Stepping onto the S.S. Lincoln on February 2, 1869, Suwałki, Poland native, Judel Sztejnberg set off on a journey to establish a new life in the United States of America. On American soil, Judel Sztejnberg became Julius Steinberg. Changing “Judel,” a Yiddish name deriving from Judah, into “Julius” (from the Latin iūlius) meant leaving the Germanic language family moving into the Italic.1 His new name, Julius, was less foreign to Americans and already well-established in western culture. Judel, however, might be popular in Europe and amongst Ashkenazi Jews but was likely more foreign for the American audience. By anglicizing his name, Julius was not betraying his Ashkenazi roots in Poland, rather he modified “Judel” from Suwalki, Poland and through time, transformed into Julius Steinberg, a prominent figure in multiple communities. While Judel was a merchant from Poland finding his feet in the United States, and Julius was a successful and bold business leader in the developing town of Traverse City.
Based on Julius Steinberg Papers Collection in the TADL Local History Collection, this presentation investigates the Steinberg family and business over the course of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. While the legacy of the Steinberg family is largely missing from the built environment of contemporary Front Street in Traverse City, Steinberg has not disappeared from the rich tapestry of Traverse City history. A study of Steinberg’s life reveals both the quintessential Jewish immigrant experience and the uniqueness of Steinberg's life, forged through his ambition the burgeoning community of Traverse City.
Before “Steinberg”
Before Julius Steinberg was Judel Sztejnberg, Judel was born in 1848 into a Jewish family located in Suwałki, Poland. His parents, Mejer and Bejla (Grymberg) Sztejnberg, had at least 5 children, and according to vital records Judel was the third child. Judel never met his eldest sibling, the first child, Zsykind (Yiddish, “sweet child”), who died within one year of birth (1843-1844).2 Judel’s other siblings include Zelman (1845-1858), Chaja Cyrla (1851), Jankiel (1857), and Ajyzk Lejba (1854).3 Jankiel married in 1879,4 and within a few years Jankiel likely adopted the name “Jacob,” when moving to the United States.
Judel’s hometown was in Suwałki, Poland, at the time, the western border was East Prussia. After the third Partitions of Poland in 1794, Suwałki was part of the Prussian empire, until the end of the Napoleonic Wars. In 1815, the Congress of Vienna established “Russian Poland” or the Congress of Poland, which encompassed the Suwałki region.5 Suwałki was both a town (or city) in the Augustow province before being the capital of the Suwałki Gubernia (trans. governorate or province, a territorial division of former Russian Empire and the Soviet Union) in 1866.6 The province was ruled by the Russian empire for around a century until the end of World War I, when subdistricts of the province were separated between the newly independent Poland and independent Lithuania (the Suwałki subdistrict was incorporated into independent Poland).7
Suwałki was a thriving town, growing rapidly throughout the nineteenth century. The region consisted of multiple ethnicities: Lithuanians, Russians, Germans, Polish, and Jewish. Jews lived throughout the area, but between 1823 to 1862, there were restrictions on the presence of Jews in many parts of the city. Situated in the middle of the highway connecting Warsaw and St. Petersburg, Suwalki was an economic center until the railroad diverted traffic.8 The growing population of Jews played an important role in the economic growth in the city. As merchants, business owners, artisans, and manufacturers, Jews contributed to foreign trades, and established factories and hotels.9 Around Steinberg’s lifetime, the Jewish community is said to have expanded greatly, from 1,209 people in 1827, the community to 1856, where the census reports a total of 6,407 Jews living in Suwałki.10 Within the coming decades, however, Suwałki experienced a great exit of Jews. Their primary destination – America.
The Jews from Suwałki were not along in their migration, nearly 3 million Jews of the world that left their country of origin in the nineteenth century.11 However, not all Jews who took part in this great migration aimed for the United States. Even so, the majority Suwałki Jews did depart for the United States, with evidence of Suwałki Jews in America beginning in 1840.12 With proximity to the Prussian border, Jews of Suwałki largely emigrated from the Hamburg port.13 Alex Friedlander, author of a study of Jewish emigres from Suwałki that settled in St. Ignace, Michigan, found that between 1863 and 1873, approximately 1400 Jews from the city of Suwałki left through Hamburg, roughly 20% of the total Jewish population.14
Why leave? The motivation for Jews to leave Suwałki did not solely lie in the economic opportunities and religious freedom rumored to await them in the “new world.” Rather, a variety of factors lead to this voyage across the Atlantic, amongst them three distinct impetuses for this grand exodus: military conscription, famines, and political rebellion.
In the Russian Empire the mandatory conscription of Jews began in 1827, but for Poland, mandatory military service was established in 1843.15 At age eighteen, Jewish males could be drafted and forced to endure 25 years of service in the Russian military. Drafts was composed by regional Jewish community leaders, who each had a specific quota to fill.16 As a result, many young men emigrated to avoid being drafted.17
Famines befell the Suwałki region in 1847, and following a cholera epidemic of 1868, another “great famine” came in 1868-1869, which lead to a mass migration for the rest of the nineteenth century.18 In addition, following the January Uprising in 1863 for Polish independence from Russia,19 the tsarist government punished any insurgents, including perceived Jewish insurgents, who sided with the Poles in the rebellion. Any affiliation with the uprising threatened exile.
Devera Stocker, Julius Steinberg's granddaughter, mentions in one of her family histories that one of Steinberg's brothers was an “active revolutionary” in a rebellion against the Tsar.20 This unnamed brother was exiled to Siberia – a similar punishment was administered to 40,000 Polish insurgents after the January Uprising of 1863.21 It is unclear which sibling this was, as Jankiel ended up in Michigan. The other two siblings who were, as far as we know, alive in 1863 were Chaja Cyrla (b. 1851) and Ajyzk Lejba (b. 1854). In 1863, Chaja (from Hebrew “living”), a feminine name, was only twelve years old and Ajzk (variation of Isaac) was 8 years old. Still, this unknown brother may still hold true and it is possible that Mejer and Bejla had other children not listed in the Jewish Records Index.
Jews who left their homeland during this time period went in small groups or alone before bringing their families, even their communities. They shared their (probably positive) experiences in the United States, to their families and friends in Europe, inspiring others to follow. People with a family member, especially a sibling, who emigrated to the United States, were more likely to join them in the United States.22 Such was the case for Jacob Steinberg, brother of Julius Steinberg, who arrived in the United States in 1883.23 Economic standing in their home country was likely another motivation to depart for newer shores, Hsia Diner observed that the poorer the Jew, the more likely to come to America.24
Proper motivation is crucial for mass migration, but their movement was supported by technological advances. The invention of the steamship by the mid-nineteenth century transformed the risky trans-Atlantic voyages became safer and faster with steam engines.25 Prior to steamships, the voyage across the Atlantic would take between 40-90 days.26 But with steamships, that total voyage time reduced to approx. 7-10 days.27 Around the time Steinberg crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1869, the average voyage duration for a steamship from Liverpool to New York was approx.14.8 days.28 Judel Steinberg departed Hamburg, Germany on February 2, 1869 on the Dampfschiff Lincoln (Steamship Lincoln) on an indirect voyage to New York. 29 His trip was likely longer than 14.8 days, as he sailed indirect from Germany to England, to the New York. In the passenger lists, Jüdel Steinberg is listed as male, twenty years old, from “Zuwalk, Polen” (Suwałki, Poland), and works as a “Handelsmann” (merchant).
Peddling
Once in the United States, Steinberg is the quintessential example of Jewish immigrants, who came to the United States with little capital. Based on Hsia Diner’s extensive research on Jewish immigrants and peddlers in the United States, Julius Steinberg's experience (while unique) followed the typical lifecycle of Jewish immigrants. The Hamburg Passenger list established Steinberg as a merchant before arriving in the U.S. It’s unknown what type of business Steinberg conducted in Suwałki, but we know that Steinberg began to peddle wares in northern Michigan sometime before 1870.
Peddlers are itinerant merchants, traveling place to place selling their wares. Peddling is an ancient occupation. In the European Middle Ages, Jews in Germany had a variety of occupations (for example: moneylending or artisan work), including the mercantile business. Living primarily in cities, medieval Jews brought foreign trade and luxury goods from eastern Europe, however, by the late fifteenth century, the expulsion of Jews from many German cities resulted in Jews setting off eastward or moving to smaller villages.30 For both German and Russian Jewish immigrants in nineteenth-century United States, peddling was an option for those coming with little money or knowledge of a particular trade, which is partially why Jewish migrations relied on peddling in the nineteenth century.31 Peddling was self-employment and flexible for those starting with little capital and cultural knowhow. The typical Jewish peddler worked five days a week, setting off on the road on Monday to visit the homes of various customers, before returning to town by Friday to spend Sabbath and other Jewish holidays with other Jews.32
Everywhere Jewish immigrants sought out other Jews in their new environment.33 AS did Steinberg , who connected with the Jewish community in Chicago. These friends, kin, or landsleit (compatriots), having already established themselves in Chicago, likely assisted Steinberg in his endeavor, giving a line of credit for Steinberg to buy merchandise and teaching key English phrases or words for Steinberg to use. Since Jewish immigrants left their countries of origin for a reason (like the threat of military service) many had no intentions to return to their homelands. Thus, for Jewish immigrants learning the new language and culture of the new environment was essential.34
While some, possibly Steinberg, were some were peddlers before reaching the United States.35 Others entered into peddling based on the advice of other Jewish immigrants.36 The successful Jewish peddlers would share their strategies of success and, even provide the economic opportunities, advising new immigrants as they set out to peddle in a new environment.37
A few Jewish peddlers like Steinberg went to northern Michigan.38 The early industry of northern Michigan was in lumber and farming, thus a peddler served an important role for these geographically distant communities. Traveling and selling their wares, Jewish peddlers would encounter settlers and people who had never even met a Jewish person. Steinberg was not the first nor the last to peddle in Northern Michigan, nor was his success solitary. Other Jewish immigrants in North and South America would seek out lumbering and mining communities to sell their wares to the laborers.39
From cities to smaller towns, Diner describes a “homogenous nineteenth century Jewish business culture.”40 Like many other Jewish peddlers, Steinberg supposedly went from carrying a pack to a horse and wagon before setting up a dry goods store in Traverse City.
Steinberg in Traverse City—Dry goods store
The reason why the move to Traverse City was probably due to the tendency for Jewish immigrants to move to follow business opportunities and to live within a community of Jews.41 The first concrete evidence of Steinberg in Grand Traverse area comes from the Grand Traverse Herald, October 6, 1870. In the “Advertised Letters,” which regularly calls for the listed to collect the mail before it is sent to “Dead Letter Office.”42 In the column appears the name, “Judel Steinberg,” whose mail was undeliverable, i.e. Steinberg sent mail that could not be delivered or the post office was unable to deliver the mail to Steinberg.
Within one year, Steinberg’s family joins him in 1871, but not in Traverse City.43 Mary and Julius lived in some form in Chicago at least for the next three years, as their second child, Kate H. Steinberg (b. Dec. 30, 1872) and son, Alec (or Alex) (b. April 25, 1874) were born in Chicago.44 Steinberg likely had a more permanent situation in Chicago with compatriots. Intermittently, Steinberg left Mary and children in Chicago, probably to continue working as a peddler to provide for the newly arrived family. Other Jewish peddlers followed the same path, they arrive in the United States, establish a business/financial means to bring family (wife and children) to the U.S. only to leave them in a new city/town with kin or friends while they continued peddling.
Their move to Traverse City was probably sometime before the opening of Steinberg’s Dry Goods store in the Front St. House Block on November 6, 1876.45 The residency of Mary and his children living in the city is proven by the birth of the third of the Steinberg children, Ella Steinberg (b. April 3, 1877) in Traverse City.46 Steinberg last two children were born in Traverse City as well. Bertha Steinberg, or Birde (Birdie) Alte, Berde Alte, Bertie, was born in February 7, 1880.47 The youngest of Steinberg's children was born February 20, 1887, Leon Steinberg.48 Leon moved to Los Angeles by 1940. 49
Shortly after opening his own store front, Steinberg goes into business with Julius Levinson in March 1877, and enlarges and refits the store in the Front St. House Block.50 The Levinson-Steinberg partnership was short lived and dissolves by July 19, 1877, when Levinson and Steinberg announce to end of their partnership. Levinson would stay in the Front Street House Block while Steinberg relocated into a space in the W. J. Backer’s Boot and Shoe Store (location? Three doors east of the Herald Building).51
On November 8, 1877, Steinberg advertises a sale on entire stock in order to move to a new location, W. J. Backer’s Boot and Shoe Store.52 From this date forward (November 8, 187) to approximately March 20, 1879, Steinberg referred to his store as the “City Clothing House.”53
On January 31, 1878, another advertisement in the newspaper announces that Steinberg planned on reopening his store in the spring and moving into the McManus building directly opposite of Paige and Brusch’s Market.54 In April 1878, Steinberg reopens his store “directly opposite of the Front St. House.”55 In the meantime, Irene Steinberg was born between December 10, 1878 and January 8, 1879 in Traverse City.56
Around this time is the earliest dated of Steinberg’s business papers in the Local History Collection. Dated April 18, 1881, three “Way Bills” for freight shipped from Chicago to Traverse City the Traverse City Railroad Company Receipts, demonstrates the type of merchantry Steinberg conducted, importing dry goods from larger cities via railways.57
By January 16, 1879, Steinberg began the construction of a new two-story building, 22x32 feet, on the north side of Front Street, “either just east of the engine house or east of the McManus Buildings.”58 At the same time, the frame for Goldman & Yalomstein’s new store was completed. The newspaper reports that there are rumors of more building and houses to be constructed in Traverse city, “We predict for Traverse City a healthy but rapid growth for the next few years. If we mistake not 1879 will be a “red letter” year in our history as a town.”59
Steinberg entered a partnership with Solomon Goldman sometime before May 1879, and the store began to be referred to as Steinberg & Co. (as well as the City Clothing House).60 Also in May 1879, Steinberg moved to the building opposite Winnie & Steven’s Grocery, one door east of the old engine house. At this point, Steinberg operated two store fronts until January 29, 1880, when Steinberg & Co. closed the “branch store,” subsequently moving the entire stock to the main store.61
The Grand Traverse Herald reports on November 4, 1880 that "Three nicer, brighter or better arranged store than those of Levinson, Steinberg and Yalomstein on the northside of Front Street are seldom to be seen "all in a row" in a town of the size of our own."62 Three Jewish immigrants from Suwalki, Poland operated three distinct businesses on Front Street. The Herald points out the great development of Front Street aided by the ambition of three Jewish business people. In the mid-nineteenth century, Jews throughout the U.S. were prominent in the retail business, owning dry goods, clothing stores, and jewelry stores.63
In 1888, Julius’ eldest, Jacob H. Steinberg entered the business world officially when J. Steinberg & Son opened a dry goods and clothing store in St. Ignace. Jacob H. moved to St. Ignace and operated the store, Jacob was described by the Herald as "an enterprising and trustworthy young man, of good business principles."64
At the same time, in April 1888, Steinberg successfully petitioned the Common Council of Traverse City to build a one-story building between his two stores on Front Street.65 His rebuild was completed at the end of October 1888.66 Then in 1889, Steinberg finally purchased the lot his store was built on, a total of forty feet of frontage on Front Street for $2000 cash.67
The partnership between Steinberg and Goldman only lasted a few years, finally dissolving in May 1882, “by mutual consent” and Steinberg buying out Goldman’s share in the business.68 In the announcement of the dissolution, Steinberg explains how the dissolution was actually an accomplishment:
It is now twelve years since I began business here, and the business has continued to increase with the increase of population until it is now settled upon a firm and substantial basis. My long acquaintance with the people here has made me many friends who are satisfied with my fair dealing. Always working on a strict cash basis I have been enabled to sell goods at low prices and have no bad debts due me from customers, and consequently, I can afford to sell closer to the market than many others.69
Steinberg remained in touch with Goldman, even after the latter relocated to Detroit. In the Julius Steinberg Papers Collection, there are two personal correspondences from S. Goldman was sent to Steinberg dated August 19 and August 25, 1886.70 Letters such as these from Jews in Detroit, as well as Steinberg’s ties to Jews all over the state and Chicago can be explained by many factors. The first being that Steinberg began his career in the U.S. in Chicago and in some manner lived there while peddling in northern Michigan, until finally moving to Traverse City. The second, Jewish immigrants in the United States did not only have their own familial ties nor simply ties with other Jews from the same city or region in their country of origin, but also connections with their new local community of Jews forged in the U.S. and the “American Jewish Community” that included all Jews regardless of locale.71
The success of Steinberg business lead to Steinberg expanding his store. Steinberg's store was initially one floor, but in May 1883, Steinberg renovated the basement (about 30 square feet) to display the store’s stock of trunks, satchels, carpets, oil cloths, and in the main salesroom was the display of dry goods, dress goods, clothing, etc.72
Cash Carriers
Amongst Steinberg’s papers in the Local History Collection, is an 1886 notice from the Lamson Company. The notice intended for merchants was about the use of unauthorized cash carrier systems which may infringe upon the Lamson company’s 125 patents for cash and parcel carrier systems. The company also states that lawsuits have and will be brought against any company manufacturing the systems illegally and merchants who bought the unauthorized products.73
The notice and later events suggest that Steinberg has some kind of cash carrier system in his store. Cash carriers. Before cash registers, it was normal for stores of various sizes to have a central cash office, where a single cashier would receive payments, issue change, or place purchases on credit.74 The person taking the cash to the central office was either an assistant or the customer themselves. In the 1870s, William Lamson designed a hollow wooden ball that store attendants would put cash in and sent via rails to the sale point (patented in 1882). 75 This was the first of many different systems that carried cash across stores.76 Lamon’s various systems, like the spring system, level wire sliding cash and parcel systems was advantageous for multiple reasons, besides being faster, more people supervising the payment and change, and for the convenience of the customer who could remain with the sales assistant (and maybe make more purchases).77
Later, in August 1897, Steinberg was involved in a suit with the Lamson Consolidated Store Service Company, who claimed the right to collect royalties upon the cash carrier system Steinberg has in his store.78 The Herald claims Steinberg had been using one for four years and he received a guarantee with the purchase that protects him from such actions.79
The litigation came to a head the following June in 1898, when the cash carrier’s suit commenced in court in Grand Rapids. The court of appeals had previously decided against the Consolidated Store Company in a parallel case, which boded well for Steinberg's own suit.80 Steinberg never had to go to court in person.81 In addition, Steinberg was not the only merchant to face such charges. In August 1897, a law firm in Detroit contacted Steinberg asking for cooperation with other merchants in Michigan who were facing the same charges, to which Steinberg refused to cooperate and decided to “go it alone.”82
“It is the Custom of the Hebrews”
In 188-, Federal Census reports 200 heads of Jewish families in Michigan, who identified as originating from Poland, Russian Poland, or Prussian Poland, or Russia, most lived in Detroit, probably half of the Jews living in Northern Michigan were likely immigrants from the Suwałki gubernia.83 The earliest families: Levinson, Yalomstein, Goldman, and Steinberg, who settled in Traverse City were all born in Suwałki.84
What Was it Like for Jews in Traverse City?
Inclusion and Awareness
For Jewish immigrants, relationships between newcomers and established settlers began as a transactional relationship. Jewish peddlers came to the homes of mostly non-Jews, where they entered a family environment, and negotiated with women, who decided whether to buy or not. Familiarization, according to the "contact hypnosis" asserts that quotidian interactions between two identify groups, like Jews and Christians or immigrants and natives, leads to higher levels of tolerance. For many newly arrived Jewish immigrants, peddling facilitated this familiarization process. By exchanging culture, experiencing new social norms and ways of life, peddling worked to move immigrant Jews, who left a society that marginalized them, to one a new environment where Jews enjoyed the economic and social freedom. Positive interactions and social interaction between Jewish peddlers and their clientele were intentionally positive as was good for business. Jewish peddlers were inclusive, visiting the homes of and trading with Christians, indigenous persons, people of color, other immigrants, poor, wealthy, anyone.85 Peddling was not the safest career. Anti-Jewish rhetoric and anti-peddler rhetoric combined and Jewish peddlers had to deal with varying levels of intensity and persecution. Their safety was not secured, their money and goods could be stolen on the road, while they slept, amongst other dangers inherent in traveling alone and lodging with strangers.86
Although discrimination is difficult to identify based on the sources at hand, there is one incident that stands out as an example of persecution against a Jewish peddler. On July 7, 1884, Jacob Steinberg, the brother of Julius, was walking along the road from Williamsburg to Acme before assaulted, “knocked down and severely pummeled and bruised.” The perpetrators were George Bentley and J. Hartwick, their motive was $10, which Bentley believed Steinberg stole from Bentley’s house. Steinberg had incidentally passed by Bentley’s house sometime before and was subsequently suspected by Bentley. The latter enlisted the help of J. Hartwick before chasing after Jacob. Before being arrested, Bentley returned home to find the cash – it had not been stolen after all. The two were arrested, plead guilty before the court and paid their fines.87 It is impossible to know if Jacob was attacked because he was Jewish, nor is it clear that Bentley or Hartwick even knew their victim. Jacob was likely peddling at the time, so the assault could have been a result of anti-peddler or xenophobic sentiments. Perhaps, Jacob had even stopped by Bentley’s house to sell merchandise or perhaps he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Understanding of the “Hebrews” in the Newspaper
Over the years, the Traverse City Newspaper, in all its iterations, reported on events of the Jewish members of the Traverse City community. Their inclusion of the “Hebrews” of Traverse City in the daily news extended to providing explanations and context for Jewish holidays and religious traditions and practices. A few examples demonstrate the willingness of at least the newspaper publishers to understand and relay information about Jewish customs to the greater Traverse City community.
Devera Stocker wrote extensively about her family throughout her adult life. But when it comes to sensitive subjects, like the death of children or financial crisis and legal trouble, Devera skips important events. The Steinberg story illustrates that in this and in many other cases the histories relayed through decedents only tells half the story.
The Steinberg family experienced the loss of two children between 1883 and 1884. The first was Rosa Steinberg, who died at only 7 days old from congestion of the lungs on January 11, 1883.88 That same day, the Grand Traverse Herald reports the event: “the infant child of J. Steinberg died on Sunday, and was taken to Detroit Monday for burial in the Jewish cemetery, according to Jewish custom and rites.”89
Julius and Mary's next child was Leah Steinberg, born circa January 1884. Leah's death occurred at 18 months on July 30, 1885, “after a few hours of sickness.”90 This death (and birth) is only recorded by the Grand Traverse Herald, as I have yet to come across any birth or death record of Leah.
The death of Leah and Rosa are examples of the Herald attempting to impart knowledge of Jewish culture and traditions through the publication. The Herald imparts other information about the wider Jewish community, like the death of Sir Moses Montefiore (1784-1885), “the venerable and distinguished Hebrew,” whose “kaddish” was also observed by the Traverse City Jewish community in July 1885. 91 While Montefiore was a prominent figure in the global Jewish community, Montefiore had deeper ties with the Traverse City Jewish community. Prompted by a correspondence between Avram Greenberg of Traverse City and Montefiore, Montefiore gifted the first Torah to Congregation Beth El.92
Throughout the years, the newspaper highlighted and explained (at varying lengths) Jewish holidays and traditions. Besides describing traditional death culture, publications would explain holidays, like “Jewish New Year’s," (Rosh Hashanah) explaining the service held for the event, “on both days the Ten commandments will be read, and there will be a preaching by Rev. Robinson, rabbi of the local synagogue.”93 The newspaper mentions the importance of the “Day of Atonement,” (Yom Kippur).94 The Traverse City Daily Eagle on September 21, 1903, published a lengthy explanation for the festivities for Yom Kippur: “during the first 10 days of the new year from Yom Hardin -the day of judgment- to Yom Kippur- the day of atonement- all atonement must be made for the sins of the past year. These 10 days are as solemn as Lent.”95
The Start of Beth El Congregation
Congregation Beth El, at 311 S. Park Street, Traverse City, Michigan, was completed in 1886, at which point the Jewish population of Traverse city was between 75-80 members.96 Prior to the construction of Beth El, the first Jewish congregational temple in Traverse City, the Jewish community of the Grand Traverse Area met in private homes for religious services.97 Both an inscription on a Torah cover written in Yiddish and Hebrew: “Donated by Yudel Levinson, son of Laib, 1883”98 and reports in the Traverse City newspaper, like that of September 3, 1885, demonstrate the Jews of Traverse City were gathering at private residences (like Julius Steinberg's residence) to worship and celebrate Jewish holidays.99
Steinberg and his family were deeply involved in the founding and funding of Beth El, as well as its improvements over the years. Planning for the congregation began sometime before September 17, 1885, when the Grand Traverse Herald reports that Steinberg left for Chicago “to make an effort to interest some of his people in the plan of building a Jewish Synagogue."100
An official step towards organizing the congregation occurred in October 1885, when an election designated J. Levinson as president, S. Yalomstein as vice president, J. Steinberg as treasurer and J. H. Steinberg as secretary, along with Charles Levinson and Jacob Steinberg as trustees.101 They signed a contract with J. G. Holliday, the architect and contractor, who would build the synagogue in the lot behind the Congregational Church, near the Courthouse. The cost of the 22 x 36 feet building with a brick foundation and outfitted with a furnace was about $1000.102 Amongst those donating for the erection of a Jewish synagogue, were J. Steinberg Sr., J Steinberg Jr., Jacob H. Steinberg, and Katia Steinberg.103
Steinberg was the treasurer for the congregation, thus Steinberg received multiple correspondences from J. Levinson requesting that Steinberg pay for Beth El related expenses. The notes would tell Steinberg to J. G. Holliday anywhere between $100 to $16 between November 3 to December 18, 1885. 104 Other correspondences with J. Levinson were written on Hannah, Lay, and Co. letterhead to pay Hannah, Lay, & Co. and charge to the Hebrew Congregation.105
The cornerstone for the synagogue was laid on November 19, 1885, and the ceremony was attended by Perry Hannah.106 Other non-Jews were in attendance and gave speeches, including Mr. Leach, Mr. Hannah, Mr. Moffatt and Revered Shorts of “M. E. Church.”107 It is important to note that the ceremonies for the cornerstone were not watered down by the gentiles in attendance, as Alex Steinberg read the Hebrew inscribed on the cornerstone. Around one week later, the frame was completed and the roof was ready to be placed.108 The final dedication took place on March 19, 1886 and clergymen from other local churches were asked to attend and join the “pleasant recognition of the fact that more perfect harmony and brotherly feeling exist between the Hebrews of the village and other denominations than is usually the case.”109
While all might be harmonious between the Hebrew congregation and their surrounding Christian neighbors, discord occurred between Julius Steinberg and “some other members of the Hebrew synagogue” around October 7, 1886.111 A “difference of opinion” led to Steinberg ordering a Pentateuch from Detroit, to observe the Jewish holiday, “Day of Atonement” (Yom Kippur) in his home with friends.112 This “unpleasantness among the Hebrews of the Town” continued into the end of October with a trial --“the people vs. J. Levinson et al.,” in which J. Steinberg was a complaining witness. 113
The dispute may have continued into 1888, when Steinberg announced that he will be meeting with family and friends for Yom Kippur in “Mr. Steinberg's rooms” and not at the synagogue.114 Steinberg was still engaged in the affairs of the synagogue, working on repairs to the interior and decoration of the synagogue for “Hebrew New Year Holidays” in September 25, 1897.115 Steinberg was still active in Beth El congregation in 1902, when he was the elected president of the synagogue with H. Russky as the vice president.116
The Jewish Cemetery
It was decided at the town meeting in April 1886 that the two acres of land north of the “Catholic plot” in the cemetery would be given to the Hebrew Congregation. In addition, ordered the Board of Health facilitate the Hebrew Congregation as they work to “perfect,” which I think means outfit the title to “the usages their society may require.”117 Prior to this, we know from the death of Rosa Steinberg that Traverse City lacked a proper Jewish cemetery.118
Like with the synagogue, the Steinberg family played a role in the development of the Jewish cemetery. In April 1898, improvements were needed for the cemetery and they were headed by Mrs. Steinberg, Miriam or Mary, who made a “pretty pillow” displayed at Steinberg’s store. The pillow was raffled and all the proceeds went towards the “improvement of the Hebrew cemetery.”119 The Herald reports that she had raised “significant funds” for the construction of a “morgue” (14x22 feet in size and two stories high) on the southern side of the Jewish cemetery; “the designs are neat and the plans are donated by architect, W. A. Dean.”120 Further improvements were made for the cemetery by Julius Steinberg as evidenced by an advertisement requesting bids for the construction of a fence at the Hebrew Cemetery “to match the fence around the adjoining cemetery.” 121
How involved was Steinberg?
Steinberg was a prominent figure in Traverse City affairs. His comfortability and popularity in the greater community and willingness to advocate for himself and the Hebrew congregation are seen time and time again in the proceedings of the Traverse City Common Council. At a Common Council of Traverse City meeting on January 7, 1901, Steinberg, objected to the sewer assessment of Washington and Park Street on the behalf of the “Jewish Synagogue.”122 Steinberg had asked the council for a remission of tax for the “Hebrew Synagogue,” since, as Steinberg argued, the “church” had no use for a sewer and “never expects to have and that there is now virtually no congregation, the entire expense of over $8 comes out of Mr. Steinberg’s pocket.”123 The council did not agree and resulting was a “passage at arms,” a verbal altercation between Julius and the Mayor Friedrich, which “furnished amusement to the aldermen, and it was the general opinion that Mr. Steinberg came off a little the best of the two, since “he laughs best who laughs last.”"124
Steinberg was also involved in various associations and fraternities. One of the organizations Steinberg was associated with was the obscure Sons of Industry, mutual life insurance company that was incorporated in Michigan in 1885.125 Steinberg had two membership certificates, dated to August 24, 1883 to the Golden Star Lodge No. 30 in Traverse City, which certifies that upon his death Mary Steinberg, his wife, would receive $1000 as long as Steinberg paid his dues and the assessment cost, for Steinberg .96 cents.126 He also had a card that verifies that Steinberg was a “member at large” and in good standing with the fraternity as of July 21, 1884.127
At least between 1887-1892, Steinberg was involved in the business world of Traverse City with other business leaders as a member of the Michigan Businessmen’s Association and the Traverse City Business Men's Association.128 He also was elected as the director of the Traverse City Building and Loan Association working alongside S.E. Wait, C.A. Crawford, H. D. Campbell, Chas. Wilhelm, O. P. Carver, M.E. Haskell, J. W. Milliken, John Wilhelm.129
Steinberg and Mary were also members of the Order of Brith Abraham, lodge no. 139, established in Traverse City around 1863.130 Steinberg was the first and only president of O.B.A. until he resigned in 1904.131 Although no longer the president, Steinberg remained involved in the organization, Steinberg acted as a toastmaster for the Purim Ball, the proceeds of which were given to the Hebrew Cemetery Association to aid in improvements of the lot.132
The O. B. A. consequently placed the activities of the local Jewish citizens and Jewish holidays into the forefront. The O.B.A. sponsored various festivities around Jewish holidays, like a “Feast of Hanouka,” which was a ball and a lecture from Dr. A. Benjamin on “Judas Maccabeus” and Jewish history.133 For the Feast, the Evening Record describes Hanukkah as “a commemoration day of the eighth day feast of lights. It is not a religious day, but on the order of a nation day, as our Fourth of July.”134 A theme of many local newspaper articles about Jewish holidays and traditions was relating them to gentiles in a recognizable manner. For Passover, the Traverse City Bay Eagle connects the Passover to the death and resurrection of Christ, “many symbols, commemorations and ceremonies of the festival passed into the Christian Easter feast.”135
Jacob Steinberg
The aforementioned Jankiel Sztejnberg was likely later known as Jacob Steinberg, Julius Steinberg's brother. There are inconsistencies when comparing the facts of Jankiel and Jacob. While Jankiel was born in 1857 according to the Suwałki birth and death index, the 1900 census, records that Jacob was born March 1860.136 However, on Jacob’s death certificate another birth year was recorded -- January 15, 1863.137 Although, the birth dates are inconsistent across multiple official documents, other evidence suggests another connection between Jankiel and Jacob.
Jankiel married Dwejra Enia Rajgrocka (also referred to as Genia or Genia Dwera Rajgrodska) in 1879. Their first child was Girsz Sztejnberg, born in 1881, their second, Juda Sztejnberg, in 1882, and their third was Lew Sztejnberg in 1882.138 Reportedly, Jacob and Hannah were married in 1880 and had their first child, Harry, in August 1882. Next was Julius in September 1883 and Louis in December 1885.139 The similarities in personal names, Hannah and “Genia,” Julius and “Juda,” and Lois and “Lew,” are too similar to be a coincidence. In addition, Hannah’s maiden name as recorded on her death certificate was “Rogofsky,” identical to “Rajgrodska” from the Jewish Records Index.140
Jacob Steinberg left his wife and children in Suwalki in 1883/4, since a receipt from September 12, 1883, certifies Jacob Steinberg's voyage from Bremen, Germany to New York via the Baltimore Line of the North German Lloyd Steamship Co. of Bremen.141 The receipt records one adult and no children for a total of $22. If this was for Jacob Steinberg, Julius Steinberg's brother, then Jacob Steinberg did not arrive in the U.S. until after September 12, 1883.
Later, in February 12, 1886, a reply came for Mr. J. Steinberg from S. Jarmulowsky of 54 Canal Street, New York. It informed J. Steinberg that direct passage from Europe to Traverse City would be between $32.40-34.40, via the New German Line, Old German Line and the Bremen Line. Jarmulowsky also quotes the ticket prices for children under 1 year ($1.00) and under 12 (half price the ticket cost for adults).
In April 1886, Jacob Steinberg appears again in a letter from Kate Steinberg to her “Papa.”142 In the letter, Katie described the business they were having since Julius Steinberg went away (likely on a business trip, as he often went) in addition to updates about family members, like her brother Jacob H. Steinberg and wrote this about Jacob Steinberg:
Uncle Steinberg sold his horse last Friday for $165.00. If he would stay in the store and help her he said he didn’t know. Saturday he went to Levinson’s and bought dress goods for cash. This morning he went out peddling with Jake Greenberg and his horse.
Katie’s command of the English language, i.e. grammar, punctuation, and spelling, are that of a native speaker, contrasting with many of Steinberg's handwritten correspondences filled with misspellings (for example: “allways," “havy goods”), awkward syntax, and incorrect grammar.143 It is very likely that many of the correspondences in the Julius Steinberg Papers Collection are drafts, as they are often fragmentary, have words crossed out, or remain incomplete and unsigned. Considering that Steinberg retained these letters and that they are in the Local History Collection means he never sent them.
As late as 1886, Jacob Steinberg still lived in Traverse City, and was still peddling in the area. By 1892, Jacob arrived in Detroit with his wife, Hannah and their six children. 144 Jacob’s business in Detroit was in second hand goods, in 1899 his store located on 157 Michigan Avenue, Detroit. Jacob died on February 11, 1908.145
Steinberg's Grand Opera House
All of Steinberg's success led to Steinberg's next pursuit, which he would continue even after retiring to Detroit in 1906. On March 5, 1891, Steinberg announced that the plans for Steinberg's Grand Opera House were completed. Located on the north side of Front Street, the opera house was anticipated to have "first-class entertainments in a handsome, comfortable perfectly appointed opera hall.”146 The person responsible for the plans (alongside Julius Steinberg) was William G. Robinson, an architect from Grand Rapids. The well-known architect, Robinson was the architect the Grand Opera House and Robinson designed the Perry Hannah House147 in 1891, in addition to the Voigt House in Grand Rapids in 1895, and many other many Grand Rapids buildings.148
The construction of the Steinberg Opera House and Hannah’s mansion coincide, potentially due to sharing an architect. In a letter dated September 1, 1891, from Anton Hirth of the Cut Stone Contractors in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Hirth informs Steinberg that he has sent via the G. R. and I. railroad the following stone: eight plinths for basement, nineteen window sills and seven door sills. In addition, Hirth included nine window sills or various sizes for Mr. Perry Hannah. All of the stone was billed to Steinberg, and Hirth promised to “notify Mr. Hannah of this,” likely so that Hannah could pay Steinberg the cost of his shipment.149
The correspondences between W. G. Robinson and Steinberg represent the majority of letters in the Julius Steinberg Papers Collection. A total of at nineteen correspondences, dating from March 1891 to May 1892, were almost all concerned with plans and specific construction directions for arches, doors, and window sills.150 From the correspondences, we know that Robinson was ill during the construction of the opera house, thus some of the correspondences were written by a third party.151
On October 16, 1891, Robinson writes, “there have been so many alterations made in the plans generally that it is impossible for me to know the last decided in many things as I have no copy here to go by.”152 Based on this and the other correspondences, many alterations were made to the plans that Robinson lost track of all the changes, suggesting that Steinberg was (in Robinson’s eyes) fairly particular and demanding when it came to the Opera House. At this time Robinson was still ill, writing Steinberg: “I wish I was well enough to go up and see you but cannot do so yet. I have to be very careful. but I am able to remain here at the office most of the day and will endeavor to have your wishes complied with.”153
Steinberg's first correspondence with Terra Cotta Brick company began in October 16, 1891.154 In one correspondence dated November 3, 1891, Steinberg complains about the rock faced brick he received from the Terra Cotta Brick Co. were not satisfactory, claiming the bricks cannot be used unless “worked all over again” because “the idiot who picked the rockface on them made a total failure of it.”
In response, the Terra Cotta Brick Company explained that they had sent the exact order Steinberg placed in person and reminded Steinberg that they their plan for the arch was better but Steinberg claimed that his mason could mark it on site and cut the brick to fit. Part of their argument against Steinberg's claim details the success and general satisfaction of the company's products:
"We don’t understand what you mean when you say, that the rock faced brick cannot be used unless they are worked over again. We are selling thousands & thousands of these bricks and have just furnished about 12000 for one building and we never have heard one word of complaint. It seems to us that your mason does not know much about pressed brick."
They finished by saying “If you let us furnish you with the arch you would have had no trouble.”
Besides the product, Steinberg appeared to also disagree with the final bill sent from the Terra Cotta Brick Company. On January 18, 1892, seventeen days after sending Steinberg the invoice,155the Terra Cotta Brick Company tells Steinberg that his check for $41.80 would not suffice, “as we cannot accept it in full settlement of your acct.” 156 The amount given was probably the amount Steinberg felt he owed, as Terra Cotta Brick Company explains that Steinberg claimed deductions for shipping, the price of the bricks and the rock facing bricks, and for the re-cutting of bricks. The company argues that the re-cutting was “entirely a matter of taste on your part.” In the end, Steinberg under paid them $7.70. 157 There are no more known correspondences, but it appears Steinberg was in somewhat good graces at the end of their transactions, as the Terra Cotta Brick Company sent a correspondence to Steinberg in May 1892, asking for Steinberg’s opinion/review of the bricks and whether he knows about any business opportunities: “any prospects for selling some of our brick in your market this coming season”158
Timeline of Construction
Construction of Steinberg's building likely began in the fall 1891 and extended far into the next year. As of February 1892, Steinberg required a further $10,000 to finish his “Magnificent Block."159 On March 31, 1892, Steinberg’s opera house was slowly progressing, but first floor now occupiable.160
On May 5, 1892, Steinberg hosted the fireman’s dance on the first floor of his new building,161 but Steinberg would not move into the new sales floors until June 15, 1892.162 The grand opening for the store was on July 11, 1892, which showcased Steinberg's new headquarters.163 Steinberg had outfitted the first floor and basement to display his expansive stock of dry goods (clothing, carpets, Ladies’ and gent’ furnishing goods.”). The sales room was 56 x 100 square feet and oak fitting were completed by A. W. Wait.164
Growing skyward over the course of 1892, Steinberg began constructing the upper story of his opera house and in June 15, 1893, Steinberg added an addition of 30 x 16 feet by 14 to 22 feet in height to fit the opera house’s large stage.165
The interior designer was decided by May 18, 1893, when Steinberg hired the firm of theatre architects, Oscar Cobb and Son of Chicago, to complete the interior of Grand Opera House.166 Oscar Cobb was prominent architect who designed about 200, including the Grand Opera House in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the Kerredge Theater in Hancock, Michigan. 167 The only other information about the interior of the opera house can be found in a few photographs like those taken at Kate Steinberg's wedding in 1895 while other detailed descriptions were published by the newspaper.
A second Steinberg family wedding took place at the Grand Opera House in July 1903. This was the wedding Ella Steinberg and Meyer A. Bernstein, described in the Evening Record as “one of Traverse City’s Popular Young Women and the Groom a Well Known Business Man of Chicago.”169 Their “elaborate” wedding, hosted 100 guests, mostly from out of town. The stage was “banked with palms, ferns and flowers” and the basement floor of the opera house was decorated and “transformed into a beautiful banquet hall.” 170 As Ella and Meyer were both popular, the couple supposedly received over one hundred telegrams from friends in Michigan, Illinois and other states. They were also given a check of $500 from Mr. and Mrs. Julius Steinberg.171
Renovations can also give an idea of what the interior of the building looked like. After the devastating fire of 1896, the interior of Steinberg's Grand Opera House was redone by Bert Hall. Hall had previously painted mythological figure of Diana in proscenium arch (the arch over the stage) in Spring 1896.172 Although the "Diana" relief is unknown, other iterations of the proscenium arch paintings can be found in various photographs; like the proscenium arch in the background of a photograph taken at the Kate Steinberg – Moses Rosenthal wedding in 1895.
The "horse shoe" under the front gallery was painted with a “clouded background of shaded old rose and antique blue” with "Italian Renaissance," floral designs, and “two elaborate musical pieces.”173 The box seats were painted in antique blue and the vestibule was painted with “sunlight and gray olive tints in flat Italian renaissance.” Hall was also tasked with painting a new drop curtain.174 Mr. Hall is a thorough artist, and has done some excellent work in this city, and “Mr. Steinberg has reason to be prouder than ever of his opera house, which cannot be excelled in the state.”175
Over the next decade Steinberg initiated other improvements to the Grand Opera House. In October 1898, Steinberg initiated a renovation of the opera house, employing carpenters to overhaul the chairs on the main floor to expanding the seating capacity by adding “many more seats both in the orchestra or parquet and in the dress circle.”176 In 1901, Steinberg revamped all of the scenery at the Grand Opera House, changing the colors and adding more pieces, including made-to-order pieces Steinberg ordered after a trip to Chicago.177 Even after Steinberg retired to Detroit, he would oversee certain developments, specifically with his Opera House. In July 1907, Steinberg was in Traverse City managing the improvements to the opera house, i.e. new coat of paint, amongst other unspecified interior improvements.178
The End of Steinberg
May 1903 marks the beginning of the end of Julius Steinberg's mercantile life. It is unknown for how long Steinberg's business was suffering, but in May 1903, the Ferguson Adjustment Co. from Chicago arrived in Traverse City. The adjustment firm came to collect the debts due to Steinberg's creditors (the largest debts were said to be in Chicago) by selling Steinberg's assets, i.e. his stock of dry goods. In response, Steinberg expressed the following:
"I will pay 100 cents on the dollar, even if I have to sacrifice my opera house building and other property. Mr. Ferguson's coming here was no surprise to me, as I had known for some time that he had some large claims in his hands."179
At this point of financial crisis, Steinberg announced the end of his mercantile career on November 28, 1903, at which point Steinberg leased his building.180
Shortly thereafter in December 1903 or January 1904, the Steinberg Brother’s dry goods and clothing store was in business in Steinberg's old store.181 Operated by Jacob H. Steinberg and Alec Steinberg, the two continued the Steinberg's residency in Traverse City, even after Julius Steinberg changed his address to 91 Watson Street, Detroit Michigan in December 1906.182
The Lyric Theater
The end of Steinberg's Grand Opera House is evidenced by a petition from Steinberg concerning the financial situation of the opera house brought before the City Commission of Traverse City in 1915. On June 1915, Steinberg spoke about the license required on the opera house, amount “too high for present income of the house.”183 Steinberg must not have paid the licensing fee, as on July 1915, the commissioner of public affairs recommended that the Grand Opera House not be allowed to show until the license covering had been paid.184 The lull in Steinberg's Grand Opera House lead to a new endeavor, a movie theater.
In March 1916, Steinberg presented an application for a permit to erect “Theatre Building” on Front Street, which was later reviews and the report of committee for the application likely approved the application.185 Then on July 12, 1916, the commission received from J. M. Loudon asking permission to transfer Travis theatre license to the new Lyric Theatre presented and supported and granted.186 In December 1916, Hirim Russky (potentially in charge of the financials of the Opera House) requested a refund of one-half year on the Steinberg Opera House and the City Commission granted the request.187 Meaning that the opera house had not used as a theater for at least half of the year, thus requesting half the amount paid to the city for licensing the theater.
What Became of the Family
According to the 1910 census, Julius, Miriam, Irene and Birde Alte lived together on 91 Watson Street in Detroit.189 Marie Steinberg died January 4, 1916 at 67 years old.190Jacob H. Steinberg died on December 14, 1922 in Traverse City, Michigan at 55 years old.191
After 1920, Julius, Birdie, and Irene lived together.192 At some point Julius moved to 310 Hendrie Street, Detroit, where he lived before he died. After only being sick for five days, Julius Steinberg died at age 76 of “Pancreatitis Acute” on April 4, 1923.193 Irene and Birdie would live together for the rest of their lives, remaining single and working various jobs. 194 Although, in 1930, Irene (51) and Birdie (50) lived with Hirim (45) and Joe R. Russky (47) of Traverse City.195 Birdie died in 1942, Irene died February 1, 1943, both single.196
Fires
After a fire on January 24, 1900, which destroyed 5 buildings from Steinberg Block to Cass Street, Steinberg paid cash for the lot of the destroyed Cohen building, just west of opera house, on November 15, 1900. 197 The purchase gave Steinberg a total of 152 feet of frontage on Front Street but soon, he sold the lot by May 1901, when the plans for the Campbell block were finalized. The architect, F. E. Moore, designed the building in “classic Greek style” with the Campbell Bros. on the first floor and the upper floors occupied by the Elks Club.198 The Elks Club would be the downfall of the Steinberg Block, as the Elk’s Club fire of December 13, 1963 irrevocably damaged Steinberg's Grand Opera House.199
The fire was not completely responsible for the Opera House’s demise, since moving pictures pushed traditional theater to the wayside since its advent. While Steinberg no longer has his original stamp on Front Street, the State Theater is an extension of Steinberg's Lyric Theater, occupying the same lot on Front Street and remaining a movie theater. Since would there even be a State Theater if Steinberg did not construct the Lyric Theatre in 1916? Along with Temple Beth El, whose congregation and building remains in Traverse City as a working synagogue and historic site, the State Theater is the last of Steinberg's physical legacy in Traverse City.
Old Reliable Steinberg represents the quintessential experience and journey of European Jews who left their homelands in the second half of the nineteenth century to come to the United States and whose business success began as a peddler. Contributing culture, architecture, and business, Steinberg and his family were vital members of the community as Traverse City grew from wooden to brick buildings.
1 “Indo-European language family tree,” World History Encyclopedia, last modified January 19, 2013. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/1028/indo-european-language-family-tree/.
2 Jewish Records Indexing - Poland, “Suwalki Births, Marriages, Deaths 1826-1885,” last modified December 2006, https://www.jri-poland.org/.
3 “Suwalki Births, Marriages, Deaths 1826-1885.”
4 “Suwalki Births, Marriages, Deaths 1826-1885.”
5 “History of Suwałki,” Suwałki, accessed January 3, 2025, https://um.suwalki.pl/o-miescie,60/historia-suwalk,2568.
6 Kasriel Eilender, “A Brief History of Jews in Suwalki,” JewishGen KehilaLinks, accessed October 5, 2024, http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/suwalki/history.htm.
7 “History of Suwałki;” Alex E. Friedlander, From Suwalki to St. Ignace: A History of the Rosenthal, Reinhertz, Blumrosen, Winkelman and Related Families, Vol. 1 (Brooklyn: Breakaway Production, 2003), 4-5.
8 Berl Kahan,“ One Hundred Years of Suwalk Jewish Community,”in Jewish community book Suwalk and vicinity: Translation of Sefer kehilat Suvalk u-benotehah, JewishGen, accessed January 3, 2025, https://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/suwalki/suwe009.html#Page10.
9 Friedlander, From Suwalki to St. Ignace, 16; Šarūnas Liekis, “Suwałki,” YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe, last modified February 12, 2010, https://devencyclopedia.yivo.org/article/979.
10 Berl Kahan,“ One Hundred Years of Suwalk Jewish Community,” Jewish community book Suwalk and vicinity: Translation of Sefer kehilat Suvalk u-benotehah, JewishGen, accessed January 3, 2025, https://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/suwalki/suwe009.html#Page10; Liekis, “Suwałki.”
11 Hasia R. Diner, Roads Taken: The Great Jewish Migrations to the New World and the Peddlers Who Forged the Way (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 2015), 2.
12 Friedlander, From Suwalki to St. Ignace, 26, 29.
13 Friedlander, From Suwalki to St. Ignace, 24.
14 Friedlander, From Suwalki to St. Ignace, 24.
15 Friedlander, From Suwalki to St. Ignace, 15; Kahan,“ One Hundred Years of Suwalk Jewish Community.”
16 Yohanan Petrovsky-Shtern, “Military Service in Russia,” YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe, last modified February 12, 2010, https://encyclopedia.yivo.org/article/244.
17 Friedlander, From Suwalki to St. Ignace, 46.
18 Friedlander, From Suwalki to St. Ignace, 17, 23.
19 For history and context for the January Uprising, see, Piotr Nowak, “The January Uprising of 1863: Significance & Antecedents,” Culture.pl, last modified February 6 2023, https://culture.pl/en/article/the-january-uprising-of-1863-significance-antecedents.
20 Devera Stocker, “When Grandfather Julius Came to Michigan,” Michigan Jewish History 6, no. 1 (November 1965): 11.
21 Stocker, “When Grandfather Julius,” 11; Piotr Nowak, “The January Uprising of 1863: Significance & Antecedents.”
22 Hasia R. Diner, A Time for Gathering : The Second Migration, 1820-1880 (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1992), 47.
23 “Baltimore Line Ticket Receipt for Jacob Steinberg, September 12, 1883.” Courtesy of Beth Shalom Congregation.
24 Diner, A Time for Gathering, 43.
25 Diner, A Time for Gathering, 43.
26 Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) and Europeana, “Leaving Europe: a new life in America: Departure and Arrival,” Europeana, accessed January 24, 2025, https://www.europeana.eu/en/exhibitions/leaving-europe/departure-and-arrival.
27Timothy Hatton, “Emigrant Voyages from the UK to North America and Australasia, 1853-1913,” IZA - Institute of Labor Economics, 2023, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep57634.
28 Hatton, “Emigrant Voyages from the UK to North America and Australasia, 1853-1913.”
29 “Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934, 1860-1869, Indirekt Band 015 (1 Jan 1869 - 31 Dez 1869), no. 44, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/1068/records/5265222.
30 See, M. Toch, “Jewish migration, medieval era,” in The Encyclopedia of Global Human Migration, ed. I. Ness, (2013), https://www.academia.edu/23783956/Jewish_migration_medieval_era.
31 Diner, Roads Taken, 58.
32 Diner, Roads Taken, 71.
33 Diner, Roads Taken, 46.
34 Diner, Roads Taken, 17.
35 Diner, Roads Taken, 16
36 Diner, Roads Taken, 17.
37 Diner, Roads Taken, 45.
38 Diner, Roads Taken, 20.
39 Diner, Roads Taken, 45.
40 Diner, A Time for Gathering, 77.
41 Diner, A Time for Gathering, 77.
42 Grand Traverse Herald, October 6, 1870, 3, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18701006-01.1.3&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN----------.
43 Devera Stocker, “When Grandfather Julius,” 12.
44 Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952, Certificates, 1921-1945 702: Wayne (Detroit), 1945-1945, 343953 https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/60872/records/422394; 1880 United States Federal Census, Michigan, Grand Traverse, Traverse City, 082, sheet 451B, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/6742/records/31567242.
45 “New Store,” Grand Traverse Herald, November 2, 1876, 3, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18761102-01.1.3&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN----------.
46 Michigan, U.S., Birth Records, 1867-1913, Gogebic- Grand Traverse, year ending in 1876, 200, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/62374/records/2129411; 1880 United States Federal Census, Traverse City, sheet 451B.
47 Michigan, U.S., Birth records 1867-1913, for the year ending December 31, 1881, 213, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/62374/records/2130107.
48 U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Michigan, Wayne County, 2, Draft Card S, no. 427, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/6482/records/20300928.
491940 United States Federal Census, California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 60-305, sheet 4B, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/2442/records/75406608.
50 Grand Traverse Herald, March 22, 1877, 6, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://tinyurl.com/44wphkaj.
51 Grand Traverse Herald, July 19, 1877 2, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18770719-01.1.5&srpos=25&e=-------en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-21-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
52 Grand Traverse Herald, November 8, 1877, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://tinyurl.com/3t368mjv.
53 Grand Traverse Herald, November 8, 1877 , 5; Grand Traverse Herald, March 20, 1879, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18790320-01.1.5&srpos=94&e=-------en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-91-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
54 Grand Traverse Herald, January 31, 1878, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers,
55 Grand Traverse Herald, April 25, 1878, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18780425-01.1.5&srpos=1&e=-------en-10--1-byDA-txt-txIN-Steinberg-------GrandTraverseGTH18780425%252D01–.
56 Michigan Birth records also list an Irena Steinberg born January 8, 1879 by Julius and Mary Steinberg. With two birth records, which one is accurate? Interestingly enough, her birthdate is “unknown” on Irene’s 1943 death certificate, with the informant, the elder sister of Irene, Kate. H. Rosenthal. Michigan, U.S., Birth records 1867-1913, for the year ending December 31, 1878, 223; Michigan, U.S., Births and Christenings Index, 1867-1911, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/2560/records/621277; Michigan, U.S. Death Records, 1867-1952, 688: Wayne (Detroit), 1942-1943, file no. 1505.
57 “Traverse City Railroad Company Receipts, April 18,1881 (3),” TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 28, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32739.
58 Grand Traverse Herald, January 16, 1879, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18790116-01.1.5&srpos=85&e=-------en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-81-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
59 Grand Traverse Herald, January 16, 1879, 5.
60 Grand Traverse Herald, January 29, 1880, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18800129-01.1.5&srpos=7&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-1-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
61 Grand Traverse Herald, January 29, 1880, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18800129-01.1.5&srpos=7&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-1-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
62 Grand Traverse Herald, November 4, 1880, 3, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18801104-01.1.3&srpos=180&e=-------en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-171-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
63 Diner, Roads Taken, 61.
64 Grand Traverse Herald, April 19, 1888, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18880419-01.1.5&srpos=420&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-411-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
65 Grand Traverse Herald, April 19, 1888, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18880419-01.1.5&srpos=420&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-411-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
66 Grand Traverse Herald, October 25, 1888 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18881025-01.1.5&srpos=452&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-451-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
67 Grand Traverse Herald, February 7, 1889, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18890207-01.1.5&srpos=469&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-461-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
68 Grand Traverse Herald, June 1, 1882, 3, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18820601-01.1.3&srpos=2&e=-------en-10--1-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg-------GrandTraverseGTH18820601%252D01--.
69 Grand Traverse Herald, May 25, 1882, 3, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18820525-01.1.3&srpos=2&e=-------en-10--1-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg-------GrandTraverseGTH18820525%252D01--
70 “Correspondence to Steinberg, from S. Goldman from Detroit, August 19, 1886,” TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 28, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32765; “Correspondence to Steinberg, from S. Goldman from Detroit, August 25, 1886,” TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 30, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32766.
71 Diner, A Time for Gathering, 87.
72 Grand Traverse Herald, May 17, 1883, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18830517-01.1.5&srpos=191&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-191-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
73 “Important Notice to Merchants - Lamson Store Service Company, Boston, January 1, 1886,” TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 28, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32800.
74 Andrew Buxton, Cash Carriers in Shops (Princes Risborough: Shire Publications, 2004), 3.
75 Buxton, Cash Carriers in Shops, 4-5.
76 Half-Century's Progress of the City Of Chicago: The City's Leading Manufacturers And Merchants
(Chicago: International Pub. Co., 1887), 291, https://hdl.handle.net/2027/chi.23580372?urlappend=%3Bseq=295%3Bownerid=13510798903265647-315.
77 Buxton, Cash Carriers in Shops, 4.
78 Traverse City Record Eagle, August 20, 1897, 1, Newspaper Archive.
79 Traverse City Record Eagle, August 20, 1897, 1.
80 Traverse City Morning Record, June 16, 1898 3, Newspaper Archive; Traverse City Bay Eagle, June 24, 1898, 1, Newspaper Archive.
81 Traverse City Morning Record, April 9, 1898, 2, Newspaper Archive.
82 Traverse City Record Eagle, August 21, 1897, 2, Newspaper Archive.
83 Friedlander, From Suwalki to St. Ignace, 39.
84 Friedlander, From Suwalki to St. Ignace, 39.
85 Diner, Roads Taken, 86, 102.
86 Diner, “Road Rage: Jewish peddlers and the Perils of the Road,” in Roads Taken, 115-145.
87 Grand Traverse Herald, July 10, 1884, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18840710-01.1.5&srpos=247&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-241-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
88 Michigan, U.S. Death Records, 1867-1952, registers 1867-1897, 19: Eaton-Washtenaw, 1883. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/60872/records/605659.
89 Grand Traverse Herald, January 11, 1883, 5, , CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18830111-01.1.5&srpos=174&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-171-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
90 Grand Traverse Herald, July 30 1885, 4, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18850730-01.1.4&srpos=290&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-281-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
91 Moses Montefiore was an Orthodox Sephardic Jew, who became the second Jewish sheriff of London. Montefiore was involved in international affairs concerning the freedom of Jews, and made charitable donations for a variety of causes and purposes, i.e. a hospital. See, “Sir Moses Montefiore, Baronet,” Britannica Biographies, March 27, 2024, 1, https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=61761b69-1766-3f51-91da-16b6016b4ce1; Grand Traverse Herald, 6 August 1885, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers.
92 Congregation Beth El of Traverse City, 1885-2007, 2nd ed. (Traverse City: The Copy Shop, 2007),8.
93 “Services in the Synagogue,” Traverse City Evening Record, September 13, 1901, 6, Newspaper Archive.
94 “Many Prominent Hebrews Were in the City for the Day of Atonement Ceremonies,” Traverse City Morning Record, October 5, 1900, 2, Newspaper Archive.
95 “Beginning of Year 5664: Hebrews will Celebrate in the Synagogue,” Traverse City Daily Eagle, September 21, 1903, 4.
96 Kathryn Bishop Eckert, “Temple Beth El [Traverse City, Michigan],” SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley (Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012), accessed January 20, 2025, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/MI-01-GT2; Grand Traverse Herald, March 18, 1886, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18860318-01.1.5&srpos=329&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-321-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
97 See, Grand Traverse Herald, August 6, 1885, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18850806-01.1.5&srpos=1&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN-hebrew-------GrandTraverseGTH18850806%252D01--.
98 Congregation Beth El of Traverse City, 1885-2007, 2nd ed. (Traverse City: The Copy Shop, 2007), 6.
99 The Herald reports that “visitors are expected from throughout northern Michigan” for a meeting at Julius Steinberg's residence. Grand Traverse Herald, September 3, 1885, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18850903-01.1.5&srpos=16&e=------188-en-10--11-byDA-txt-txIN-Hebrews--------Grand+Traverse+County-.
100 Grand Traverse Herald, September 17, 1885, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18850917-01.1.5&srpos=300&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-291-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
101 Grand Traverse Herald, October 1, 1885, 5 CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18851001-01.1.5&srpos=303&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-301-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
102 Grand Traverse Herald, November 12, 1885 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18851112-01.1.5&srpos=309&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-301-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
103 Courtesy of Beth Shalom Congregation.
104 Courtesy of Beth Shalom Congregation; “J. Levinson note to Steinberg, give money to Mr. Holliday, November 30, 1885,” TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 28, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32748.
105 “J. Levinson, Hannah, Lay, & Co. Correspondence, March 29, 1886,” TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 28, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32787; Courtesy of Beth Shalom Congregation.
106 Grand Traverse Herald, November 19, 1885, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18851119-01.1.5&srpos=17&e=------188-en-10--11-byDA-txt-txIN-Hebrews--------Grand+Traverse+County-.
107 Grand Traverse Herald, November 19, 1885, 5.
108 Grand Traverse Herald, November 26, 1885, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18851126-01.1.5&srpos=1&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN-Hebrew-------GrandTraverseGTH18851126%252D01--.
109 Grand Traverse Herald, March 18, 1886, 5.
110 Grand Traverse Herald, January 7, 1886, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18860107-01.1.5&srpos=316&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-311-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
111 Grand Traverse Herald, October 7, 1886, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18861007-01.1.5&srpos=356&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-351-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
112 Grand Traverse Herald, October 7, 1886, 5.
113Grand Traverse Herald, October 21, 1886, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18861021-01.1.5&srpos=358&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-351-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
114 Grand Traverse Herald, September 6, 1888, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18880906-01.1.5&srpos=443&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-441-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
115 Traverse City Record Eagle, September 2, 1897, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18970902-01.1.5&srpos=1&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN-Steinberg-------GrandTraverseGTH18970902%252D01--.
116 “Extend Call to Rabbi,” Traverse Bay Eagle, May 17, 1902, 2, Newspaper Archive.
117 Grand Traverse Herald, April 8, 1886, 4, Newspaper Archive.
118 Grand Traverse Herald, January 11, 1883, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18830111-01.1.5&srpos=174&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-171-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
119 Traverse City Morning Record, September 15, 1898, 2, Newspaper Archive.
120 Traverse City Morning Record, September 15, 1898, 2.
121 Traverse City Morning Record, November 9, 1899, 3, Newspaper Archive. May 6, 1901.
122 “Official Proceedings of the Common Council of the City of Traverse City, May 7, 1900.”
123 Traverse City Morning Record, January 8, 1901, 1, Newspaper Archive.
124 Traverse City Morning Record, January 8, 1901, 1.
125 “457.171 Sons of Industry; supreme lodge; incorporation,” Michigan Legislature: Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 185 of 2024, accessed January 31, 2025, https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-457-171.
126 “Membership Certificate Number 799-800 for Sons of Industry, August 24, 1883,” TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 29, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32772.
127 “Supreme Secretary's Office Certificate of Sons of Industry Membership, July 21, 1884,”TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 29, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32771.
128 Grand Traverse Herald, August 1, 1889, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18890801-01.1.5&srpos=510&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-501-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------; Grand Traverse Herald, February 13, 1890, 4, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18900213-01.1.4&srpos=550&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-541-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------; Grand Traverse Herald, January 22, 1891, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18910122-01.1.5&srpos=605&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-601-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------.
129 Grand Traverse Herald, 16 June 1892, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18920616-01.1.5&srpos=31&e=--1892---1893--en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-31-byDA-img-txIN-steinberg---------.
130 “Fine Umbrella,” Traverse City Evening Record, February 29, 1904, 4, Newspaper Archive.
131 “Fine Umbrella,” Traverse City Evening Record, February 29, 1904, 4.
132 “Purim Ball Given By O.B.A.,” Traverse City Record Eagle, March 7, 1904, 1, Newspaper Archive; “To Hebrew Cemetery: Members of the Order of Brith Abraham Donate the Surplus from the Purim Ball,” Traverse City Record Eagle, March 14, 1904, 4, Newspaper Archive.
133 “Feast of Hanouka: Hebrews Celebrated National Festival,” Traverse City Evening g Record, December 14, 1903, 1, Newspaper Archive.
134 “Jews will Celebrate Feast “Hanoukah,”” Traverse City Evening Record, December 8, 1903, 1, Newspaper Archive.
135 “The Feast of Passover,” Traverse City Bay Eagle, April 5, 1901, 5, Newspaper Archive.
136 “Suwalki Births, Marriages, Deaths 1826-1885;” 1900 United States Federal Census, Michigan, Wayne, Detroit Ward 04, District 0035, sheet 7B, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/7602/records/25807853.
137 Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 125: Wayne-Wayne (Detroit), 1908, no. 814.
138 “Suwalki Births, Marriages, Deaths 1826-1885.”
139 1910 United States Federal Census, Michigan, Wayne, Detroit Ward 3, District 0037, sheet 12A, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/7602/records/25807853.
1401900 United States Federal Census, Michigan, Wayne, Detroit Ward 04, District 0035, sheet 7B, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/7602/records/25807853; Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952, Certificates, 1897-1920, 220: Wayne (Detroit), 1915, no. 7866, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/imageviewer/collections/60872/images/44471_354887-01373?pId=3520294.
141 “Baltimore Line Ticket Receipt for Jacob Steinberg, September 12, 1883.” Courtesy of Beth Shalom Congregation.
142 Courtesy of Beth Shalom Congregation.
143 See, “Correspondence Office of J. Steinberg to D. Harris Wolff, May 30th 1886,” TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 28, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32826.
144 Devera Stocker, “Julius Steinberg and His Brother Jacob Steinberg,” Michigan Jewish History 16, no. 2, (June 1974): 29-32.
145 Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 125: Wayne-Wayne (Detroit), 1908, no. 814.
146 Grand Traverse Herald, 5 March 1891 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18910305-01.1.5&srpos=612&e=--1880-----en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-611-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg---------; Grand Traverse Herald, March 17, 1892, 4, Newspaper Archive.
147 Kathryn Bishop Eckert, “Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home (Perry and Anna Amelia Flint Hannah House) [Traverse City, Michigan],” SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley (Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012), accessed January 20, 2025, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/MI-01-GT7.
148 Kathryn Bishop Eckert, “Carl Gustav Adolph and Elizabeth S. W. Voigt House [Grand Rapids, Michigan],” SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley (Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012), accessed January 20, 2025, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/MI-01-KT34; “Death was Sudden: W. G. Robinson, Pioneer Architect, Is Dead,” The Grand Rapids Press, February 20, 1907, 6. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-death-was-sudden/161861723/.
149 “Correspondence Cut Stone Contractors to Julius Steinberg, September 1, 1891,”TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 28, 2025,https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32723.
150 See, “Sketch of Brick Arch and correspondence,” TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 28, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32705; “Correspondence W.G. Robinson Architect, to Julius Steinberg, November 3, 1891,” TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 28, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32715.
151 “Correspondence W.G. Robinson Architect, to Julius Steinberg, July 10, 1891,” TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 28, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32708.
152 “Correspondence W.G. Robinson Architect, to Julius Steinberg, October 16, 1891,” TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 28, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32711.
153 “Correspondence W.G. Robinson Architect, to Julius Steinberg, October 16, 1891,” TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 28, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32711.
154 “Correspondence Terra Cotta Brick Co., Chicago to Julius Steinberg, October 16, 1891.”
155 “Invoice Bought of Terra Cotta Brick Co. Vitrified Pressed Brick, January 1st, 1892,” TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 28, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32701.
156“Correspondence Terra Cotta Brick Co. to Julius Steinberg, January 18, 1892,” TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 28, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32702.
157“Correspondence Terra Cotta Brick Co. to Julius Steinberg, January 18, 1892.”
158 “Correspondence Terra Cotta Brick Co. to Julius Steinberg, May 24, 1892,” TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 28, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/32703.
159 Grand Traverse Herald, February 4, 1892, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18920204-01.1.5&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN----------.
160 Grand Traverse Herald, March 31, 1892, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18920331-01.1.5&srpos=15&e=--1892---1893--en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-11-byDA-img-txIN-steinberg---------.
161 Grand Traverse Herald, May 5, 1892, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18920505-01.1.5&srpos=23&e=--1892---1893--en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-21-byDA-img-txIN-steinberg---------.
162 Grand Traverse Herald, June 2, 1892, 4, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18920602-01.1.4&srpos=28&e=--1892---1893--en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-21-byDA-img-txIN-steinberg---------.
163 Grand Traverse Herald, June 30, 1892, 4, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18920630-01.1.4&e=--1892---1893--en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-1--img-txIN-steinberg---------.
164 Grand Traverse Herald, July 14, 1892, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18920714-01.1.5&e=--1892---1893--en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-1--img-txIN-steinberg---------.
165 Grand Traverse Herald, June 15, 1893, 5, , CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18930615-01.1.5&e=--1892---1893--en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-1--img-txIN-steinberg---------.
166 Grand Traverse Herald, May 18, 1893, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18930518-01.1.5&srpos=10&e=--1892---1893--en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-1--img-txIN-steinberg---------.
167 A. K. Hoagland, Oscar Bobb, posted November 7, 2016, Copper County Architects: Biographical Dictionary of Copper Country architects, https://ss.sites.mtu.edu/cca/cobb/.
168 Grand Traverse Herald, June 27, 1895, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18950627-01.1.5&e=--1892---1893--en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-1--img-txIN-steinberg---------.
169 Traverse City Evening Record, July 9, 1903, 1 , Newspaper Archive.
170 Traverse City Evening Record, July 9, 1903, 1 , Newspaper Archive.
171 Traverse City Evening Record, July 9, 1903, 1 , Newspaper Archive.
172 Grand Traverse Herald, December 17, 1896, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18961217-01.1.5&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN----------.
173 Grand Traverse Herald, December 17, 1896, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18961217-01.1.5&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN----------.
174 Grand Traverse Herald, December 17, 1896, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18961217-01.1.5&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN----------.
175 Grand Traverse Herald, December 17, 1896, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18961217-01.1.5&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN----------.
176 Traverse City Morning Record, October 15, 1898, 4, Newspaper Archive.
177 Traverse City Bay Eagle, May 17, 1901, 1, Newspaper Archive.
178 Grand Traverse Herald, July 25, 1907, 8, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH19070725-01.1.8&srpos=2&e=-------en-10--1--img-txIN-steinberg-------GrandTraverseGTH19070725%252D01--.
179 Traverse City Record Eagle, May 29, 1903, 1, Newspaper Archive.
180 Traverse City Record Eagle, November 28, 1903, 1, Newspaper Archive.
181 Grand Traverse Herald, December 8, 1904, 16, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH19041208-01.1.16&e=--1892---1893--en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-1--img-txIN-steinberg---------.
182 Grand Traverse Herald, December 6, 1906, 10, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH19061206-01.1.10&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN----------.
183 “Regular Meeting June 28, 1915,” in Official Proceedings of the City Commission of Traverse City, Michigan, Jan. 1 To Dec. 31, 1915, 134.
184 “Adjourned Regular Meeting July 2, 1915” in Official Proceedings of the City Commission of Traverse City, Michigan, Jan. 1 To Dec. 31, 1915, 140.
185 “Regular Meeting, March 27, 1916,” in Official Proceedings of the City Commission of Traverse City, Michigan, Jan. 1 To Dec. 31, 1916, 153.
186 “Regular Meeting, July 1, 1916,” in Official Proceedings of the City Commission of Traverse City, Michigan, Jan. 1 To Dec. 31, 1916, 85.
187 “Special Meeting December 27, 1916, 1915” in Official Proceedings of the City Commission of Traverse City, Michigan, Jan. 1 To Dec. 31, 1916, 289.
188 Traverse City Record Eagle, June 30, 1916, 2, Newspaper Archive.
189 1910 United States Federal Census, Michigan, Wayne, Detroit Ward 1,District 0011, sheet 9B, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/7884/records/198638640.
190 Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952, Certificates, 1897-1920, 232: Wayne-Wayne (Detroit), 1916, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/imageviewer/collections/60872/images/44471_354875-00766?pId=3300519
191Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952, Certificates, 1921-1945, 148: Grand Traverse (Traverse City), 1921-1926, no. 128653, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/60872/records/2212601.
1921920 United States Federal Census, Michigan, Wayne, Detroit Ward I, District 0035, sheet 11B, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/imageviewer/collections/6061/images/4311640-00669?pId=41091517.
193 Julius is buried with his wife, Miriam, and Irene Steinberg in the Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale, Michigan. Michigan, U.S. Death Records, 1867-1952, Certificates, 1921-1945, 603: Wayne (Detroit), 1923, no. 58225359, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/60872/records/719621.
194 1940 United States Federal Census, Michigan, Wayne, Detroit, 84-376, sheet 20A, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/2442/records/85618317.
195 1930 United States Federal Census, Michigan, Wayne, Detroit (Districts 1073-1094), District 1086, 5A, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/6224/records/11996356.
196 Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952, Certificates, 1921-1945, 688: Wayne (Detroit), 1942-1943, no. 302736, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/60872/records/884911; Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952, Certificates, 1921-1945, 687: Wayne (Detroit), 1942, no. 296796, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/60872/records/942863.
197 Grand Traverse Herald, February 1 1900, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH19000201-01.1.5&srpos=4&e=------190-en-10-GrandTraverseGTH-1-byDA-img-txIN-Steinberg----1900-----; Grand Traverse Herald, November 15, 1900, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH19001115-01.1.5&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN----------.
198 Grand Traverse Herald, November 15, 1900, 5, CMU Digital Michigan Newspapers, https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH19001115-01.1.5&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN----------; Traverse City Record Eagle, May 3, 1901, 1, Newspaper Archive.
199 “Elk's Club Building Fire, 13 December 1963,” TADL Local History Collection, accessed January 31, 2025, https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/17522.