1856
| June18 | Rosa Behman Born USA |
| time of economic panic. | |
| According to Rosa's grandson, Teddy Clauss, when Rosa was a baby her parents died in the Cholera epidemic. Rosa was adopted by her parent’s friends, Carolina and Adolph Schnapphauff . They had no children of their own. Carolina and Adolph are buried at Evergreen Cemetery Brooklyn. |
1863
| July 4 | Rosa was 6 years old and the Civil War raging. The canons guarding the city of New York were fired all day long. |
| Previously, they had been fired every morning in order to let the people know that there were boats and guns guarding them least they be invaded by the confederate troops. | |
| July 13 | New York Draft Riots, hundreds of blacks killed. This was the largest civil disturbance in American History to date. |
| November | Alice Adams, sister of Henry Adams, was taken to 1303 Broadway near 35th street to the home of Dr. Taylor to be treated. |
1867
| January 13 | The East River running between Manhattan and Brooklyn froze. For a short while it was possible to walk from New York to Brooklyn. Rosa's grandson, my uncle Fred talked about this. His grandmother must have told him the stories about the event from her childhood. She was 10 years old at the time. Or perhaps, he heard the story from his mother's mother, Theresa Leicht who was a young girl living in Manhattan at the same time. |
| Negotiations on the Brooklyn Bridge began. |
1869
| June | William Roebling injures his foot while surveying for the bridge and diesof tetanus days later. His son Washington continues. Caissons begin to be built for Brooklyn Bridge |
1871
| June 5 | August Gretsch comes to America |
1872
| June 15 | German reform party elected Wm. Havemeyer Mayor of NYC |
| fall | Economic crash and panic, great depression begins |
1873
| January 13 |
Tompkins Sq. Riots. Hand of the stature of Liberty was placed on 5th Ave. |
| May 13 |
Rosa's future husband, Fred Gretsch (age 16) arrived in America at Castle
Garden. He probably went to his Uncle Jacob's house at 329 South Second Street. Perhaps, he stayed with his half brother William who ran a liquor business at 98 Fulton Street and lived at 16 St. Marks Place in Manhattan. Perhaps, the family thought was that Fred would work for his older brother in the liquor business. Instead, he went to work for the long defunct drum and banjo manufacturer, Albert Houdlett & Son.(Music Trades Magazine) Fred, had several close relatives who had already come to American. His older cousin Pauline had come two years earlier. Pauline was the daughter of Karl Gretsch and was born in Simmern in 1856. He had uncles on his mother's side and his father's side who had already settled in America. Fred also had two first cousins Emily born in 1856 and Wilhelmina born in 1869. Like Rosa, they were born in Brooklyn of German born parents. Over the years, Emily and Rosa both very strong women and both very focused on the family would have gotten to know each other well. It is interesting to speculate on the relationship between Rosa Gretsch and Emily Gretsch. Fritz's mother's brothers was also settled in California when he arrived in America. |
1874
| Jacob Edward von Gerichten comes to New York
from Hamburg. He is the uncle of Fritz Gretsch. did he stay in New York with Jacob Gretsch or perhaps, William Gretsch. Or perhaps, his nephews Fred and Louis Gretsch. |
1876
| January 13 | Custer dies at battle of little big horn. |
| Centennial exhibition at Philadelphia. |
1877
| Fritz's sister Pauline arrives from Germany. | |
| William Gretsch, Fritz's older half brother is married in Manhattan |
1878
| Fritz's sister Anna Maria Philippine, Bena, arrives from Germany. | |
| November 10th |
Fritz's sister Pauline Gretsch is married to Conrad Benzing in
Manhattan. Fritz (aka Fred Gretsch) is a witness with Mary Schmann0 |
1879
| Feb. 1 |
Rosa married Fritz Gretsch. According to her wedding certificate, she was 22 years old and born in 1856. She lived
at 200 South 5th Brooklyn. Fritz lived at 46 E 32 St NYC? Witnesses were Louis
Gretsch and Fredick Kilina (sp?) |
| December 28 |
In Scotland, the Tay Bridge collapsed in a storm only 19 months after its completion.
This bridge was a modern wonder and its unexpected failure shocked the world. Surely, the young married couple read the news with great amazement. |
| "Tand, tand ist das Gebilde von Menschenhand" is a line from Theodore Fontane's poem "Die Bruecke am Tay" written in 1887 which told of the disaster. |
1880
February 10 To see an enlargement of this birth certificate, click on the image. |
Rosa's first child Fred is born (Physician/Midwife- Dr.Rebmanny). Rosa's
husband Fritz is listed as a "wholesale grocer" on the birth certificate. The baby is born at the same address as Rosa's parents. Apparently, the young couple have moved in with Rosa's parents. Note, that Rosa is listed as 23 years old born in 1856. |
|
According to the US Census of this year, Rosa and
Fritz are living at 200 South 5th Street in the same building as Rosa's
parents. Their son is 3 months old. Fritz is employed as a bookkeeper in a
music store. Rosa's father is employed as a "picture color". Perhaps, he
hand painted photographs. Also living in the same building was Alexander Gumpert and his wife Cecila and infant daughter. |
|
| Louis Gretsch is listed as a bookkeeper at
105 Wilson William Gretsch is listed as a wine merchant at 37 4th Street in the Eastern District. Jacob Gretsch with his wife Bertha and children are living at 102 Lewis Ave. Bena, Fritz's youngest sister is living with Jacob and his family. |
|
| April | Pauline Gretsch Benzing gives birth to Pauline in New Jersey. |
1881
| Dec.6 | Frederick William Gerichten, uncle of Rosa's
husband. dies in San Francisco. He was the younger brother but eldest of all
of Fritz's mother's sibling. Fritz was no doubt named after him. He had left
for America soon after Fritz was born in Mannheim. He leaves a wife Josephine and possibly two children, Fred Gerichten and a daughter Anna Maria born in 1860. He was buried in the family vault in San Francisco which was later moved to Greenlawn in Coloma. There is a large contingent of Fred's family in California. Gerichten uncles and cousins in San Diego and in San Francisco. |
1882
| April 8 | Rosa's second son, Walter Gretsch is born. |
1883
| April | Another girl cousin is born. Wilhelmina Benzing born in New Jersey. The daughter of Pauline Gretsch. |
| April 23 | Jacob Gretsch dies at 102 Lewis Ave. He leaves a widow and 4 minor children. His oldest daughter Emily is 29. |
|
Rosa's husband Fritz Gretsch left the Albert
Houdlett & Son and starts Gretsch Musical Instruments a "small music shop
at 128 Middleton Street, Brooklyn they manufactured drums, banjos, tambourines,
toy drums for wholesalers like Bruno, Wurlitzer and Carl Fischer." (Music Trades
Magazine) I think that
address is incorrect. According to Brooklyn Directories, the Middleton
address for the Frederick Gretsch banjo business did not appear until 1890. Before then, the business was Fred Gretsch Drums at 134
1st Street. |
|
| May 24 |
Brooklyn Bridge opens. Longest suspension bridge in the world. Speeches and
14 tons of fireworks exploded! Everyone had the day off. President Chester
Arthur was here.
Rosa and Fred I'm sure walked across the bridge with their young sons and
dreamed dreams about their future in America. At a time when the tallest buildings were 6
stories high, the view from this bridge must have seemed like the view from a mountain
top! |
| May 30 | Fear
of collapse, causes Panic on Brooklyn bridge, one week after its opening.
Twelve people died and 30 are injured. Perhaps the crowd remembered the collapse of the Tay Bridge on December 28,1879. Perhaps, this is what caused the panic. |
1884
| March 24 | Fritz's sister Auguste Catharine Gretsch von
Hellerman gives birth to a daughter in San Diego California. |
| April 9 |
Louis Gretsch becomes a citizen of the United States. Louis is
living at 58 East Third Street in Manhattan. William Gretsch, Louis's older half brother is his sponsor. William is living at 247 Vernon Street in Brooklyn. |
| April 28 | Peter Karl von Gerichten dies in San Diego. He was a very successful business man. |
| July 3 |
Fritz's two younger brothers Philip and Jacob come to American. |
| September 23 | Fred Gretsch becomes a citizen of the United States. John A. Dillmeier attests to his good character. The 1880 Census shows a John Dillmeier living in Brooklyn at 57 Montrose Ave. He is married, has 6 children and is from Bavaria |
1885
|
Fred and Rosa live on 866 Willoughby Ave. |
|
|
Drums 134 1st Street E.D. |
|
| September 5 | Fritz's sister Pauline dies at 102
Lewis Ave. She has been there for 2 months while she has been ill. Her sister, Bena is now living with Jacob's family helping take care of the children. Bertha Gretsch, Jacob's widow is sickly. On 3/2/1961, Jacob's daughter, Dora Gretsch wrote about the confusion in Jacob Gretsch's family in that period. "Frank (Wintermantel- brother of Dora's mother) never lived at Stockton Ave. Frank left for Mexico while we were still at Lewis Ave. He was instrumental in getting Grandmother, Herman, Carl and Aunt Emma who married Conrad Benzing over from Germany then cleared out and left them on Mother and Aunt Jordan." |
| December 27 | Rosa's first daughter, Elsa Gretsch born. |
 Click on the image to see an enlargement. |
This picture of Rosa's oldest son, Fred was taken around this time. |
1887
| October 13 | Helene Gretsch born, second daughter of Rosa
and Fritz. |
|
William Gretsch is living at 212 Vernon Ave. |
|
| December 2 |
Rosa's stepfather,
Adolph Schnappauf dies. He had been living at 128 Vernon Ave. His
occupation is listed as "Banjo manufacturer". Quite possibly he was working
for his son in law. |
1889
| May 5 |
Bena, Fred's youngest siter, also known as Philippine married Max Morgner. He is 26,she is 29.Carl Gretsch
and Henry Stauf were witnesses. Bena and Max were both living at the same address at
the time of their wedding. 300 E. 20th Street in Manhattan. |
| November | Hertha Gretsch born, third daughter of Rosa
and Fritz. |
1890
| Fred and Rosa Gretsch are living at 20 Hart Street. This is located between Myrtle Ave to the North and Lafayette street to the south, Marcy to the East and Nostrand to the west . | |
  |
Rosa's oldest son Fred proudly poses with his bicycle outside of the family home at 20 Hart Street. Note the flower in his lapel. Placed there no doubt by Rosa or Fred's grandmother, Caroline Schnappauff.
This picture of 20 Hart Street was taken in 1996 by me,
Rosa's great granddaughter, Gretchen Elsner-Sommer. |
| William Gretsch is living at 268 Hart Street. | |
| Frederick Gretsch Banjo's 130 Middleton | |
|
Berta Gretsch Widow (Jacob) 340 Stockton Again Dora's letter of 3/2/61describes the time frame. "We had one flat in Stockton and just Grandmother and Herman had two rooms on same floor but in a different apartment" |
|
|
Dora goes on to describe the fissure of the
time..." Millie and Minnie never lived on Willoughby Ave.
It was Hart St. and from there they moved to Grove St. a one way block and then
to Decatur St. and now we have buried all that under the Blizzard of '88."
What was it that was all buried under the Blizzard? Millie and Minnie, Jacob's daughter from earlier marriages were obviously living apart from their widowed step mother. The chaos caused by all of their step mother's family arriving from Germany must have driven Millie and Minnie to search for a separate place to live. Emily or Millie was working as a school teacher. |
|
| March | Clara Gretsch, daughter of Louis and Clara Gretsch born. |
1891
| March 6 | Patent applied for a banjo by Frederick Gretsch |
| July 14 | a U.S, Patten is awarded to Frederick Gretsch for a banjo. |
| November 1 | Louie Gretsch's daughter, Olga is born |
| November 22 | Rosa's youngest child, Herbert Gretsch born. |
1892
| February 16 |
Enumeration for Kings county: Frederick Gretsch 36 years old no occupation is written Rosa Gretsch, 35 years old Walter Gretsch, 10 years old Frederick Gretsch, 12 years old Louis Gretsch, 7 years old Elsa Gretsch, 6 years old Helnea Gretsch, 4 years old Hertha Gretsch, 3 years old Herbert Gretsch, 1 year old |
|
Bertha Gretsch dies. She leaves three young children orphans. William 15, Dora 14, Ralph 13. These children were very close to the Fred and Rosa Gretsch family. They would all take vacations together to the Catskills. Elsa and Dora were "very close-most like sisters" Dora wrote this in a letter dated Oct. 3, 1961 to her nephew William Gretsch. "Little do we think when we are children how we separate when we grow older. Just as well." |
|
| Court proceeding begin for the guardianship of the younger children of Jacob and Bertha Gretsch. | |
 Click on the image to see an enlargement |
This picture of Rosa's husband Fred and their
three sons was probably taken around this time. Note the American flag in
the background. The name of the boar they are pictured on is the
"Henrietta". This picture is very similar to the picture taken a few years later with Rosa and the children in a boat. See 1895. |
1894
 Click on the image to see an enlargement. |
This picture of Rosa's daughters Elsa age 8 and Helen was
found in the papers of Helene Welsh when she died in Palm Beach. The caption reads " An 1894 view of Grand Army Plaza from the collection of the Long Island Historical Society." Teddy has identified the girls in the picture as "Mother" and "Aunt Helen Welch" |
1895
| Gretsch business was located at 108 South 4th Street |
| April 10, Wednesday | Fred Gretsch wrote his will the day before he
was to leave for Europe. Witnesses were John Bunneman and Florence Callahan both of 55 Hart Street. He left everything to Rosa. In the case of her death or remarriage, to the children and their issue. |
| April 11 | Fred sailed on the Fuerst Bismark for
Southampton. |
| April 28, Sunday | Rosa's husband, Fred died in Hamburg from
cholera.
Sterbeurkunde Friedrich Gretsch Th is death certificate was found in the New York archive in 2003 by Mary Ann DiNapoli while doing research for Gretchen Elsner-Sommer, Fred and Rosa's great granddaughter. Transliteration of the text was done by Bettina Höcherl of the Landesmuseum für Technik und Arbeit in Mannheim. |
| Music Trades writes circa 1973,
"At the time of his death (Frederick Gretsch, 1895) the firm was still small
with only a dozen employee in a small wooden shanty converd from a stable on
S. 4th Street. |
|
| May 27
|
George Seidenzahl of 23 Broadway and Louie
Gretsch of 20 Vernon Ave were the executors of Fred's will. Fred left
$18,000 worth of Real Estate and $8,000. worth of personal property. George Seidenzahl died on Dec 29, 1899. He was 38 years old. |
| November 27 | Rosa's husband was buried at Greenwood Cemetery. It took quite a while to retrieve Fred's body from Europe because of the cholera epidemic. When Rosa purchased this plot, she was making quite an independent statement. The members of the Gretsch family who had died in America were all buried at the Evergreen Cemetery. This was quite a departure. |
   |
This is the first picture I can find of Rosa.
It was given to me by her grandson Teddy Clauss. The picture was probably
taken around the time of her husband's death.
Teddy made a diagram of the picture to identify everyone in the picture. He identifies his grandmother as MuMu and entitles the picture : Summering at Sea Cliff, L.I. On the back of the picture is information about the Photographer S.T, Harding. The picture was probably taken at a sea side amusement park. It is dated 1894.
|
1897
| February 19 |
At 3 a.m. Rosa's mother, Caroline Schnappauff died at
20 Hart Street. She had been sick for 8 days with pneumonia. The death certificate was
delivered to Mr. L. Gretsch. I imagine that this is Rosa's brother in law and
not her son. Her son would have been only 14. Caroline Schnauppauff was the only grandmother that the Gretsch children knew. She was buried at The Evergreens Cemetery along side her husband, Adolf who had died in 1887. There were two families living at 20 Hart Street at the time. After the death of her mother, Rosa, a widow with 7 children decided to supplement the family income by taking in boarders. Quite possibly it is at this time that Jacob Hyman, a retired businessman came to live with the family. There is no record of exactly when Jacob came to live in the family home at 20 Hart Street but a newspaper report states that in 1915 he had been living with the Gretsch family for almost 20 years. In 1897, Hertha was approximately 7 years old. She was the youngest girl in the family and apparently the most reserved. No doubt she had been saddened by the sudden death of her father and so soon afterwards, the death of her grandmother. Jacob Hyman and Hertha would become good friends in the years to come. |
| In this year, the Frederick Gretsch Musical
Instruments first appeared on South 4th Street. Rosa Gretch w'Fred'k musicalinstmfr 108 S.4th. h.20 Hart. Incredible to see Rosa's name as the main name in the manufacturing line. |
|
| October 24 | Jacob Gretsch, Rosa's youngest
brother in law died of Tuberculosis. Jacob was the youngest of the children of William and Anna Maria von Gerichten. He had come to America in 1884 on the same day as his older brother Philip. Jacob stayed in Brooklyn but Philip went on to California to be with the Von Gerichen side of his family. Jacob died at 247 East 24th Street in Manhattan. This is the home of Bena Gretsch Morgner and her husband Max. He was 30 years old. It must have been a very sad time for the Gretsch children to loose so many relatives in such a short period of time. Jacob Gretsch was buried along side Rosa's parents in the Evergreens Cemetery. It was the second time in less than one year when the children had visited this cemetery plot. Jacob was not buried with his brother Fred in the newly purchased Greenwood Cemetery plot. |
1898
| July 25 | The husband of Rosa's sister in law, Philippine Gretsch Morgner dies. Max Morgner is buried at a Mount Pleasant Gravesite in Evergreen Cemetery. Also buried there is his infant son Hans Morgner and his sister in law, Pauline Gretsch Benzing. |
1899
| July 6 | Louis Gretsch graduates from Grammar School # 25. this was on Lafayette Street not far from Lewis Ave. It was only about a six block walk from 20 Hart Street. Wilhelmina T. Gretsch, daughter of Jacob Gretsch graduated from here in 1885. Probably, this is the school which all of the Rosa's children attended. |
| December 29 | George Seidenzahl died after a short illness. He was 38 years old. He was one of the executors of Rosa's husband's estate. He lived at 20 Van Buren Street. Perhaps, they were friends and Rosa attended the funeral. In 1895, he lived at 23 Broadway. |
1900
| According to the US Census, Rosa is living on Hart Street with her seven children. She owns her own house and is listed as working for musical Instuments along with her two sons. There is no boarder living at the house. | |
| She is listed as 39 years old and born in 1861. |
1902
| Fred Gretsch Musical Instruments, 104 S. 4th
St. h. 20 Hart Street Rosa, widow Fred, h.20 Hart Street. (Brooklyn Directories) |
|
| October 3 | The house on Hart Street is sold to Josephine M. Gatter. The family moves to Bath Beach very near to where Bena (Philippine) Gretsch Morgner and her daughter Johanna live. Johanna and Hertha are first cousins and very close in age. Quite possibly they were close friends while they were growing up. Both girls grew up without a father and both girls traveled very far from home as soon as they were able. |
1903
| Rosa is living at Bay 25th Street and Benson Avenue with her children. |
1904
| January 20 | Hertha's brother Fred marries Charlotte Sommer. Walter and Elsa are the witnesses. |
1905
| According to the New York State Census, Rosa is living at 79 Bay 25th Street Walter, Louis, Elsa, Helene , Hertha and Herbert. Hertha is 15 years old. Rosa is listed as 44 years old. | |
| It was around this time that Hertha came down with Scarlett Fever. She had to stay in bed in a darkened room for weeks. She had pain in her limbs and was subjected to uncontrolled movements in her arms and legs. This disease left her with a scared heart which later be the cause of her early death. But more immediately, this disease left Hertha with much time to be alone. | |
| It was this time that laid the foundation for her future travels. This time of isolation and contemplation allowed her to think about alternatives for herself. She was not to be allowed the life of her healthier older sisters Elsa and Helen. She started thinking differently. | |
| Ted Clauss believed that Hertha grew to be such a large woman ( much larger than either of her sisters)because she spent so much time in bed in the years that she was growing. Ted believed that his cousin William Gretsch also grew to be such a large man (much bigger than either of his brothers) because due to infantile paralysis he also spent a lot of time in bed as child. | |
| March 10 | Rosa's first grandchild Fred Gretsch Jr. is born. He is the son of Fred and his wife Charlotte Sommer Gretsch. |
| Philippine Morgner is running a boarding house near where Rosa and her children live. William Gretsch and his wife Lucille and their two children are living with her. William is the son of Jacob Gretsch. | |
| April 24 | Fred Gretsch Realty Company is Incorporated. Documents are signed by Rosa Gretsch of bay 25th Street and Benson Ave, Frederick Gretsch of 178 Nostrand Ave, and Walter Gretsch of Bay 25th Street adn Benson Ave. |
1906
| Rosa's second granson, William Walter Gretsch is born to Fred and Charlotte. |
1907
| April 10 |
Louie Gretsch died, brother of Rosa's first husband. |
| June 8 | An inventory of Fred Gretsch's will was made. Was this done because Louie died? |
| Quite possibly during this summer, Baby
William Gretsch came down with polio. It must have frightening the whole
family. Helene Gretsch graduated from Eramus High
School in Brooklyn. |
|
| June 24 | Rosa married
David Kling. (Teddy told me he was a friend of her first husband both men
had come from the same town in Germany Manheim- I did find reference to von Gerichten's marrying a Kling and so they might have been
cousins or acquaintances through Fritz's mother-Anna Maria von Gerichten),
They were married at the Richmond Hill house on Waterbury Ave. Rosa is listed as 46 years old, born in 1861. She is the same age as her husband. |
|
David is listed as living in Richmond Hill at time of marriage. Rosa was living in Bensonhurst
on Bay 25th street |
|
| June |
Rosa's daughter Elsa graduates from Teachers Training School in
Brooklyn. |
| July 18 |
Fred and Walter issue to Elsa Gretsch 42 shares of the Fred Gretsch
Manufacturing Company. (Documents given to GES by Billy Clauss at Teddy
Clauss' funeral in 1999. |
| September | Dora Gretsch travels to Germany. Dora is at the time involved with a man she met in the Catskills. Her sisters Emily and Wilhelmina do not approve of the match. |
1909
| June 2 | Elsa married Joe Clauss in Richmond Hill. Elsa was living with Fred and Charlotte at the time. |
| Herbert, Rosa's youngest child graduates from Erasmus High School. | |
| Rosa's son Walter travels to Germany for business. |
1910
| March 11 | Rosa's daughter, Helene Gretsch, gives a
performance as Helene Hope at a New York theatre. |
| March 15 Thursday, |
Rosa's daughter, Helene Gretsch, graduates
from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. A New York Times article dated March 16, reads "The graduation exercises of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts were held at the Empire Theatre yesterday afternoon and consisted of the awarding of diplomas to members of the class and of an address by Helen Ware." In 1980,
Ted Clauss wrote to me that the American Academy of Dramatic Arts was a four
year program held at Carnegie Hall. |
 |
Helene Hope on stage during this period.
Click on the image for an enlargement. |
| February 21 | Mary Mallon in the papers again being released from custody. |
| March 31 | Elsa Gretsch Clauss gives birth to her first child, Theodore. |
| May 2 | US Census enumerates: David Kling (49) and Rosa (50) living with Walter, Louis, Helene, Hertha (20) and Herbert at 28 West 97th Street in Manhattan. They are renters in a large building which housed 11 other unites. From the census, it looks like it was the largest building in the neighborhood. David Kling is listed as a "Waiter", Walter is a "Manufacturer" and Louis is in "Real Estate". Hertha and Helene are not working and Herbert is in school. |
| The US Census also enumerates Millard F and
Amelia L Garwood at 129 West 96th Street. Millard works for the RR and
Amelia is the
keeper of a Boarding House. In 1919, Millard F and Amelia L Garwood signed Rosa's will. They are the same age as Rosa and they used to live in Brooklyn at 420 Bergen Street. By 1920, Rosa has moved to Sidney Place in Brooklyn but the Garwoods still live at the same address. |
1912
| December 4 | New York times reports that Herbert Gretsch received a Varsity letter for Baseball! Herbert's older brothers were very involved with business. Herbert being the youngest in the family probably didn't get much respect for his ability on the sports field. |
| Dec.21 | Fred and Walter give Elsa Clauss 42 shares of the Fred Gretsch Manufacturing Company. Documents given to GES by Billy Clauss at Teddy Clauss' funeral in 1999(?) |
| June 22 | Bena's daughter, Johanna M. Morgner age 21 marries Fred C. Brose, rancher,
age 29, in Wenatchee, County of Chelan, Washington State. Johanna's mother ( Philipppine) travels all the way to Washington state for the wedding. They are married by a Catholic priest. Hertha would have taken special note of so much traveling by the girls in the family. Perhaps, she talked about this with her friend Jacob Hyman. Jacob was perhaps by this time, again living with the family at 42 Sidney Place. |
1914
|
Rosa and family moved to Brooklyn Heights, 42 Sidney Place. |
| April | Several times in this month,
Rosa's youngest son Herbert is mentioned in the New York Times for his
playing third base on the Columbia University Baseball Team. |
| June 4 | Herbert graduates from Columbia University with a degree in Civil engineering. He is the only one of the Gretsch children to graduate from College. He is also the youngest of all the children. |
| June 21 | New York Times " Big Brooklyn Factory Deal" An important Brooklyn deal in the Williamsburg section has been made in the purchase by the Gretsch Corporation of a plot 75 by 140 feet between the North West Corner of Berry and South Fifth Street. A seven story concrete factory will be erected on the site, which will be factory number 3 of the Gretsch Corporation. Factories 1 & 2 being in close proximity.. The plot purchased faces the Brooklyn and the Williamburgh Bridge and is now covered by six houses. James B. Fisher was the Brooker. |
| June 27 | The New York times reports that a $200,000.00
lease was closed yesterday with Schaffer and Budenburg, manufacturers of
Steam guages and thermometer for the greater part of the new concrete
factory to be erected by the Gretsch Cooperation on the northwest corner of
Berry and South 5th Street facing the Williamsburg Bridge. the construction
of the factory which will be 7 stories will be commenced immediately upon
the demolition of the seven dwelling houses now on the plot. It will be
ready for occupancy January 1, 1915. |
| June 28 | Archduke Ferdinand and his wife are
assassinated. In August WW1 begins. |
| December 23 | Philippine Gretsch Morgner
commits suicide. The cause of death as stated on her death certificate was "Illumination Gas
poisoning".
Philippine or Aunt Bena as Hertha would have called her,
was the youngest girl in the family of Manheim Gretsch's. N.B. John Anderson had been living in the same boarding house with Phillipine for more than ten years. First he worked as a scaffold rigger and later he worked in the boarding house as a general helper. In 14 years, Philippine moved at least three times within the same neighborhood. She supported herself and her daughter by running boarding houses. For several years, Hertha and her family lived in Bath Beach near Philippine and her daughter Johanna. It is quite possible that Hertha and her cousin Johanna were close friends. For more information about Philippine, go to "Timelines" on the navigation bar of this website. |
| Some after 1912, William Gretsch, older
brother of Rosa's first husband died. He set up a trust fund in his will for
Rosa.William had no children and had moved back to Germany. City Bank Farmers Trust Company was the executor and trustee. |
1915
| January 13 | Jacob Hyman dies in the Jewish
Hospital in Brooklyn. He was living
at the time with the Gretsch family with whom he had lived as a boarder for
20 years. Jacob was a retired prominent
Brooklyn business man. |
| January 14 |
The following picture and
obituary appeared in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, the day after Jacob's
death. To see an enlargement click on the image.
Jacob Hyman, of 42 Sidney place, a well known figure in downtown Brooklyn business circles, died yesterday in the Jewish hospital, aged 72 years. After coming to this country from Russia as a boy, Mr. Hyman quickly became a merchant of prominent in lower New York City, both in the clothing and in the jewelry business. From these enterprises he gained a considerable fortune, and about 20 years ago retired and from that time on till he died he resided in Brooklyn among old friends of his younger days. Soon after his retirement from business he became an ardent devotee of fishing, and hardly a day in summertime passed when he did not bring home a credible catch. To his love of this sport, his general outdoor life and his cheerful mode of living, Mr. Hyman gave the credit for his long life. Mr. Hyman was well known for his numerous works of charity, and many struggling Jewish congregations revere the name of the kindly old man whose generous aid helped them to success. Lawyer Isaac W. Jacobson, executor of the estate intimates that a surprise will be sprung this week when Mr. Hyman's will is offered for probate. Funeral services will be held in the chapel at 18 Clinton street tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock, Rabbi Steven Wise of the Free Synagogue in Manhattan officiating. Interment will be in the family plot Bay Side . L.I.
|
| January 26 | Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Page 16, GIRL WHO SAT STILL REWARDED IN WILL Bertha Gretsch, Fishing Companion Of Jacob Hyman, Gets Half Estate. An echo of the pleasant afternoons fifteen years ago, when he used to take fishing with him a little girl who, of all those he knew sat stillest when the first were biting, is reflected in the provision of the will of Jacob Hyman, late of 42 Sidney Place, retired merchant, that one-half of his estate, amounting to a substantial sum, should go to Miss Bertha Gretsch, 23 years old, of the Sidney street address, with whose family Mr. Hyman had made his home for many years. The beneficiary is a sister of Louis Gretsch real estate dealer, of 177 Remson street. Mr. Hyman, who was well known for his numerous acts of charity and the aid he gave many struggling Jewish congregations since his retirement twenty years ago, as a clothier and jeweler on Broadway, Manhattan, died of cancer in his seventy-third year at the Jewish Hospital on January 13. He was never married and Lawyer Isaac W. Jacobson, the sole executor of the estate, is now preparing, preliminary to the filing of the will this week, a list of first cousins, among whom the other half fo the estate is to be distributed. There are sixteen altogether and they are widely scattered. Miss Gretsch was graduated from Erasmus High School
several years ago. She had three sisters and four brothers. Mr. Hyman lived
with he family in Bensonhurst. Mr. Hyman had two recreations, one
fishing and the other matinees. He attended a matinee almost every
afternoon, frequently taking the Gretsch children with him. The children
also were his fishing companions. |
| January 27 | After the news had broken,
the story because it was so charming was picked up and sent around the
country. Marion, Ohio newspaper, News Nuggests, Front Page "Reward for Sitting Still" " Because she always sat still in the stern sheets when she went dishing with him. Jacob Hyman a wealthy jeweler bequeathed his niece Hertha Gretsch age 23, on half of his estate, mounting to $50,000." |
| January 28 | On the front page of the
Washington Post, " She sat still got fortune. Jeweler remembers girl who keep quiet and didn't scare the fist. Mis Bertha Gretsh of 42 Sidney Place Bensonhurst inherited half the estate of the late Jacob Hyman......etc The story also appeared on the same day in the Fort Wayne, Indiana paper. Several of the facts were wrong however. Hertha was listed as Bertha, she was also noted as Jacob's niece and his estate was stated as $50,000. One can imagine the stir this must have caused in Hertha's life. |
| February 16 | Jacob Hyman's lawyer fills a petition to The Surrogate Court of the County of Kings to prove the last will and testament of Jacob Hyman. |
| February 20 | Helene Gretsch who was in the
county of Hamilton, Ohio at the time petitioned the court that K. C.& M. V.
McDonald at 189 Montague Street in Brooklyn appear for her in the up
coming proceedings. Helene was apparently traveling with an acting troop. |
| March 4 | K.C. & M.C. McDonald send a notice of appearance to the Surrogate Court. |
| April 19 |
Surrogate Court. During the proceeding the cousins of Jacob Hyman claim that his last will "was procured by fraud and undue influence practiced upon the decedent by Hetha Gretsch, Helena Gretsch, Elsa Clauss, and of other persons acting in concert or privity with them, whose name or manes are at present unknown to those objectors and contestors."
|
| May 5 | Hertha's stance in the courtroom is noted in
this Brooklyn Daily Eagle article which appeared on May 5. Unfortunately,
the article only records her silence and tells us no more about her life. To
see an enlargement of the article click on the image.
|
| May 6 | The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Girl Gets Hyman Estate ------------ |
| May 7 | The Lusitanian is sunk by German submarine. |
1914-1920
| Teddy told me that Rosa spent summers at Bernardsville, New Jersey on the Bliss Estate. Her husband David Kling was a Gentleman's Gentleman to Mr. Bliss. I can find no record of this....only Teddy's recollections of spending summers at his grandmother's cottage on the estate. |
1915-34
| (possibly even before then) |
Rosa often played the Piano for fund raisers for "Good
Will". Teddy remembers especially his grandmother's playing for the large Abraham and Strauss Department store in Brooklyn at Christmas time. As a young boy, Teddy would go with her and turn the pages of her music as she played. Rosa was very dedicated to Good Will and always baked for them. She also enlisted her children especially Elsa and possible Hertha to work also for Good Will. Rosa's daughter in law, Charlotte Sommer Gretsch wrote in her diary on Tuesday May 5, 1925 " Miss L. Eifert--Good Will" Perhaps, Charlotte was attending a benefit for her mother in law. On May 11 of the same year, Charlotte entered in her diary " Spring Luncheon Good Will Circle". Besides Teddy's recollections, there are the only references I can find in the family to Rosa's interest in "Good Will". |
1918
| Rosa's daughter Hertha begins her long trip by first traveling to California. She wrote home constantly to her mother. | |
| November 11 | World War 1 ends. |
1919
| July 29 | Rosa wrote her will. " I Rosa Kling, of the Borough of Brooklyn, Country of Kings, City of an Stage of New York, considering the uncertainly of this mortal life, and being of sound mind and memory, do make this my last will and testament. I bequeath to my husband David Kling the sum of Three thousand dollars$3.000.00. The remainder of my estate, both real and personal to be devided (sic) equally between my seven children, Frederick Gretsch, Walter Gretsch, Louis Gretsch, Elsa Clauss, Helene Welsh, Hertha Gretsch and Herbert Gretsch. I appoint Frederick Gretsch Executor of this my last will and testiment (sic). In witness whereof I have this day hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of July in the year of our Lord 1919. Rosa Kling. Witnesses Millard F. Garwood, Amelia L. Garwood |
| August 21 | Rosa's son Walter applies for a US Passport
in order to go to Europe on a buying trip for the Fred Gretsch Manufacturing
Company. Two letters are written on his behalf. One from Reubin W. Shatan,
the assistant secretary of the Manufacturer's Trust Company and another by
his brother Fred Gretsch, President of the Fred Gretsch Manufacturing
Company. Walter is 5 feet, 5 1/2 inches tall, blue eyes, brown hair, medium nose. |
| December 1 | Rosa's youngest daughter Hertha
applied for a passport to go to Asia from Honolulu. Rosa knew that her
daughter was in Honolulu but most likely she didn't know that was planning
on traveling in Asia. Hertha's passport was awarded on December 22. For more information about Hertha and her passport application which contains many discrepancies go to Hertha's time line on this website. |
1920
| January 4 | Rosa and her husband David are living at 42
Sidney place with Walter, Louie (Real Estate) and Herbert (Civil Engineer). David is listed as a clerk. Rosa is listed as 54 years old (born in 1866) and four years younger than her husband. |
| January 17 | Walter who is working for the Fred Gretsch Manufacturing Company wrote a letter to the Dept of State requesting a passport for his soon to be wife, Gertrude Beandall Gourlay. They are to be married on January 25th. They plan to sail together on the Rotterdam to Europe on a business/ wedding trip of February 7. Walter swears that he had known her for 10 years. |
| January 25 | Walter Gretsch married Gertrude Beandall Gourlay ( a widow) |
1922
| July 18 | Louis Gretsch applied for a pass port. He was planing to leave on July 26th for a pleasure trip to Europe. Louis was 5 feet 9 inches tall with brown eyes and harie and a Roman nose. He had distinguishing marks on his right arm. He will be accompanied by his wife Marian. |
| According to Gertrude Gretsch, on their honey moon in Europe, they traveled with Walter and Gertrude Gretsch. In Paris, they all met up with Hertha and "brought her home". Why exactly she needed to be brougth home is not clear. | |
| In 1999, Marion Gretsch Wells wrote to me
about her mother...My mother's maiden name was Downey. her father started
the Holy Family Hospital. (This is the hospital where Rosa's youngest
daughter died in 1936. Teddy told me that Hertha received very good care
there because of the family's connection to the hospital's founder.)
Marion's grandfather founded St. Mary's. Mother was a
fascinating person. she drove an ambulance in W.W. I in New York and in the
thirty's she started the Immaculate Conception Day Nursery near the Brooklyn
Naval Yard and funded it with a huge luncheon, bridge and fashion show at
the Waldorf yearly." Apparently, Marion Downey Gretsch was also a good friend of Helen Mooney Gretsch's mother. |
1923
| August 1 | Gertrude Gretsch, daughter of Walter and Gertrude Gretsch is born. Gertrude is Rosa's first granddaughter. |
| Gertrude grew up close to her cousin Marion Gretsch. Marion was younger than Gertrude and she was also an only child. |
1925
| June 11 | Rosa's son Fred Gretsch is issued a US Passport. |
1926
| June 18 | Rosa’s Birthday. On this day, Fred & Charlotte & Dick sailed for Europe |
| July 13 | Rosa purchased a home at 115-31 Union Turnpike in Forest Hills Gardens. is is located near the corner of Union Turnpike and Greenway North. This was a one family private dwelling of stucco construction. The lot was 40 feet by 122. At the time of purchase Rosa acquired a mortgage of $11,500.00. The value of the home in 1934 was $15,500. |
| Teddy remembers that they had a large garden there and dogs that she had brought home from Germany. | |
| Gertrude her grandchild remembers going there and playing with large bags of clothes that Rosa kept for her grandchildren to dress up in. | |
| Gertrude remembers Hertha being there and thinking that she was so beautiful. | |
|
Gertrude remembers not seeing much of her cousins Fred, Bill and Richard
because her father Walter and his brother Fred were in such a terrible
fight. But Gertrude remembers being told that Charlotte was so beautiful. |
1928
| May | Rosa's daughter in law Charlotte Gretsch dies. Charlotte was 47 years old. |
1930
| September 16 | Louie Gretsch guarantees payment for Rosa on
a second mortgage she had secured on a building at 269 Prospect Place in
Brooklyn. The original mortgage was made to Sydney Place Cooporation on September 7, 1927. At Rosa's death, the three daughters received one third interest in the principal Elsa, Helene and Hertha equal to $1,500.00. But what happened to the building which was worth $59,500.? |
1932
| April | Dr. Eugene Cronin begins taking care of Rosa and treating her for myocarditis. |
1934
| Dec 22 | Rosa died at 7:30 pm at home from Myocarditis.
She had been suffering with this for 14 months. contributing to her death
was chronic kidney disease. apparently, she nurses taking care of her at
home. Three nurses, Miss C. Center, Miss M. Mooney and Miss Marg McHugh were
all paid from her estate for their services. On the same day that Rosa died, her grandson Richard Gretsch was returning to New York from a trip around the world. |
| Dec 26 | Rosa was buried at Greenwood Cemetery Brooklyn. She is listed there as Rosa Gretsch. Lot 292-61 sec. 145 |
1935
| February 28 | An Inventory of the Household Effects, Etc of Rosa Kling was submistted to the Surrogate Court of Queen's County. |
| The final appraisal value was $841.00 By far the most expensive item in Rosa's house was a Steinway and Son, Walnut Parlor Grand Piano # 246076. Most of the other furniture was described as "broken", "cheap grade", "worn", "long in use", "stained", "discolored", "chiped" . At the time of Rosa's death, her children were
living at the following addresses: |
1936
| January 18 | Hertha dies at Holy Family hospital in Brooklyn |
| June1 | Helene Welsh is named Administratrix of
Hertha's estate. Helene's address is listed as 37 Shorthill Road. It appears that soon after Rosa's death. Helene and her husband were divorced and Helene moved in with her brother Fred. Elsa Clauss had moved to 7666 Austin Street. |
This time line was begun on Easter Tuesday, April 13, 1993 and continuously revised
Wird sich die Geschichte anders ausnehmen, wenn wir sie (die Geschichte) durch das Prisma ihres Lebens und Werkes betrachten?
Hannah Arendt on Rosa Luxemburg