Sarah "Pebbles" Solomon

Born 3-29-1909, parents then living at 21 Kennedy Street, Hartford, Connecticut. Her parents were both 42 at the time of her birth.

Hartford Public High School Class of 1925 B

Year Book info:

Quote: "Ambition is the spice of life"

Aresenal School, K.B.L.S. 3, 4, Chairman of Executive Board 4, French Club 4, Upper Class Choir 2,3,4, Girl's Leader's Corps 3,4 Tawasi Club 1,2, National Honor Society 4, Athletic Association 2, Enters New Haven Gym School.

"Sarah started a half a year later than our class did, but she caught up to us, and probably if we had another term she would graduate half a year ahead of us."

VOLUNTEER WORK: After moving back to Boston to follow a faculty position at Harvard for her husband, Dr. Philip Solomon, she started work in 1952-53 after moving in and getting settled. She wanted to work at the Museum of Fine Art and met with Mr. Tomiter (Head of Asiatic Dept) who knew her well via Elva Bernatt (fine collection of Oriental porcelain). After a l-o-n-g oriental pause, he asked her "Are you willing to wash?" to which she responded "If you mean articles from within the showcases, I am not insured." They both laughed and she got the job! Then one day she told them she knew how to type and she started doing office work and helping at the sales desk as well. On Xmas eve, they asked her if she would man a desk in the outer lobby. She did. In came the Museum Treasurer, who came to her desk that evening and told her to leave that space and come on in to the party where all volunteers were present; sang carols, etc. Then she was asked to come to help out in the museum in other ways...wanted her full time. The came the divorce in 1959. She returned to work and then started full-time until 1964 when arthritis caused her to cut back. Then she cut back. Did proof reading at Harvard for some heart research. She rented a room. Lived on alimony.

HER WEDDING; There was a medical school dance. Phil did not dance well. A medical friend of Phil's took Beth to the dance. Phil went by and said "If you have a sister, I'd like to meet her". Beth responded that she did and the following weekend the two came to the house to call. Mom would herself showing him pictures of her family and he was very much interested...and then the two danced to the music from the Victrola. Then it was time for supper and they all went to the Kenmore Hotel and between the two guys they only had enough money for a glass of milk and cookies for their dates!

The following week, Phil called for a date. She work a beret and he took her to the Harvard Medical School Museum to see fetuses in all stage of development! Every day from then on, when she returned home after working at the YWCA, she would find him sitting and waiting for her in the lobby. Because of her student status in Physical Education, she was able to qualify for discounts on related merchandise and was able to buy for him a squash racquet, tennis racquet...without any talk of marriage or getting serious. She taught him to buy such things as his coat by buying them on sale from good places only. At one point, when playing squash with a colleague, Phil was hit in the eye and was hospitalized for a week...wore a patch over his eye for some time.

One night when she returned home from a date with another man, Phil was waiting and angry...wanted to know by what right she should go out with another! Then the two of them could not get married soon enough! She asked permission to get married at the YWCA, and was told that if she were to get married, Phil would have a much more difficult time getting placement as an intern...so they agreed to get married where the news would not hit the newspapers at all. The went to North Station to think it over. Salem was out because she had relatives there. Then they went to City Hall where they were told that the only way the marriage could be kept out of the papers was if she were pregnant! So they went to South Station. This was Christmas eve. Phil suggested Wellesley. He called City Hall there and was told that they would stay open until they got there. A waiting period of 5 days was required during which Phil got very sick (don't know cause) and had to sneak out of the hospital to go out and get the marriage license! She couldn't afford to take Beth out to dinner, so had to go to Back Bay Station to meet Phil alone. To her surprise, she found he was there with his good friend, Mauri! He was an eye doctor from Willamantic, Connecticut She didn't have her sisters, brothers, family at her wedding, but rather, Phil's friend who wanted to be there! She bought a ring at the 5 & 10 for 10 cents.

HARRY GELMAN: She went out to buy a dress. Harry was to take her out to dinner and asked why she was not wearing the dress she had bought that day. She responded in the blush of honesty, "But Harry, I charged it! It isn't paid for yet!" Harry and Phil became very good friends and talked a lot.

In Newport, in 1941-42 Harry Gelman felt that the wooden floors of the military housing unit in which we were living was too rough, he waxed the floors for us. Only, inadvertently, he waxed himself right into a corner and was stuck there for a while until it dried!

It was he, Harry Gelman who told mom, Sarah "Pebbles" that Beth had the brains, while mom, "Pebbles" had the brawn.

She was stricken with the Influenza of 1918. High fever, her parents had to give her cold compresses rigorously. She was delirious.

1935 visited cousins in England, Alexander & Ester Fine....do not know the relationship.

When she was pregnant with Linda and living in Providence, R.I., she and dad set off to drive to Boston to go to the hospital for Linda's delivery. They drove their 1928 Ford roadster which they had bought for $50.00. The weather turned sour. Rain and Hight winds developed, but on they went. One particularly strong wind buffeted the tiny car and the frail convertible top snapped loose from its spindly frame, Behaving the two of them open and exposed to the driving rain. With good humor and seemingly oblivious to the elements, the drove on to the amazed looks of fellow drivers. In the end, although drenched to the bone, they were fine and so was Linda's introduction to the world.

When she was a little girl, her BIG brother, Harry, took her for a ride as a passenger in an open barnstorming biplane.

When she was very young, she had psoriasis very badly. She scratched herself so very badly she had her mother bind her hands at night. Nevertheless, she awoke in the mornings with bloody sheets.

3/99 Was surprised at home of Dana and Andy Solomon with a great surprise 90th birthday party. Linda Solomon came from Greenwich Village, NY (Dana and Andy sent her a ticket); Keith Solomon came from Los Angeles, Artie & Naomi Fleishman and their kids, Amy. Laura & Jill plus Janet and George Ruboy came from Boston. It was a lovely time. Balloons. Party Favors. Cards of celebration from Heddy Lamarr, Boston Museum of Fie Arts, Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Museum of Natural Science; donations made in her honor by Ellen and Judy Rosenbaum. Lots of good feelings and thoughts. Sat around and looked at old family pictures and shares feelings, thoughts, good times. Breakfast the next morning at Rio Ranch. More good times. Pebbles was overwhelmed! Great video made by Andy.

TRAVELS:

1933: July 31 to Oct 28: With Phil

Departed NYC 7-31-1933 on the Ile de France, landed Cherborg, 8-6-1933

Marsilles, Nice, Geneva, Interlocken, Zurich, Lucerne, Lugamo, Naples, Pompeii, Amalfi, Sorrento, Capri, Naples, Ship Anglor tp Pyranees, Constantanoplem Shyrna, Rhodes, Tripoli, Beruit, Haifa, Petach Tikva, Alexandria, Cairo, Giza-Pyramids, Marsailles, Paris, London (Phil working at hospital), Oxford, Warwick, Stratford, Torquay, Plymouth. When leaving told landlord they would have to giveup their apartment at 70 The Fenway (Boston) because they needed the $100 to make the trip. Landlord told them it was o.k. and for them to pay when they returned.

Returned: 10-28-1933

1935: July 18-Aug 21: With Phil, then Palestine to her mother.

SS. Statendam (Holland-America Cruise Line): Plymouth, Lands End, St. Ives and Tintagal, London (Neurological Conference). Rotterdam (Delft), the Hague, biking, Antwerp, Brussels, Paris, Palestine, Paris and then on the Normandie 10-21-1935 landed NYC.

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NOTES FROM SARAH GELMAN SOLOMON c. 1933

Mamma’s (Mother’s) Side

Mamma’s father’s father is Zvi Herschel Lampert (Herschel Malkev Yochnez), born either in Boalostock or Krinsh; died in Bialostock, 83 years of age.

Mamma’s father’s mother (name Zelda or Malka) died young in Bialostock

Mother’s father’s siblings:

1. Sjani (sounds like “John”) Sjaug lived outside of Brodna, very wealthy and was a rag and bone dealer. She had 5 daughters and 1 son. All daughters were educated in the gymnasium. The son was very yong when mamma left.. Mamma did not know them well because when she was visiting in Arodna with her father, she felt they held themselves aloof and mamma spent her time in more sympathetic quarters. Siani asked Abbe to pick a rabbi for his son, which aroused much comment.

2 Chiaim (nickname Kossock) because she slapped soldiers who tried to take Abba (Mamma’s father) for service although his father had purchased his billet of freedom. Mother Chiaim (nickname Kossock) was rich and had a street of houses left by her first husband, David Elulah, momma’s uncle in trust for her use, but to be divided among his 3 daughters:

A. Malka who lived in Syracuse, neighbor of Mr. Adelman

but the daughters agreed to divide equally with half brother and sister	

B. [?]2nd daughter married Ginsberg who ran a refreshment station 1st and 2nd class until prohibited; then 3rd class. He was a lawyer, but did not practiceHis father was a lawyer before him. Last station from Bialostock to Grodna.

C. [?] 3rd daughter lived in Lomzeh (near Somech)-had a store that did quite well, a larger business of wine, tea, etc.

Her Children by second marriage:

A. Had son Meyer Cohen. Meyer Cohen wanted to come to America before Sarah’s mother did, but his mother (Chaim) refused. So she took her jewelry, brought it to (?) And made a bargain that (above) would not return the jewelry until Meyer Cohen had obtained permission and money to come to America-which he got. He arrived before mamma and settled in Hoboken where he worked at hats. He had a daughter [?] who was educated in Warsaw.

B. Malka-eldest daughter was her father’s favorite; his right-hand man and the house and everyone was so busy and preoccupied.

3. Tefuiah-married Grodna woman; was a bookkeeper in a man’s material store-“Zakines”. He had three sons:

A. Moshe: Became a druggist

B. [?] Became a painter

C. [U?] Too young for mama to remember.

	All lived in Grodna. 

D. Chia: daughter married David Elulah-mamma’s uncle; lived and died in Shislavitz.

4. Aaron Married and lived near Arodna. Don’t know about children; he was poor and honest.

5. Yosef-married and lived near Bialostock in cold building to hold merchandise, Well-to-do. Also passed out government tickets for the slaughtering of animals. His wife Freda belonged (?) To Novick, old family, best thereabouts; came to Palestine after husband’s death and died in Petach Tikva; is buried there.

Children:

A. [Oldest son] married Golda who had three daughters and a son . Lived in Shishlovitz. Worked in a place which made schnapps. Seemed to mean and very proud.

Children:

	1.  Oldest daughter married and lives in Canada; husband has since come to Palestine and lives in Moshe’s Kamen in Tel Aviv.

2. 2nd daughter, Rivkeh, married David Elulah after his first wife (Chia) died.

Children [AGAIN!] She had daughters ana a son

1. Avrom Moshe, 2nd son of Esiah married someone swell., Lived in a German settlement [Supreska?]

2. Oldest Daughter Shaine Tobe Bargourne met Elula, lives now in Tel Aviv and husband has two sons; one is a watchmaker; the other has a factory which makes umbrellas in New York. Shaine is a very clean and nice person.x

3. David, the youngest, married (as above) first Chai and then Rivkeh

4. Yitzak- 3rd son became a leather merchant

5. Deborah daughter married an Israeli Yeshiva Broker and studied. Children came here (U.S.A.?)

6. Jacheo Married and divorced-no children Her father lived with her until he died.

7. Afrom-Abbe-Lampert (Mamma’s father) from Bialostock, aboutn1850, died in Jerusalem-3rd day or about 1903; cemetery “Araz osun. Abbe went to Palestine to work on land owned by the man to whom Meyer trusted with her jewelry. One year later, his wife was given house and land where Herschel now lives. (Mamma’s father’s father) Eventually Herschel bought the land where Father worked. After Afrom was killed in some political business, his wife received a pension all her life. Haweh was brought up by grandmother who sent her to a French convent to be educated-a revolutionary idea. Her brother is a pharmacist. His father was a pharmacist in Jerusalem.

All children were born in Bialastock.

Zabludiviki had 1 daughter, Shaine Malke who married and lived for a long time in Palestine and later returned to Bialastock.

Afrom Abbe (mamma’s father) was a bookkeeper in a slaughterhouse :Brigman in Grodna; married Analie Elulah in Schishlewitz first ran a store with his wife; then left for his bookkeeping job while she remained behind. When she was 12 or 13, mamma she went there to help keep house for her father. She bought food, etc. and kept a budget at her father’s instruction, so she would learn to figure. Before she left Schishlewitz, she went day and night to school, studied Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, German. Her father wanted to be everything. She ad her sisters took turns going on travels with her father.

Mamma’s mother’s father Esiah Elulah died in Schishlewitz, bought wheat and grain from farmers in open market and sold it to millers. He also purified honey and sold it. He had a saloon Owned horses.

Mamma’s mother, Annie married Lampert, previously lived in Schlivovitz and Grodna and was offered his father’s house which was in partnership with someone else. Annie refused because there was always trouble with the partner; so he asked for money instead and went to Palestine. He wanted to come to America at that time but his wife objected because (???) came here and it was trafe. Abbe went to work on land which belonged to Mr. ____.

Pappa’s (Father’s) Side

Poppa’s Grandfather died when pappa’s father was very small. He was born near Grodna and brought up by a step-daughter in a colony in Roshenoi-a farmer. It appears this was land set aside by the Kaiser for Jewish farming.

Poppa’s Grandmothr, Tamar lived with 2nd husband until aged 70; came to Ekron and died at 73 soon after Mamma’s wedding.

Pappa’s Father was a poor teacher (Melamed) Avrom Yzkeb died and buried in Palestine. He was a Zionist rabbi. 1881 went to Paris to raise money for 10 Jews to farm in Palestine-first man being Chief Rabbi. Baron Rothschild said yes; he wanted a peaceful man April 29, 2005 and let the 10 farmers go to agricultural school in Palestine. The rabbi went to Russia. Of the farmers, he found an 11th, but he decided he did not want to go as he was not a farmer. The 10 said that if the learned man was not permitted to go, they would not go. There were only 10 passports and Avrom was Roshenoy, and those from that city were not allowed to leave; so he finagled the court but the 11 would up in a jail cell which had no roof. The principal of the nearby school came and said that they were students.

Pappa’s Maternal Grandfather was a Shashet, marred?

Children:

Bashe (our grandmother)

Haia Badach

2nd Wife (sister of first)

Vilkah

Leah

Tobe

Kline (Tobias’s mother)

Poppa’s Family

Tobe Anapolonsky (son Yosell)

Moshe David

Sarah Parmett dead)

Hai Riva Friedman

Herschel (Died in Palestine, son Yosef in Palestine)

Margolis Ssboolnick

Hannah-youngest-died in Palestine

Mamma’s Family

When the Lamperts arrived, they lived with the Solomons. Mamma says when it rained outside, I t rained just the same inside. Worked hard and lived terribly until they had the house which Choeve Zum gave them. Mamma married at 21 years of age to Pappa in Akron.

I Malka, mamma’s sister, married Michael Comlovskey now Tishbe

Children:

1. Elizabetg (Daughter)

2. Israel married Chaulet

3. Aaron married Chairy

4. Rochameh

5. (Daughter)

6. (Daughter)

II Zelda married Goldberg

Children:

1. Joseph married Yavel

A. Child Abigail

2. Sarah Paikovitz

A. Dru

B. Noga

3. Aaron

4. David - Yoveh

5. Chain

6. Raphael

III Chaia went to Switzerland to study and married another student; returned to Palestine to have her first child, a daughter, and went back to Switzerland. Later had a son there.

Got them into a house under the name LAMPERT after her husband died. She went to Italy and later it is said she died in an earthquake or something.

IV Libby Segal-sister living in London, England

V Herschel-brother in Palestine; married Haveh who came from a fine family. Her grandmother came from Germany

Children:

1. Esther married Valenski

2. Avrom

3. Moshe

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Poems & Writings

by

Sarah “Pebbles” G. Solomon

Instant Halth

Boston Psychopathic Hospital 11/77

I want a prescription for instant health

To me that means a fortress of wealth

Treasures akin to a symphony of joy

My body a dance, movement a toy

To play with whenever I do so please

And not have to wait for pain’s surcease

When limbs and joints will do as I say

I make a command---my troops obey.

Prescribe for me this utopian dream

I will awake---a radiant beam

Eighty-Three

Life at eighty-three

Is intermittent energy

To Braise

84 years old...

What am I laughing at?

I really need a new hat

To cover my head

From which sense has fled

Because

Were someone to ask

What did I miss most

I’d have to say “Braise”

The eyebrows would raise

If You’ve Got Pain

“Arthritis”

1963

[4:4 Rhythm]

When you’ve got pain...

Plain pain...

It can happen to you or Me or Mary Jane...

There is nowhere that you can go for it

And nothing that you can show for it

So hide...And by your side...

Have Tea and Toast and Aspirin

For all you know it should be gin,

You have to decide ‘tween health and sin

It’s great....why wait...

Give up your job...You’l get by...

All you need...Is the reason why...

It’s right for you to spend your days

Being useful in different ways

The sun still shines the same bright rays

It’s past...This is Now...

Pain’s no shame...Make it a game...

You’re in a zoo...With a lion to tame

Just be wise...Make it your size...

You’ll have your lows...You’ll have your hight

But you’re here...And alive

When you’ve got Pain...Plain Pain

No relation..To snow or rain

It jumps around you know not where

You’ve got your feet then they’re not there

Why, oh why, it’s too much to bear

But it’s life...So there!

Birthday Wish

Let the day be like a breeze

And you do as you please

It only comes once a year

Happy Birthday, my dear!

Whimsical Stomach

6/94

I have a whimsical stomach

With a mind all of its own

It’s called Diverticulitis

And worn me down to the bone

Silence

10/88

Silence is golden

And so it is when you’re in the midst

Of chatter

But oh, how different

When you’re alone

Then it does matter

Enough

There are variations on the theme of Enough

Enough to take...Enough to give

How to relate to both of these

Could tell us how to live

A Life of Grab

I’m living as life of Grab

Whatever there is to be had

Door Knobs, Bed Posts, Railings, More

That saves my life from Ship to Shore

Why Do I Weep

1994

Why do I weep?

I should feel so glad

For all the Health

That I have had

I must not yield

To Fancies of Age

85 is real

And not a stage

Andy’s Birthday

9/96

What can your mother say

On this your very special day?

Birthdays come but once a year

And to me you are always dear

We do not always agree

But each one of us

Must feel free

For as Hillel said:

“If I am not for myself,

Then Who am I?”

Vision

There are many colors in this world

Not only black and white

If your eye is limited to that

You have got poor eyesight.

You

Wherever I go

Whatever I d

Even in Dreams

There’s always you.

To Andy

Boston 2/26/77

There’s such a longing in me to cry

But not a tear doth reach my eye

I sit and ponder the reason why

Oft it’s said...to live is to die.

To cling to life, the one we knew

The thoughts, memories, is but to rue

The day it changed

And we must too

Not succumb, but fight it through.

False idols now have turned to clay

It hurts, it cries

But let them lay

Twas not in them, the grace to pay

It falls on you to walk a path

Honest, kind, no touch of wrath

Sure at last that all thou hast

Is yours real...the past is passed

Hard, Tiring Day

Whether I volunteer

Or work for pay

Result is the same

Hart, tiring day

Gerontologists would call me involved

I simply say

It’s a problem well-solved

It brings its own troubles

Like rain or wind

Or minding my manners

Patience bit thin

Now, special treatment

Defers not to age

Except on a marquise

Or on the stage.

Writing to Friends

1994

When I’m in bed

And cannot sleep

My mind then takes

A quantum leap

I write to friends

They are so few

So far away

And yet so true

Like yesterday

We take a walk

Water and trees

Real honest talk

All different now

I am alone

But that’s not true

I do have you

And you make-up

For all I miss

Here’s a token

And a big kiss

Linda’s Birthday

5/95

In all sorts of ways

And all your tomorrows

Be wonderful days

Feeling Low

5/95

I don’t know

When I’ve ever felt so low

Stormy Weather

Don’t know why

Can’t seem to find a High

End of tether

What to do

To make my foot fit the shoe

Squeeze harder?

I’ve no strength

Nothing left to go the length

Must I give up?

What I Must Do?

What I must do

With all possible ease

Through nigh and day

With no surcease

Is live with real pain

From body and soul

And wonder which way

The ball will roll.

I Don’t Feel Well

I don’t feel well

I can’t decide

Is it real

Or just plain hell?

Andy’s Birthday

9/20/97

{This is between you, my son, and Me, and no one else)

After all

Just who am I

To know when

I’ll say good-bye?

So here comes

A nice surprise

To hit you

Right in your eyes.

There’s a snag:

No one must know

Only us

Don’t let it show.

Raindrops

I never thought

I’d see the day

I’d stretch out on my bed

And watch the Rain Drops play

Forest of Dear Friends

Swish, swosh, another tree is felled

In my forest of old dear friends

Space shivers with darkness and light

My heart, have you the strength that mends?

My whole body’s out of place

Holes and loose threads, I’m like lace

Yeoman back is out of whack

Deep knee bends have lost their knack.

Even more, I’m all alone

Who’s to listen to my moan

Now I am my own best friend

Must keep that up-to the end

Worth the Try

3-13-97

I suppose when you’re near

The end of Life

You sit and ponder

Was it worth the strife?

Of course it was, tho

It had ups and downs

Even misunderstood

By those around

As long as you feel

You’ve given your best

Asked nothing from others

And passed Life’s Test.

Just hold your head high.

Look up to the Sky

Smile and be happy

It was worth the try.

Take My Hand

Take my hand

That says so much

If I had

But one to touch

And by that gesture

I could reach

A compassionate heart

That would then breach

The walls of silence

That ‘round me climb,

Keep me a prisoner

With thoughts in mind.

A life imperfect,

But full spent.

I need a hand

Mine-not lent

Loving Hands

The Spring has come and winter’s gone

And from our home, we send along

Loving hands to hold-for you, not lent,

Hands that care how the twig was bent.

Compassionate hearts breaching silence’s walls

Freeing the prisoner once and for all

From life’s imperfections-a life full spent

Leaving in it’s place a monument.

Loving, understanding, compassionate too-

All paint true, honest descriptions of you-

Descriptions of one so valued by all-

Descriptions of you, Mom, you’ve answered our call.

So many times you have entered the scene

When the tenor of things here was far from serene

And given yurself to help in our plight

For all this and much more

Our love’s yours tonight.

Take our hand.

Dana, Andy, Rex & Keith

A Birthday Wish

Dear friend, Don’t worry ‘bout acting your age

The issue at point is to be on stage.

Enjoy and give joy, wear smile, hat and glove

Oldster to youngster, I say with all love

Happy Birthday

ALPHABET OF ARTISTS

A

A is for the Artist

Who paints for you and me

From eaves to museums

For all the world to see

Portrait of the Artist-Rembrandt

B

Le Bal a’ Bougival

Do yo hear all the B’s?

Man and women dancing

Out there amongst the trees

Le Bal a Bougival-Renoir

C

C stands for the Carriage

And not for Daddy’s Car

Taking babe and Mommy

From here to there, afar

The Carriage at the Races-Degas

D

Again we have Degas

He did the one before

Here we have two Dancers

Sitting tired on the flor

Dancers at Rest-Degas