Hot Off The Press!

Hot off the press! I'm breaking my own rule. Instead of digesting a new discovery, checking all other sources, crossing all the Ts and dotting all the Is—I am going public! I'm about to share a document that has come to my attention three days ago. It's BIG and I'm not quite sure what to make of it! By sharing, I'm hoping to recruit both genealogist and family members to help make sense of this turn of events!

Before spilling the beans an introduction is in order. If you're following my blog, you've certainly heard about the Bloomfields. Thanks in part to contributions from other Bloomfield descendants, the Bloomfield research has been progressing rapidly. I spend a considerable amount of time on this branch of my family and it's paying off. The astute readers amongst you may have noticed that the Bloomfield reports begins from when they immigrated to America (see a list of earlier Bloomfield posts at the end bottom). Their story is pretty much blank before 1899, the year Aaron Bloomfield arrived to America. Their earlier history remains a mystery.

Where did the Bloomfields come from? Why don't I know the answer to this seemingly simple question? There have been two main roadblocks. The first, every record places the Bloomfields in a different region or town. I know they came from the Russian Empire, but trying to pinpoint exactly from where gets very dicey.

Here is a list of the places family members have been affiliated with:

• Pruzhany -Belarus: Harry Bloomfield, Aaron Bloomfield's son was born in Pruzhany.
• Wladimirez, Wolyn-Ukraine: Last place of Residence, and place of birth, Moses and Freida Toby Bloomfield and their four youngest children-Ship Manifest.
• Malch- Pruzhany district- Belarus: Moses listed as transitory worker from Malch on Harry's birth certificate.
• Slawatizce -Poland: Harry Bloomfield birth certificate states he was born in Slawatizce but his parents were not from there. 
• Brest-Slavatich- Belarus: Harry Bloomfield WWI draft registration names Brest as the name of the town and Slavatich as the region.
• Warsaw-Poland: Max Bloomfield's WWII draft states he was born in Warsaw 

The second obstacle is the surname. Bloomfield is a common name, making the family members difficult to track as they wandered through large US cities. To make matters worse, some members of the family used Blumenfeld. Even more baffling was the original name before it was americanized. Reportedly, the family went by the name Belo-oose (meaning white mustache), also spelled Belous. I've never found a document with the Belo-oose spelling other than the original family tree I inherited from my grandmother. Aaron Bloomfield's wedding certificate from Lomazy, Poland (where his wife was from) spelled his name Belous. Despite extensive searches, until this weekend, I have not found (spoiler alert!) naturalization papers for any of the Bloomfield brothers or their parents. Harry birth certificate, where he is listed as Gershko Belous, is the only other document from Europe. Missing still are  ship manifests for Aaron, Max and William Bloomfield, as well as naturalization papers and birth certificates for all of the Bloomfields. These three factors: lack of consistency on records, difficulty obtaining important documents and ambiguity of the last name, prevents me from answering the very basic question of native village.

Here is the big breakthrough I promised. One of my Bloomfield cousins is moving into a new home. In the process, she is cleaning out storage spaces and sorting old papers. On Friday, she came across a document which she immediately recognized as important and forwarded it to those of us in the family who have been collaborating on the genealogy research.

Barney Bloomfield's Preliminary Petition of Naturalization
(Click on image for a larger view)

Some what disappointing, Barney Bloomfield's Petition did not answer my big question, WHERE ARE THEY FROM? But even before I read that Barney didn't remember which village he was from, something else jumped out at me. Barney used another name! His name was Barney Kaplan! His explanation: "It was the name my parents used in Russia. They changed it after they came."

KAPLAN? Where did that come from? Kaplan? What? Can this be true or is this a mistake?

Everything else on the document checks out. Since this is an original document and part of the family collection, it is therefore quite conclusively belonging to our Barney Bloomfield. The document corroborates much of what we know about Barney. His date of birth, the fact that he lived at 9 Part Street, Springfield Vermont (an address I visited and photographed on my roots trip). He landed in New York on September, 1909 aboard the Estonia. It required quite a lot of detective work two years ago to discover the ship manifest from the Estonia, but it's a fact I knew and was confident about. He was met by his uncle Harris Blumenfeld (information that was also on the ship manifest). All of it checks out, except Kaplan, yet Kaplan did ring a bell. I was sure, I had seen it before.

I went back to take a closer look at the Ellis Island papers. Lo and behold, the name Kaplan is on the ship manifest. It's crossed out and Blumenfeld is written instead. I stared at the name in amazement. It's been there all along and I missed it.

Relevant lines from Ellis Island Ship Manifest for the SS Estonia Sep 31, 1909.
(Click on image for a larger view)

There they are. Six Bloomfields, with their yiddish first names, entering the country as Kaplan rather than Belous. It's coming back to me. All of us Bloomfields who were dabbling in genealogy back then, looked at this document and didn't know what to make of the name Kaplan. We were so excited with the find. At the time, I had much less experienced examining these types of document. My thought was that Kaplan was a mistake which was clearly corrected as they entered the country at Ellis Island. Kaplan was crossed out and Blumenfeld jotted down.  Moses's Yiddish name was also crossed out and replaced with Moses (it's difficult to make out what he was  called, maybe Gergy?). Barney is listed as Berke on the second to last line.

With more experience under my belt, I reexamined the two documents and reached a new conclusion. The mistake belong to me, not the person who filled out the form in Libau, where my ancestors boarded the Estonia. The Bloomfields had entered the country as Kaplan! The crossing out and annotating was done at a much later date, probably when Benjamin Bloomfield, like his brother Barney, applied for citizenship. On the last line, next to Benjamin's name, there are more scribbles. These small numbers correspond to Benjamin's naturalization petition record number. As part of the citizenship process, immigration cross referenced information supplied by the applicant, including when they first entered the country. They often jotted down notations directly on the ship manifest. Why they wrote Blumenfeld rather than Bloomfield, I'm not sure, but this fact is less troublesome as some of the family did change their name to Blumenfeld.

Many unanswered questions remain. If their name was Kaplan, why the big jump to Bloomfield? Was Harris also a Kaplan? What about Belous? Do the european documents with the name Belous truly belong to the Bloomfields? Is it possible that they changed to Kaplan form Belous sometime after Harry was Born (1892) and Aaron got married(1895)? If so, were the older brothers, Aaron, Max and William ever named Kaplan or did they remain Belous? Did they the three of them enter the United States as Kaplan, Belous or Bloomfield? Was Kaplan a maternal family name Moses carried and did they use both the paternal Belous and the maternal Kaplan? I'm hoping to find the answers to these and more questions in the future. I also hope that this discovery will help break down the brick wall and solve the mystery their origin.

There is already much excitement already amongst the Bloomfield cousins whom have heard the news. Many are just reading about it for the first time in this news flash. I'd love thoughts and feedback from all of you! Just think, before we were Bloomfields we may have been Kaplans!

Stay tuned for more as I take the plunge and order naturalization papers for the Bloomfield brothers from the National Archives. In the meantime, try to get used to the new last name!


Visit these earlier posts to learn more about the Bloomfields.

• Guest blog on Geni.com: How I Met The Bloomfields
• Roots Trips Series:
  
  • Part I: Roots Trip Road-trip planning!
  • Part II: Three Tips for Genealogy Road Trips
  • Part III: Roots Trip Gem of the Day, Looking for Moses Bloomfield
  • Part IV: Why in the World New Hampshire
  • Part V: Springfield Vermont, Home of the Simpsons and the Bloomfields
  • Part VI: Which Ancestors to Research?
• Where Was This Picture Taken?- Legacy Roots 
• Friday's Faces From the Past: Mystery Man

Friday's Faces From the Past: Mystery Man

Today's Face From the Past is linked to last week's guest post by Lorraine Arnold. Her detective work helped answer the question: Where Was This Picture Taken? The picture in question was a photograph of my great-grandfather, William Bloomfield, standing proudly in-front of a building (see photo on the right). The answer: the picture was taken in-front of the Guenard Speed & Clemens building in Houston. This seemingly straightforward reply, leads to many more questions and a second photograph. In this second photo, from my grandmother's boxes was not labeled. In it, William poses next to an unknown man at the same exact spot next to the Guernard building. This mystery man is today's featured Face From the Past.

William and mystery man on Commerce Street
c. 1919

William Bloomfield infront of the 
Guenard, Speed & Clemens building
817 - 819 Commerce Street, Houston c1919 .

Part of my intrigue with the first photo, was the "unknown" man in the second photo. When I initially asked Lorraine to help identify the building, I was also hoping to uncover clues leading to this mysterious man. The men appear dressed and ready for work. Their matching cut off ties, a uniform of sorts, suggesting the photographs were taken near their place of employment.

Our mystery man, must have had an important role in William's life. He appears not only in the Commerce Street photo, but I also recognize him in another important photograph.

William and Minnie Bloomfield with an unknown man.
Jersey City, c1920.

This is the only photograph of my great-grandparents together taken during their brief courtship before or shortly after the tied the knot (see: Love Story 1920s style). The lovers are posing outside cigar shop in Jersey City. William, dressed in his Sunday best, looks almost relieved, if not happy, as opposed to the serious face he often lends to photographers. Minnie, is wearing a hat! If this photo was not taken the day they got married, it certainly was at a special event they were attending. Mystery man, stands proudly beside the happy couple! Like William, he also travelled on the long journey from Houston (not an easy endeavor in 1920).  In this photograph, he is wearing the same striped shirt from the faded Houston photo and notably, a full length tie. Who is he? Did he make the journey up north with William or perhaps he came up for a special occasion? Why did they both abandon their jobs in Texas? According to Minnie's writing, William was only passing through New York. She never mentioned he came with a friend or for a special occasion. He was visiting relatives and friends. His aunt Ida Weiner, offered him a job in Pittsburgh and he left New York. Was the job in Houston no longer available? Maybe he just missed the North East? History is a testament to the fact that meeting Minnie, sidetracked William from his original plan.

Houston City Directory 1919 listing for Bloomfield William 

Back mystery man. My only clue, the Guernard, Speed and Clemens building, helped me locate William in the 1919 City Directory. As, I mentioned last week, I discovered that he indeed work for a produce company, but not the Guernard, Speed & Clemens Company, but a competitor, the Houston Fruit and Produce Company. As a cashier, he must have carted vegetable crates as well and work the cash register, hence the cutoff tie.

Houston Fruit & Produce Co listing from
the Houston City Directory 1919

In the listing to the left, tucked between, the Houston Foundation and the Houston Furniture & Auction Company, is William's employer, the Houston Fruit & Produce Company. Two important pieces of information standout in this listing. The first, The Houston Fruit & Produce company was also on Commerce Street (#906). A few warehouses down from the Guernard Speed & Clemens Co. (#817-819). The second fact, Morris Pomerantz and Morris Birenbaum owned the Company.

This is huge! I know these two names. They are relatives! William was working for family! Morris Pomerantz, aka Morris Aaron Pomerantz, was William's maternal uncle. Morris Birenbaum, was Morris Pomerantz's half brother-in-law (his wife's half brother). The relationship is even more complicated, Morris Pomerantz's wife Fannie Leah Pomerantz (Birenbaum) was also her husband's niece and William Bloomfield's first cousin, making Morris Birenbaum, Williams cousin's half brother. 

Next, I set out to map and create a timeline for the Pomerantz Houstonian clan. Here is a summary of what I learned from the City Directories and additional sources (limited to sources available online, until I make a research trip to Houston):

The Houston Fruit & Produce Company first appears as a company in the 1913 Houston City Directory. In it's early years, it was located even closer to the Guenard building, at #811 Commerce Street. In it's inception the company was owned by three, not two, partners: Morris Birnebaum, Morris Pomerantz and Jake Pomerantz (Morris Pomerantz's younger brother).

The three business partners not only worked together but also live together at, 1218 Chartres. Jake and Morris Birenbaum were single, while Morris Pomerantz was married but living in America without his family. His family joins him in 1914. By 1915, Jake Pomerantz is no longer listed as a partner in the company and does appear in the Houston City Directory. The produce company relocates a bit further down Commerce Street to #906 where it remains at least until 1920. The two remaining partners, Morris Pomerantz and Morris Birenbaum continue to live together (listed at 1801 Maple Avenue). In December of that year Morris Birenbaum marries Miss Annie Dorensfield. Their son Abe is born in 1916 and by 1917 they have moved out of the Pomerantz home and into, 2007 Summer Street.  In 1918, the Birenbaums are living at 1804 Sherman Street and the Pomerantz family is at 1911 Franklin Ave. 

William Bloomfield, WWI Draft Registration Card Sep 12, 1918

Following William Bloomfield's tracks in Houston is difficult. Though I know he was in Texas from about 1915-1920 (from Minnie's Memoir), I  found little documentation to support this.  His WWI Draft Registration papers, report him as residing at 1804 Sherman Street (with Morris Birenbaum), and employed at the Houston Fruit Company. He is listed with the Birenbaums in the 1919 City directory, but then moves in with the Pomerantzs to Franklin Street (according to the US Census taken on Jan 5-6th, 1920). 

Mapping the family, helps understand the close-knit relationship between these men and leads me back to mystery man. It seems very likely that the man in question is one of the Houston relatives whom William roomed with and was employed by. 

Morris Aaron Pomerantz early 1900.

To prove my theory, I turn to pictures of the three brothers and partners. I doubt our mystery man is Morris Pomerantz whose photo from the early 1900s does not show much resemblance. When I asked Morris Pomerantz's grandson about the picture and the family business, he recalled that his grandfather began his career in the produce sector with a banana stand. He agreed that the man in question, does not look like his grandfather. 

Jake Palmer (Pomerantz)
and family 1937.

Jake Pomerantz is least likely to be the man we are looking for, since he left the company and Houston early on. His photo from 1937 confirms this claim and shows little resemblance to mystery man.

Front (Left to Right) Max Blumenfeld,
William Bloomfield. Back: Morris Birenbaum
Claremont, NH c1905

This leaves Morris Birenbaum as the most likely candidate. Turns out, Mr. Birenbaum  arrived in the US around the same time as William Bloomfield, c1904. The photo I have of Morris Birenbaum was taken with William, in 1905 shortly after they arrived in Claremont, NH. This one hundred and seven year old picture attests to Morris Birenbaum presence in Claremont along with the Bloomfield brothers. I also have reason to suspect that Morris Birenbaum worked at the Maynard Shoe Company and rented a room from William Parents. In the 1910 US Census, three boarders are listed at the Bloomfield's Claremont Residence: Nathan Polen (a cousin), Oscar Friedman (another cousin) and Morris Baum. I'm guessing he must have been related as well. My hunch is, that Baum is short for Birenbaum. Nathan Polen and Morris Baum are both listed as shoemakers.

Here is the question of the day, and one, I may never be able to answer. Is mystery man, Morris Birenbaum?  Does he look like an older Morris Birenbaum, compared to the 1905 picture? To me he does! Same facial features, similar frizzy curls and an identical hairline. My money is on him! What do you think? Take another look at the close ups of Morris Birenbaum and mystery man side by side.

Closeup
Morris Birenbaum c1905

Closeup mystery man
c1919

I look forward to hearing your thoughts! Have a great weekend!

To read more about the Bloomfields visit these earlier posts:

• Guest blog on Geni.com: How I Met The Bloomfields
• Roots Trips Series:
  
  • Part I: Roots Trip Road-trip planning!
  • Part II: Three Tips for Genealogy Road Trips
  • Part III: Roots Trip Gem of the Day, Looking for Moses Bloomfield
  • Part IV: Why in the World New Hampshire
  • Part V: Springfield Vermont, Home of the Simpsons and the Bloomfields
  • Part VI: Which Ancestors to Research?
• Where Was This Picture Taken?- Legacy Roots 
• Hot Off The Press