USA > New York > Bronx County > The Bronx and its people; a history, 1609-1927, Volume III > Part 54
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discharge. His religious affiliations are with St. Brendan's Catholic Church.
Mortimer J. Sullivan married, on June 1, 1922, Marie M. Brady, daughter of John E. and Anna (Meissner) Brady. Mr. Brady is interested in the publishing business. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan are the parents of two children: William, born May 19, 1923, and Anna, born August 18, 1925.
ADOLF C. BLECHNER-As head of the firm of Albert Blechner's Sons, Incorporated, roofing and sheet metal contractors, Adolf C. Blechner is carrying on the business established by his father almost forty years ago. Albert Blechner, who founded the bus- iness in 1888, was the pioneer in his line in The Bronx. It was one of the first businesses of its kind established there. His son, Adolf C. Blechner, is now president of the firm which is increasing in scope and prosperity as time goes by.
Adolf C. Blechner was born in The Bronx, April 11, 1890, the son of Albert and Marie Blechner. Al- bert Blechner was born in Germany and came to the United States while he was very young. He settled in The Bronx and set up his present business two years before his son was born. He remained president of the firm until his death in 1913, when his son Adolf succeeded him in the position. Adolf received his education in The Bronx public schools, in Sacred Heart Academy and in Bird's Business School. He started to work for his father, but his business career was interrupted by the World War, during which he served several months in the chem- ical warfare department. He is a member of the Arion Club, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the Schnorer Club. He was elected president of the firm, Albert Blechner's Sons, In- corporated, while still under twenty-five years of age, at the time of the death of his father in 1913. He is at present one of the trustees of the Fordhanı Savings Bank.
ALBERT D. PHELPS-One of the ablest and most experienced real estate men of New York City is Albert D. Phelps, whose offices are located at No. 391 East One Hundred and Forty-ninth Street. All his life Mr. Phelps has been associated with Bronx real estate, as his father was one of the early residents and as a realtor played a significant part in the development of the section.
Albert D. Phelps was born in New York City, February 21, 1891, son of Hiram L. and Theresa (De Bear) Phelps. His father was a real estate dealer and developer of new properties in that dis- trict until his retirement. The son attended Public School No. 9, New York City, Wadsworth Business School, and Dwight's Preparatory School, complet- ing his education with a highly specialized course in commercial drawing at the New York School of Ap- plied Arts. It was thus as a business man with an already pretty complete knowledge of realty values in The Bronx, and with his well rounded education which contributes toward his effectiveness as an exec- utive and as his own advertising copy writer, Mr. Phelps engaged in the realty business in association with his father at No. 168 Willis Avenue. Soon Mr. Phelps opened his own office, in 1915, and has since
been much in demand in property transactions on a large scale. Mr. Phelps' activities are centered in The Bronx, specializing in selling Bronx real estate and appraising. As an appraiser, his testimony has been accepted in many cases involving many millions of dollars. His ability as an appraiser has been rec- ognized throughout the five boroughs. He is now serving on the Admission Committee of The Real Estate Board of New York and also been elected as a member of the Appraising Committee of the same borough. He is a member of The Bronx Board of Trade, and of the Dunwoodie Golf Club.
Mr. Phelps married, in New York City, in October, 1916, Blanche Mildred Andrews, whose parents are both deceased. Children: Dorothy, born June 25, 1921; and Albert, born December 19, 1923.
RONALD McADAM-A native of Canada, but for almost forty years a resident of this country, Mr. McAdam has been engaged in the building bus- iness for about a quarter of a century, being located most of that time in The Bronx. His various oper- ations during this long period have been uniformly successful and he has contributed his full share to the development and building up of the most norther- ly borough of Greater New York. He was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1868, a son of Alexander and Mary McAdam, both residents of Canada until their deaths, his father having been engaged there in farming.
Ronald McAdam was educated in the public schools of his native country and came to the United States at the age of twenty-one years in 1889, coming event- ually to New York City where he attended the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street School of Archi- tecture. About 1900 he entered the building business in which he has continued since then, most of his operations being carried on in The Bronx. Amongst these should be mentioned an apartment house at Tremont and Vyse avenues; an apartment house for the Dyckman Estate and many one and two-family houses. His business in recent years has been con- ducted under the style of R. McAdam Company, with offices at No. 4205 Third Avenue, The Bronx. Mr. McAdam is a member of Guiding Star Lodge, No. 565, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Mecca Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, as well as of The Bronx Board of Trade. Mr. McAdam is unmarried.
SAMUEL W. HUROWITZ-One of the business leaders of The Bronx, New York City, whose own prosperity has been marked, while his contribution to the general welfare of the community has been continuous, is Samuel W. Hurowitz, electrical con- tractor, No. 2382 Grand Concourse. So many are his business interests that he is a potent factor in stimulating financial and constructive activity in gen- eral. An illustration of this faculty is the new apart- ment hotel, fifteen stories in height, of the finest design and workmanship, which he is erecting at Nos. 34-40 West Seventy-Second Street, soon to be completed. His is one of the most dramatic careers among those of foreign-born American citizens who have made their way against all sorts of obstacles and proved a blessing to their adopted country.
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Samuel W. Hurowitz was born in Pultawa, Russia, February 16, 1896, son of Solomon and Celia Huro- witz. At the age of eleven, in 1907, he came to the United States, having received his early education in his own country. He learned English and studied in the schools here, including the Eron Preparatory Schools. For many years he was employed in the electrical contracting business in New York City, beginning in 1912. For the past three years he has been located at his present address, for he soon found that ninety-five per cent of his business was in The Bronx. He installs complete electrical systems, except lighting fixtures. Some of the most important electrical jobs he has completed are: The system in the tallest building in Brooklyn, at No. 22 Court Street; that in the Prisament Hotel; that in Standish Hall; that in Carleton Terrace; and the systems in the Ritz, Luxor, and Kingsbridge theatres in The Bronx. Such a list indicates the magnitude of his operations. He is president of the Hurlow Realty Corporation, secretary and treasurer of the Wadsworth Holding Corporation, the Wellmore Realty Corporation, and the Nile Building Corpor- ation.
Mr. Hurowitz's civic and social welfare affiliations are as numerous as his business interests. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias; the Independ- ent Order of Beth Abraham; the Building Industry League; The Bronx Board of Trade; the Real Estate Club of New York; the New York Electrical League; the New York Electrical Society; the Electrical Board of Trade; the Independent Association of Contractors and Dealers. His philanthropic associations are with the Federation of Jewish Charities, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Beth Abraham Home for Incurables, the Home for the Jewish Blind, and the Maternity Center Association. He is a member of the Unity Club, and a charter member of the Jewish Theatrical Guild of America. His religious affiliation is with the Concourse Center of Israel.
In New York City, March 29, 1925, Samuel W. Hurowitz married Rose Miller, daughter of Harris Miller.
REV. BLASIUS JOSEPH ZEISER, O. S. A .- Widespread recognition of the piety and humanitari- anism of the Rev. Blasius Joseph Zeizer, of The Bronx, New York, has accompanied respect for his achievements and his organizing and constructive ability as pastor of the Church of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, at the corner of University Avenue and Fordham Road. During his association with the parish, the church building has been greatly improved, filled to overflowing with an ever-increasing num- ber of communicants, and all the many-faceted sides of religious activity today have been fully developed. Many new departments adding to the value of the church to its community have been completed and many are under way. This twenty-year old parish is now marching abreast of others twice its age and holds an important place in general community welfare and progress.
Father Zeiser was born in Mauch Chunk, Pennsyl- vania, October 8, 1878, son of Blasius Joseph and Julia (Sauer) Zeiser. The father, born in Baden
Baden, Germany, in 1829, came to the United State at the age of fourteen, settling in Mauch Chunk where he conducted the hotel known as the Man sion House for many years before his death in 1919 The mother is still living in her sixty-sixth year The son, Rev. Blasius Joseph Zeiser, attended St Joseph's Parochial School and later the high schoo in Mauch Chunk, whence he entered preparatory school in Villanova, Pennsylvania, finally graduating from Villanova College with the Degree of Bachelo of Arts. He was received in the Order of St. Aug ustine at Villanova in the year 1902, where he pre pared for the priesthood. On May 25, 1907, he wa ordained priest and assigned as assistant in the St Nicholas Church, Atlantic City, New Jersey, unde Father F. J. McShane, O. S. A., where he remained for a year. In 1908 he was assigned to the Church of St. Nicholas of Tolentine in The Bronx, then tw years old, and attended by a little over one hundred communicants. Rev. E. G. Dohan was the firs pastor, and the first house of worship a converted garage. Soon ground was broken for the new church and within a year enough construction ha been effected to allow services to be held therein Father Zeiser continued as assistant to the successo of Father Dohan, O. S. A., Rev. C. M. Driscoll O. S. A., and with the next incumbent, Rev. N. J Murphy, O. S. A., until Father Zeiser was transferred to the Mother of Consolation Church in Phila- delphia, where he remained for five years. In 1917 upon the death of Rev. N. J. Murphy, O. S. A., he was made pastor of St. Nicholas of Tolentine in The Bronx.
Rapid forward strides have been made by the par ish under the able direction of Father Zeiser. Hi first attention was turned to the school of the parish which under his inspiration and guidance was soor perfected to a standard equal to that of any grade school in the city. Soon an attractive new school house was completed. Eighteen classrooms are pro vided, together with all the special offices and rooms called for by the modern school and all the extra classroom activities of present-day education. Ir 1927 a complete four years' high school was started Inspired by the spirit of their school and the rector of the parish, the students have done excellent work and have secured various awards. Father Zeiser has also completed a new convent, the most modern in every detail with accommodations for twenty-five sisters. The ground at the corner of University Avenue and Fordham Road opposite Fordham Park one of the most valuable and attractive sites in The Bronx, has been acquired as the site of a new church building, which at this time is under construc- tion. This property has been enhanced in value fivefold since its purchase. A beautiful and impos- ing new structure is in process of erection. The pres ent church that is under construction will be con- sidered one of the finest arch-dioceses of New York. Many parish organizations thrive and a great deal of work of tremendous value to the community in general is performed. The guide and spiritual leader, magnetic in personality, and sincere in spirit, im- bues his great congregation with his own lofty am- bitions, and under Father Zeiser the parish of St. Nicholas of Tolentine marches steadily forward.
Church - of - St - Nicholas - of - Tolentine
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MICHAEL J. BRODERICK-The spread of our American cities, bringing with it increased demands for territory to house families, office organizations and manufacturing establishments, has brought into demand outlying acreage that formerly mnade up farms and suburbs; and owners of these tracts have reaped neat monetary harvests from this movement by converting their land into subdivisions. All of Manhattan Island was at one time a lot of large farms on which the early Dutch settlers, and then their English successors, squatted according to the custom! of granting such pioneers land in exchange for their services to the European crown. Som'e years ago Michael J. Broderick, a native of England, invested in a tract of eighteen acres on the Hunt's Point Road, The Bronx, for a small part of what it is worth today. Mr. Broderick kept the property in shape, let it lie there and patiently waited for the enhancement. His land has now become so valuable that he recently decided to divide it into manufacturing sites and sell it as an aid to the further extension of industrial development in The Bronx. For the furtherance of this plan he or- ganized the Hunt's Point Land and Improvement Company, whose offices are located at No. 600 Hunt's Point Avenue, while Mr. Broderick, who has been a resident of The Bronx for forty years, maintains his interesting home at No. 854 Hunt's Point Road.
Michael J. Broderick was born in England, Sep- tember 6, 1863, son of Martin and Mary (Lynch) Broderick, his father having come to the United States in 1864 and established a home on One Hun- dred and Sixty-fifth Street, Manhattan. He attended public school in Ireland. While he was one year of age his father went to the new country of America and after establishing himself, brought the rest of his family over. At this time, Michael J. was fourteen years of age, and full of enthusiasm for the change. His resources being limited, he early accepted a position and began to develop an earning power, while continuing a course of self-education. On becoming of age he joined the Democratic party, and for many years has been an enthusiastic member of the Pondiac Democratic Club. He is a member of The Bronx Board of Trade and the American Business Men's Protective Association. In religious affairs his affiliation is with the St. Anastasius Roman Cath- olic Church. Mr. Broderick has made himself ex- tremely popular among his fellow Democrats, church- men and business associates, and in every way lives up to the reputation of a good neighbor and a stal- wart citizen.
He married in Manhattan, January 15, 1888, Mary McGee, whose parents, natives of Ireland, are now deceased, and their union has been blessed with six children: 1. May, married Charles Dudley, and they have two children, Maria and Virginia Dudley. 2. Julia, married Ralf Degrazia. 3. Agnes, married Fred Emanuel, and they have one child, Eugene Emanuel. 4. Martin. 5. John, married Ellen Hurley. 6. Nettie, married Selima Marloph.
JOHN FREDERICK MASON-The longest es- tablished dealer in hardware, stoves, etc., in The Bronx, is John Frederick Mason, who for the past forty-three years has been located at No. 631 Court- landt Avenue. Mr. Mason has bought a beautiful
home at No. 2917 Bainbridge Avenue, situated op- posite Ursuline Academy, and overlooking the at- tractive grounds of that institution. He has seen The Bronx grow from a sparsely settled district to its present dense and rapidly growing population, having been a resident of this section of the city for forty-five years, and he has a host of friends here, many of whom, like himself, came when this was a region far outside the limits of the city proper.
John Frederick Mason was born in London, Eng- land, September 22, 1859, son of Job Mason, a native of Worcester, England, who was engaged in the leather business there, and of Anna (Hayward) Mason, who was also a native of Worcester, Eng- land. He attended the public schools of Worcester, and at the age of thirteen years began to serve his apprenticeship as a sheet metal worker, in Worces- ter, where he continued until he was seventeen. He then went to Birmingham, where he worked as a journeyman, getting a more finished experience in his trade. After about two years spent in Birming- ham, however, he decided to come to this country and in September, 1881, he landed in New York City, settling in the Melrose section of The Bronx, at the corner of One Hundred and Forty-third Street and Morris Avenue, when Morris Avenue was being cut through, and there he opened a tinsmith shop. Two years later he removed to No. 631 Courtlandt Avenue, and there he has remained to the present time (1926) completing a period of forty-three years in one location. His business grew steadily and to his original business of the tinsmith he added a full line of hardware, stoves, etc. He is at the present tim'e the oldest established dealer in that line in The Bronx, and has built up a very large patronage. Of late years his sons have been his assistants in the management of the business. He is well known and held in high esteem in this section of the city, where he is known as a most able business man. He is also esteemed for his sterling qualities of char- acter and for his pleasing personality.
John Frederick Mason was married, in Birming- ham, England, October 6, 1879, to Sarah Jane Heath, daughter of Samuel Heath, who was born in Brans- grove, England, and of Mary (Edge) Heath. Mr. and Mrs. Mason are the parents of seven children: 1. John Leonard, born February 11, 1884. 2. Frank Louis, born April 12, 1886, married Esther Eliz- abeth S. Jostrom, and they became the parents of one son, John Frank Mason, who graduated from the electrical engineering course in Columbia Univer- sity, and was commissioned a lieutenant senior, United States Navy, during the World War. He died May 23, 1919, shortly after returning from serv- ice. 3. Ernest. 4. Henry. 5. Milton Percy, a graduate of Guilford College, North Carolina, and served in the World War as sergeant in the Medical Corps, overseas. He married Edith Swatzer, and they have one son, Robert, who was born in 1922. 6. Lillian, married Walter Becker, and has two children: Lil- lian, and Walter, Jr. 7. Arthur Redford.
ALBERT L. ALTMANN-The honor of being identified with one of the oldest and most important business concerns of The Bronx is enjoyed by Al- bert L. Altmann, manager of Dimock & Fink Com- pany, Inc., whose business was established upwards
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of sixty years ago, and is still a leader among New York houses dealing in plumbing and heating sup- plies. Mr. Altmann seemed quite naturally to take to this line of business he has followed so success- fully, since his father was engaged as a plumber in Manhattan for many years.
Born in Manhattan, New York City, July 26, 1885, Albert L. Altmann is the son of August and Wilhel- mina Altmann, the former having died in 1907. He received his education in Public School No. 14, of Manhattan and at La Salle Academy, from which he was graduated in the class of 1901. The year following his graduation he joined the force of Dimock & Fink Company, taking a position in the shipping department. He exhibited an aptitude for the bus- iness out of the ordinary, and was given a number of promotions to positions in which he rendered intelligent and efficient service to his employers. It is now virtually twenty-four years since he went with this concern, and seven years ago he was made its general manager, in which office he has been an important factor in building up the company's volume of business and enlarging its good will. Some thirty- five years ago the concern removed from its original location at John Street to East One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street, where it is now established. The company opened a plant at One Hundred and Sixty- seventh Street and Third Avenue, about 1899, where it carries complete stocks of heating and plumbing supplies. The founder of the concern, Martin Fink, was one of the men who early started the commer- cial activity of The Bronx, and his spirit has been inherited by the personnel to no little degree.
Mr. Altmann is intensely interested in the physical and moral welfare of The Bronx Borough and coun- ty, and lends with a fine spirit of cooperation his support of every approved movement in the com- munity's march of progress in so many directions. He is an active member of Bronx Lodge, No. 871, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and a member of the Lions Club of The Bronx. In all these organizations he is a popular and useful member. His religious association is with the Church of Our Lady of Mercy, The Bronx.
Albert L. Altmann married, February 2, 1926, in The Bronx, Anna Festal, daughter of John and Dora (Koenig) Festal. They have their residence at No. 2801 Pond Place, The Bronx.
CHARLES SCHNEIDER-A leading citizen of The Bronx, where he has spent his whole life, and a prosperous business man is Charles Schneider, of No. 492 East One Hundred and Sixty-third Street. He was born in The Bronx on March 29, 1869, son of Jacob and Katherina (Schmidt) Schneider. The father was born in Wendecken, Germany, December 9, 1823, and came to New York City in 1851, where he died in 1887 at the age of sixty-four, after a busy and successful life as a carpenter and builder. He married in Germany, and the surviving children · are: Philip; Emma, wife of Charles F. Heinz; Kate, wife of Samuel Cook; and Charles, of further men- tion.
Charles Schneider completed the course at Public School No. 61 in 1884. He then served as appren- tice in the machinist, pipe and piping trade for three years. Thereafter he was machinist for Warren
Lang and Company. In 1898 he went into business for himself at the location he now occupies, and by dint of hard work and honest and efficient service has greatly prospered. He is a member of the County Democratic Association of the Borough of The Bronx, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, The Schnorer Club, the New York Athletic Club, the Bronx Rotary Club, the Homestead Golf Club, and the Belmar clubs. He is also director of The Bronx Board of Trade. His favorite form of recreation finds outlet in his summer activities, in outdoor sports, and in caring for his home at Belmar, New Jersey.
On February 9, 1907, in The Bronx, Charles Schnei- der married Anna M. Miller, born in New York City, daughter of Charles A. and Magdalena (Link) Miller, both now deceased. Children: Charles A., born June 15, 1908; John J., born July 26, 1910.
CHARLES E. PRAHL-A resident of The Bronx for some ten years, Mr. Prahl formerly was the owner of a pharmacy, bearing his name, at Webster Avenue and Two Hundred and First Street, The Bronx. Previous to establishing himself in this business he had studied pharmacy and had served for some six years as a pharmacist in the New York City Department of Public Welfare. Both during his connection with the public service and later as the head of his own establishment he showed a very thorough knowledge of his profession, great energy and ability, and conscientious integrity.
Charles E. Prahl was born in New York City, September 5, 1884, a son of the late Charles Edward Prahl, a native of Boston, who died in 1893. For a number of years the family lived in Rutherford, New Jersey, and it was there that Mr. Prahl attended public school. He then took up the study of pharmacy and, in 1904, passed the examinations of the pharmacy board of the State Regents. After six years' service with the Department of Public Welfare of New York City he came to The Bronx and there established himself in business on his own account and under his own name in which he con- tinued for a number of years. He is a member of Sagamore Lodge, No. 371, Free and Accepted Ma- sons. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party, while his religious affiliations are with the Congregational church.
Mr. Prahl married at Jersey City, New Jersey, October 2, 1914, Maude E. Stafford, a native of Kingston, province of Ontario, Canada, and a daugh- ter of Daniel and Lydia (Sparks) Stafford. Mr. and Mrs. Prahl are the parents of one child, Valerie, born October 30, 1916. The family residence is located at No. 398 East Two Hundred and First Street.
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