Ethel's Memoirs: "Our bus ride was not particularly earth shaking, however when we arrived at our destination we were immediately delighted to find ourselves in the midst of a town filled with orchards of fruit trees galore. The cooperating early spring weather had brought out all the beautiful various colored buds. It was as though we had landed in Fairy-Land."

"They left Poland just in time to escape World War I. They arrived in Russelton, PA, a little mining town outside Pittsburgh, PA, where Grandpa Abe got work mining coal deep in the earth. Along with lots of other Polish-speaking immigrants. At least they could understand the language.

Grandma Ella began a buying service. That sounds fancy, but her's wasn't. What she did was take the orders and measurements of the coal miners' illiterate wives., trudge into Pittsburgh, buy what they had ordered, and trudge back under heavy load. Occasionally she'd get a ride from a passing horse and wagon. For this service she added a surcharge / each of her customers, and in this way she helped support her large - and growing - family. For in the Summer of 1915, along came their sixth child, Grandma Laura."
Norman B Jacobowitz, Letter to My Grandsons, 1984, Page 27

Renae's Story: When the family lived in Russelton, PA, where Abe worked in the mines, Ella would get clothing on consignment for the local ladies. Ella had very good taste in clothing.
One time when Ella was 8 months pregnant with Laura, she missed the 5 pm bus. Abe figured she had gone to the hospital, so he went home. Ella caught the next bus, but Abe wasn't there when she arrived with two huge bundles of consignment clothing. It was a hilly town, and Ella carried the bundles by walking 20 paces with one bundle, going back for the other, and leap frog carrying them until she got home. Renae's story has an edge of resentment toward her father. Related to David Jacobowitz, 2009.

Russelton, PA, 1915.
Ethel Danziger Zuckerman's Memoirs: "Now to get down to basics. Our housing facilities consisted of one good sized kitchen with a wood and coal burning stove, a table and chairs. All our meals were in this combined kitchen-dining surface. Directly off the kitchen was a good sized room which could have been used as a living room -- but Mom chose to make this the main bedroom for Mom and Dad and baby Helen. It was also for the convenience as to the location where Mom eventually gave birth to baby Laura."

Norman's Letter: "For in the Summer of 1915, along came their sixth child, Grandma Laura.
I said "Summer of 1915" because there's a story that goes with that birthday: Laura and my sister, Toddy, were one day disputing as to who was the older - that's older, not younger. Laura claimed a birth date of September 29, 1914, but had no proof to back her claim.
Toddy had her birth certificate showing April 10, 1915. To resolve any doubt, and without telling anyone, Toddy wrote to Pennsylvania for a copy of Laura's birth certificate. When it arrived there was quiet pandemonium, for not only was the year not 1914, but 1915; not only was the day not September 29, but August 30; and not only was the baby's name not Laura, but LUCY! It was thus that we were able to stage the only true surprise birthday party in existence.,
On August 30, 1940, I took Laura out to dinner., Meanwhile Toddy and George had had a huge blowup made of the real birth certificate, which they hung on the wall of our apartment. The whole family, and the certificate, were waiting in the dark when I opened our door and turned on the lights.
SURPRISE!!!
After the tumult had died down Laura told us all what she remembered about her strange birthday.. When the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, Laura was ready for enrollment in school, but the school needed to know her age. Grandma Ella had to think about that.
"Let's see.. We arrived in America just before the war. The war was in 1914. So, 1914."
"But Ma, what day in 1914?"
More thinking. "Hm. First is Passover, then Succoth, then seven weeks later is Shavuoth „ You were born seventeen days after Shavuoth, which makes it "
But the Hebrew calendar is a lunar calendar and doesn't coincide with the standard calendar from year to year. When Grandma Ella couldn't figure out what date 17 days after Shavuoth had been in 1914, Laura decided to pick her own date. This is how she did it:
School starts early in September. It takes time to make friends. If I make it too soon after school starts I won't have enough friends to come to my birthday party,. But by September 29th So she picked September 29th.

The Lucy part was equally as casual and happy. Along about the time of her birth, Laura's elder sisters, Frances, Ethel and Helen had been reading a lovely book whose heroine was named Lucy. When their parents decided to name the new baby Leah (the same as my mother, and spelled the same in both Hebrew and English), the girls assured the doctor that Lucy was the correct English translation. So Lucy it was on the birth certificate. Then the girls read another book (It wasn't until after that memorable birthday party that
Laura learned about Lucy/Leah.)

Two and a half years in Russellton, the family moves to Cleveland.

Ethel Danziger Zuckerman's Memoirs: "Though things were going nicely and Mom’s business was a success and life at home was most enjoyable because Mom and Dad were always with us, a truly wonderful relaxed atmosphere.

Frances by now just about 12 years old, as beautiful as ever, when Mom discovers that some of the young Poles were making eyes toward Frances. Well, Mom lost no time in making her decision to get out of Russellton as quickly as possible, before any complications regarding intermarriage might arise

So without a moment’s hesitation dear Mom gives up her developed entrepreneurship, and plans to leave for Cleveland were made immediately. This is just another instance where the thought of money to be made could not take precedence over the comfort and fidelity to her Jewishness and the solidity of her beloved family.

Yes the Danziger name could have and might have become a very famous one with possibilities of establishing a store in Russellton to reach many many more clients who were ready for this type of venture, that could have or might have led to branch stores, with a capable family to help eventually.

So On To Cleveland"

"When the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, Laura was ready for enrollment in school, but the school needed to know her age. Grandma Ella had to think about that.
"Let's see.. We arrived in America just before the war. The war was in 1914. So, 1914."
"But Ma, what day in 1914?"
More thinking. "Hm. First is Passover, then Succoth, then seven weeks later is Shavuoth. You were born seventeen days after Shavuoth, which makes it "
But the Hebrew calendar is a lunar calendar and doesn't coincide with the standard calendar from year to year. When Grandma Ella couldn't figure out what date 17 days after Shavuoth had been in 1914, Laura decided to pick her own date. This is how she did it:
School starts early in September. It takes time to make friends. If I make it too soon after school starts I won't have enough friends to come to my birthday party,. But by September 29th So she picked September 29th."
Norman B Jacoowitz, Letter to My Grandsons, 1984, p 29

November 8, 1934.

Dear Ethel:

I have finally procured the information you wanted,
1. - Arrived in 1913
2. Line - North-German-Lloyd - Ship Rhein
3. From Bremen, Germany
4. Docked in Baltimore
5. Came on second class - from Warsaw

I hope this will enable you to get the papers quickly - by the way have you your first papers - I took my first out 6 years ago when I left Cleveland - I heard that it now costs quite a bit for your second papers - what did Leo have to pay?
As soon as you fill out your questionnaire for your second papers - make a copy for me - and I will take mine out also.

Did you received my package - dont know why you haven't written me - and I'm mad -

November 10, 1943.

Today I'm not so mad -- just finished reading your letter - and am going to make this one very snappy -

First of all please dont wear a veil on your hat - it isn't considered so smart - hardly any of the girls wear them here - and it somewhat accentuates your nose - personally I think it would be smarter without the veil -

Is your dress the same as my picture - let me know how you are going to change the neckline - so I could tell Laura and she could fix it the same way -

Honey if you don't think it would be too much trouble could I have a letter to Garland - stating that I could take a dress with me - and pay for it right away - I was in there again and they refused me. I was in with Mrs. Kramer.

November 12,

to continue with the diary - what do you mean that every Friday you have a seat game - am trying to figure it out. Regarding the sweep-stake tickets you still have loads of time for that - when the time arrives for you to buy the tickets I shall let you know - it wont come thru for a couple of months yet - I dont want to keep this letter any longer so will conclude now - Loads of love to all - Frances.

[On the reverse, barely visible through the thin paper if you flip it and reverse the image.]

P.S. - I may as well mention the fact that I wish I could spend the coming week with you - cause the house is all upset - the painters came in this morning and started to paint the apartment - and you know just what that means for a whole week - We were going to move Mother - had a nice apartment picked out yesterday - 4 rooms and much nicer than the ones we have for practically the same price but the landlady told us that she was going to raise the rent very shortly - those darn cubby-holes - soo -- it [goes] take at least about $100.00 if you start to move - we would have to furnish a living room - cause that's what we want so badly - but there isn't a darn cent in the house - you make me laugh she you mentioned about asking Morris for money - he hasn't changed much I guess as far as contributions are conceded - you can't depend on him for a thing - so its just one great struggle - and inasmuch as she can get credit for groceries and so on -- she decided its the wisest thing to just stay on - if we just get a little cooperation from Pa and Morris but they just don't belong to the family it seems - no worries no responsibilities whatsoever - its funny how one thing just leads on to others - I just wanted to tell you abut the painters and I forgot myself and rambled on - but I'm not going to any more so good nite darling and take care of yourself.

[handwritten]
Frances 1527 Arlich

"On December 31, 1938, Laura left Brooklyn to come to a New Year's Eve party in -- for the first time In her life -- Jersey City. There we met. I took one look at this tall, slender» dark-haired, well-shaped girl dancing there in that living room, and something hit me. I said aloud, in admiration, "Some coefficient of muliebrity," a phrase I had read just that afternoon. She turned to me. "Muliebrile, indeed!" said she, giving me what-for in my own words, (feminine, feminity).

"Where are you from?" I said. "Brooklyn," said she,. "Brooklyn!?" said I, "she comes from Brooklyn and speaks English?!" 

A week later we were engaged. Two weeks later I introduced her to my parents. having picked her up at Bear Mountain Inn where she had been winter vacationing. As we walked into my parents' house, Laura was wearing Jodhpurs and smoking a cigarette in a long holder. Remember, this is January, 1939. My father took one look at the cigarette, one look at the pants, swallowed and said, "Welcome. Any friend of my son is a friend of mine. " First impressions, you see, aren't always right.

On our first date I took her, along with several other couples, to a posh restaurant in the Oranges famous for its lobster - one of her favorite foods, I had found out. (Having been raised kosher I had never tasted lobster,) The meal was a success, particularly the huge lobster, listed on the menu at $2. It was so big Laura shared it with some of the others. Then came the check. I hadn't noticed that after the $2, was the tiny word "up", and Laura's up was $7.

My sure cash earnings from my practice at that time were $15, a week. With the rest of what we had eaten, that blew my whole week's earnings, I've been trying to get it back ever since. I expect I have."

Norman Jacobowitz, Letter to My Grandsons, February, 1984

LKJ: "They had a modest wedding at the new home of her oldest brother [Moe Danziger] in Long Island, in 1938."

"We were married at the new home of Laura's brother, Moe, in Flushing, NY, on December 26, 19.39. That was the first day of Laura's winter vacation, hence the most sensible day we could pick. Our wedding march was a phonograph recording of Bruno Walter leading the NY Philharmonic in the Second Movement of Beethoven's Fifth. Our 3-room apartment cost $35. a month, our twice-a-week cleaning lady $1. per half day, and tennis at the County park was free. With my certain $15. per week, and Laura's $40. a week as a buyer at Abraham & Strauss in Brooklyn, we were rich!" Norman Jacobowitz, Letter to My Grandsons, February, 1984.

Margaret Haig Hospital, Jersey City, NJ. My mother was there, too.

(Norman and Laura were married in late 1939 and I was born a year and a half later. It is hard to believe that two such lusty young people did not conceive a child right after they married. I have to entertain the idea that Laura lost a child in that first year of marriage. DWJ, 2012, after reading Susan Jacoby's Half-Jew, in which she takes a journalist's hard nosed look at her family facts and stories.)

Englewood, NJ. April 6, 1945, right around when Roosevelt died