The five Frieder brothers from Cincinnati, Ohio (Philip, Henry, Alex, Morris, and Herbert) made their fortune in cigars, which they manufactured in the Philippines. The brothers took turns managing the cigar production. Every two years, one of the brothers (excluding Henry) and his family would relocate to their home at 44 Brixton Hill, Santa Mesa, Manila.The Frieder brothers were passionate poker players and often played with influential individuals, such as President Manuel L. Quezon, the US High Commissioner Paul V. McNutt, and Army Colonel Dwight D. Eisenhower. In the late 1930s, together, they devised a way to provide refuge in the Philippines to German and Austrian Jews. President Quezon stipulated that those who came not be a burden on the Philippine economy, so the tiny Jewish community in Manila accepted that responsibility. While McNutt pressured the US State Department to keep Philippine borders open to refugees, the Frieder brothers (working with the Joint Distribution Committee) arranged transportation and visas for European Jews who possessed skills in fourteen occupations, one being cigar manufacturing. President Quezon provided a temporary home for the refugees where they could live and grow their own food on the land he was developing for his son. The haven was named Mariquina Hall. Between 1937 and 1941, the Frieder brothers, McNutt, Quezon, and Eisenhower aided in the rescue of over 1,300 Jews. In December 1941, the Japanese invaded the Philippines. All Frieder brothers had returned to the US a month earlier in anticipation of the invasion. Between December 1941 and September 1945, Manila was under Japanese occupation. Ironically, during that time, unlike all other internationals who were interned in a make-shift prison in Santo Tomas University, the Jewish refugees were considered Germans - therefore allies of Japan - and not imprisoned. A few refugees were killed in the crossfire between US and Japanese armies as the battle for Manila ended. Birthdates: Morris Frieder - April 27, 1900 Julia Simon Frieder - February 26, 1905 Eleanor (Jane) Frieder Ellis - June 17, 1927 Helen (Peggy) Frieder - December 9, 1929 Susan Frieder - January 18, 1934 David Frieder - May 20, 1938 Judy Frieder - November 13, 1943
Morris and Julia Frieder's children in Cincinnati, Ohio in the early 1930s. Jane (b. 1927), the oldest daughter of the family, and her classmates climb on a jungle gym on a rooftop playground at the University of Cincinnati nursery school. 00:02:00 Jane, with the short, dark hair, plays in the sandbox. Jane and her younger sister Peggy (b. 1930) play outside their home wearing bathing suits.
Frieder children at play