Fish & Shmattes, Creative Book Publishing, St. John's, 2006, p. 212:
Teddy Swedlin* [retail dealer in dry goods on Bell Island in the 1913 Directory; not in 1915 or 1919 Directories, or 1921 Census; may have moved to Boston as there is a Theodore Swedlin, wife Elizabeth, in Boston in 1935.] [Teddy was the son of] Jacob and Ruth Swedlin, who had five children: a boy in the Tzar’s army who was never heard from again, a daughter Sonya, who remained in Russia, sons David (married Sophy Simon of Halifax), and Ted (died early in the U.S.), and daughter, Lottie (married Nathan Cohen of Bell Island).
*From Find-a-Grave website:
Theodore Swedlin, birth unknown, died July 4, 1944, and is buried in Chevra Kadusha of Chelsea Cemetery, Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass., U.S.A.
Elizabeth Swedlin, birth unknown, died Sept. 11, 1961, and is buried in Chevra Kadusha of Chelsea Cemetery, Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass., U.S.A.
Mrs. Nathan Cohen. The many friends of Mrs. Nathan Cohen were deeply grieved to learn that she had passed away at Boston on Saturday, June 17th. Mrs. Cohen was the former Lottie Swedlin and was born at Kharkov, southern Russia, on September 27, 1888. As a young girl, she moved to Vitebsk in White Russia and spent her early life there. In 1910, she and her brother [Theodore, aka Teddy] came to Newfoundland. She met and married Nathan Cohen in St. John's, and went to live at Bell Island later that year. Mr. Cohen had earlier established a business in the mining town and together they followed the fluctuating fortunes of Wabana for nearly 50 years, during which she was wife and business partner to Nathan Cohen, owner of one of the largest dry goods stores on the Island. Mrs. Cohen was unable to speak the language when she came to Newfoundland and it was the late Bessie English [editor of The Bell Island Miner newspaper, 1917-c.1941] who taught her to read and write English after she arrived on the Island. To the vicissitudes of fortune resulting from the rise and fall of mining operations between the two world wars was added loss by fire. In January 1937, Mr. and Mrs. Cohen had the misfortune, with other business people of Bell Island, of losing their home and all their worldly possessions in the disastrous fire that destroyed 20 stores and dwellings on Town Square. But, finding temporary quarters until a new home and store could be built, they bravely carried on and in time built a greater business on the ruins.
Many changes have taken place on the Iron Isle in the past half-century but through them all the late Mrs. Cohen pursued the even tenor of her way, unruffled by the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. By her calm, soothing presence, she was a tower of strength to her husband and family in every setback. To the community itself she contributed much by her readiness in every emergency to help those in need. She is gratefully remembered for her tireless efforts in knitting and sewing on behalf of the Women's Patriotic Association and the Red Cross during the two wars. She was also a very active member of the Women's Relief Committee in collecting and making clothing for the poor during the great depression of the 1930s.
In her home, Mrs. Cohen was the soul of hospitality. She was a thoughtful and generous neighbour whose passing is mourned by a large circle of friends, and to her family the loss of their mother, guide and counsellor is irreparable.
Some five years ago [c.1956] she and her husband moved to St. John's and lived in semi-retirement while their son, Norman, carried on the business at Bell Island. She still continued active, however, and was a member of the Hadassah and sisterhood chapters of the Hebrew congregation during her residence in the city. Her last illness began in January this year and, although everything possible was done to arrest the onset of disease, (she underwent surgery both at St. Clare's Mercy Hospital and at the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston) she passed away at the latter institution, having passed the allotted span of life by three years. The remains arrived in St. John's on the Wednesday following her death, and on Thursday afternoon, June 22nd, she was laid to rest in the Jewish cemetery on Blackmarsh Road. The last rites were conducted by Mr. D.C. Saxon, lay reader, one of the oldest friends of the family. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Carnell's Funeral Home and the following pall-bearers: Robert Cohen of Bell Island, Louis Wolfson of Sydney, and Sydney Epstein and Maurice Wilansky of St. John's. A large number of friends from Bell Island were present for the funeral and four prominent members of the mining community acted as honorary pall-bearers in the persons of Dr. Walter Templeman, Mayor of Wabana, and Messrs. Cyril Moakler, George Carbage and Joseph Basha.
Left to mourn their great loss are two daughters: Rose, Mrs. Meyer Brandschain of Philadelphia; Ruth, Mrs. Louis Wolfson of Sydney; three sons: Isaac in St. John's; Norman on Bell Island; and Jack in Toronto; one sister, Sonia, in the U.S.S.R., and one brother, David, in Halifax. Eleven grandchildren are also left to mourn her passing.
From Robin McGrath, Salt Fish & Shmattes, Creative Book Publishing, St. John's, 2006, p. 212:
Teddy Swedlin* [retail dealer in dry goods on Bell Island in the 1913 Directory; not in 1915 or 1919 Directories, or 1921 Census; may have moved to Boston as there is a Theodore Swedlin, wife Elizabeth, in Boston in 1935.] [Teddy was the son of] Jacob and Ruth Swedlin, who had five children: a boy in the Tzar’s army who was never heard from again, a daughter Sonya, who remained in Russia, sons David (married Sophy Simon of Halifax), and Ted (died early in the U.S.), and daughter, Lottie (married Nathan Cohen of Bell Island).
*From Find-a-Grave website:
Theodore Swedlin, birth unknown, died July 4, 1944, and is buried in Chevra Kadusha of Chelsea Cemetery, Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass., U.S.A.
Elizabeth Swedlin, birth unknown, died Sept. 11, 1961, and is buried in Chevra Kadusha of Chelsea Cemetery, Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass., U.S.A.
Robert Martin Cohen (c.1922-2008), from his 2008 obituary on www.legacy.com:
Passed away peacefully on December 19, 2008 at Markham Stouffville Hospital, surrounded by his loving family, at the age of 86. Predeceased by his loving wives, Ruth Levitz Cohen and Edith Weiser Cohen. Bob leaves behind his children: Dr. Carol Cohen (Daniel Trevick), Dr. Larry Cohen (Dianne), Felice Cohen (Ray Barrette), and Jeffrey Cohen (Jackie); seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild...A memorial service was held on January 25, 2009 at Chapel Ridge Funeral Home, 8911 Woodbine Ave., Markham.
From Robin McGrath, Salt Fish & Shmattes, Creative Book Publishing, St. John's, 2006, p. 71:
Robert Cohen served in the Dental Corps during World War II.
Passed away peacefully on December 19, 2008 at Markham Stouffville Hospital, surrounded by his loving family, at the age of 86. Predeceased by his loving wives, Ruth Levitz Cohen and Edith Weiser Cohen. Bob leaves behind his children: Dr. Carol Cohen (Daniel Trevick), Dr. Larry Cohen (Dianne), Felice Cohen (Ray Barrette), and Jeffrey Cohen (Jackie); seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild...A memorial service was held on January 25, 2009 at Chapel Ridge Funeral Home, 8911 Woodbine Ave., Markham.
From Robin McGrath, Salt Fish & Shmattes, Creative Book Publishing, St. John's, 2006, p. 71:
Robert Cohen served in the Dental Corps during World War II.
Ruth Lillian (nee Levitz) Cohen (1922-1965), from her obituary in The Daily News, Oct. 19, 1965, p. 16:
Passed suddenly away on Friday October 15 in Rome, Italy, Ruth, beloved wife of Robert Cohen of Bell Island. Leaving to mourn: daughter, Carol, son, Larry; mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Levitz; two sisters: Lorraine (Mrs. Edwin Schaefer of New Haven, Conn.) and Ida (Mrs. E. Mauskopf of Montreal). Funeral to take place on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. from Carnell's Funeral Home to the Jewish Cemetery on Blackmarsh Road.
Ruth's headstone reads: Ruth Lillian Cohen, Feb. 19, 1922 to Oct. 15, 1965.
Some information for Ruth, first wife of Robert Cohen, from an article in The Evening Telegram, Aug. 3, 2004, on her sister, Ida (nee Levitz) Mauskopf, who had died July 31, 2004:
Ruth was the eldest of three daughters of the late Charles and Katie (nee Swersky) Levitz of St. John's. She grew up at 110 Gower Street, St. John's. Her parents came to Newfoundland from Latvia prior to the First World War in order to escape Russian pogroms. They had a grocery store, Victoria Grocery (later Vey's), on the corner of Gower and Victoria Streets.
Passed suddenly away on Friday October 15 in Rome, Italy, Ruth, beloved wife of Robert Cohen of Bell Island. Leaving to mourn: daughter, Carol, son, Larry; mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Levitz; two sisters: Lorraine (Mrs. Edwin Schaefer of New Haven, Conn.) and Ida (Mrs. E. Mauskopf of Montreal). Funeral to take place on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. from Carnell's Funeral Home to the Jewish Cemetery on Blackmarsh Road.
Ruth's headstone reads: Ruth Lillian Cohen, Feb. 19, 1922 to Oct. 15, 1965.
Some information for Ruth, first wife of Robert Cohen, from an article in The Evening Telegram, Aug. 3, 2004, on her sister, Ida (nee Levitz) Mauskopf, who had died July 31, 2004:
Ruth was the eldest of three daughters of the late Charles and Katie (nee Swersky) Levitz of St. John's. She grew up at 110 Gower Street, St. John's. Her parents came to Newfoundland from Latvia prior to the First World War in order to escape Russian pogroms. They had a grocery store, Victoria Grocery (later Vey's), on the corner of Gower and Victoria Streets.
Sarah (nee Sidel) Cohen (c.1881-19??):
From Robin McGrath, Salt Fish & Shmattes, Creative Book Publishing, St. John's, 2006, p.64-65:
The first of the Sidels to come to Newfoundland was Sarah Sidel, who married Abraham Cohen of Bell Island. Sarah actively helped others of her family to emigrate...
According to a sworn deposition made in 1916, cousins Otto and Aaron Sidel came to Newfoundland via Liverpool, England, from the town of Disna in the territory of Vilkna, Russia, in approximately 1908. Otto’s papers were lost in a fire when Abraham Cohen’s house was burned and this caused some difficulty during World War I as he was suspected of being a German spy…Otto Sidel was not German but, [like many other Jewish emigrants] did not speak Hebrew either. They could read the Hebrew letters, but spoke and read and wrote Yiddish, a form of Hebrew-influenced German dialect.
From Robin McGrath, Salt Fish & Shmattes, Creative Book Publishing, St. John's, 2006, p.64-65:
The first of the Sidels to come to Newfoundland was Sarah Sidel, who married Abraham Cohen of Bell Island. Sarah actively helped others of her family to emigrate...
According to a sworn deposition made in 1916, cousins Otto and Aaron Sidel came to Newfoundland via Liverpool, England, from the town of Disna in the territory of Vilkna, Russia, in approximately 1908. Otto’s papers were lost in a fire when Abraham Cohen’s house was burned and this caused some difficulty during World War I as he was suspected of being a German spy…Otto Sidel was not German but, [like many other Jewish emigrants] did not speak Hebrew either. They could read the Hebrew letters, but spoke and read and wrote Yiddish, a form of Hebrew-influenced German dialect.
To be continued...