us-005578-irn617797
type: RecordSet
biographical history: Solomon Horwitz immigrated from Falesht to the United States in 1910. He and his wife, Sylvia Moskovitz, lived in Minnesota. Sylvia Moskovitz immigrated from Ismail to the United States in 1910. She and her husband, Sol Horwitz, lived in Minnesota.
has beginning date: 1936-01-01
has end date: 1936-12-31
has or had holder: us-005578
has or had identifier: 1
has or had identifier: 2
has or had some members with language: Silent
has record set type: Item
identifier: irn617797
note: Travel Diary excerpts: Date: Sunday, May 24, 1936 Place: Chernovitz We reached the Romanian border and immediately bribery and corruption began. - Sol Horwitz (excerpt) Date: Sunday, May 24, 1936 Place: Chernovitz Got into Chernovitz at 12 and went to hotel where we wanted to bathe but was informed that water is shut off at 11 P.M. every night. Freshened up and went out to eat. The restaurant was outdoors and dancing was in the middle of yard. Place not too clean and Jewish waiters were rather dirty. The dancers or guests danced the old time tango. To bed at 2 A.M. - Sylvia Horwitz (excerpt) Date: Monday, May 25, 1936 Place: Falesht I was astounded to see so many dirty looking people walking barefooted, but little did I dream I would see millions of them in northern Romania. - Sylvia Horwitz (excerpt) Date: Monday, May 25, 1936 Place: Falesht We could observe from the train the natives working in the field barefooted and in large numbers and all by hand. The people are very poor and everything is very backward. - Sol Horwitz (excerpt) Date: Tuesday, May 26, 1936 Place: Falesht We took pictures and watched the town and listened to many talks of woe and they have plenty. The community is the “Hell Hole of the World” The only thing modern is the lighting but everything else is ancient including the outside plumbing, the water carries the muddy street and the ignorance of the people - Sol Horwitz Date: Tuesday, May 26, 1936 Place: Falesht Finally we arrived at Falesti! What a lousy place that is! A man whom we thought was Jewish -- he spoke Jewish very frequently- grabbed our baggage and put it on a horse and buggy. The drivers of the other buggies were arguing and cursing as they take each others business away. The station is 15 minute ride from town and the ride was so bumpy. I was scared stiff. The houses on outskirts all had straw roofs and the pigs and dogs seemed have better lodging than the children. When we got to main street, or alley, Sol jumped out when he in…
scope and content: In 1936, Sol and Sylvia Horwitz traveled to their hometowns in Bessarabia and visited Paris, Berlin, Romania (Chernovitz, Falesht, Beltz, Tulcea, Ismail), and Vienna. They documented their journey on 8mm film and each kept a travel log, in which Sol discussed his growing anxiety and concern over the current state of his homeland, while Sylvia described the townspeople and their cultural customs. Sylvia returned to NY on July 6, 1936, sailing on the SS Queen Mary from Cherbourg, France. Sol stayed in Vienna for medical training and arrived separately in NY on November 2, 1936. 0:00 Bustling town center in Chernovitz with barefoot woman speaking to well- dressed man. 0:41 Man with hat holds a basket; pan down to his barefeet. Women with babushkas, pedestrian activity in town, camera pans “Emil Leichter“ shop. Young residents of Falesti approach the camera. Man fills bucket with water (milk) from a cart. Slow pan, relatives of Sol Horwitz and friends of father Hyman Horwitz. 1:24 Sol with his Aunt (Gettles); they give each other a kiss. CU of Sol's aunt and other relatives. Two girls with white bows in their hair smile and giggle for the camera. Horse-drawn cart through the street. 3 girls arm-in-arm, laughing. Boy attempts to catch a pig. 2:31 Sylvia and the pig. Relatives pose in front of shops in Falesti. Young boys smile for the camera. Local men work on a roof. Cobblestone streets. Two girls walk past an open cellar door. 3:42 The family. 4:20 Sylvia with goats. A female doctor (Sol’s father’s friend, Shea Polyrea’s Daughter). 4:56 In Beltz [Balti], residents on the street. Elderly couple. A friend of Hyman's takes off his hat. 5:33 The inn formerly operated by Sol’s parents, Hyman Horwitz and Bertha Bookman. More friends of Hyman. 6:00 Sylvia stands in front of the synagogue where Sol’s parents were married. 6:10 Relatives of Sylvia on the Danube river in Ismail, where Sylvia was born. 6:49 CU, Aunt Braila. Sylvia on a river taxi. The women go to a cemetery in Is…
title: Sol and Sylvia Horwitz visit family in Bessarabia, 1936