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Show Herman Bernstein · ~ ••• \ ~ HB: [born] 1912. [where] Salt Lake City on State Street. [childhood] The childhood that I remember has to-- the problems we had being Jewish? Because we did have problems. Well, for example, in athletics, we play with so-called gentiles. We were often called Sheer~ and kikes. Which I don't think my children ever heard that expression. Out in the morning, you're playing football. You hit a guy a little bit too hard, why,"you damn kike" and you were off to the races and fight. J Alot o~~ths? HB Oh, yes, many times. Together with my two brothers. As for my parents. My Dad was a peddler [what kind] Oh, he'd go out and buy junk. That sort of thing. Out in the country. And in the summer time, we would go to the fruit market and he would buy a load of fruit and we'd go out mostly in the Summitt County. Wanship and Peioa and Camas. Those were the days were there weren't the fancy grocery stores and shopping malls and the farmer would look forward to my Dad comingalong and selling them fruit. And they'd put up the fruit for the winter months. In that area, it was too cold to grow fruit. J Mostly food that he sold. HB Fruit. Fruit. J What did he do when the fruit was being sold. HB Then he'd be out buying cattle and wool and that sort of thing. Make a living that way. J What did you do when he was-- - HB I used to go with him. When we were kids. Go house to house and peddle fruit. Ten, 11, 12 years old. J How long did your father do that. HB Well, my dad passed away when he was quite young. He was about 51 years old. J HE did that until he was 51. HB Until he about 51. He was ill for about 2 or 3 years. That was during the Depression Days. Thosewere real, tough times. J What was it like living during the depression. HB Very difficult. [how] As far as economics was concerned, I was working at Walker Bank first as a messenger boy and then as a bookkeepr--as a messenger boy for $10/week and I was fortunate to be working. And in reminiscing, I think one of the reasons I was hired in the bank was that they were looking for;~young Jewish chap to work inthe bank. [why young jewish chap?] I dont know. J Trying to do you a favor. HB No, I don't think so. I think they just for community relations, possibly. J So when you were very ltittle, you felt discrimination, it -- HB It was dropped. Nev er felt it. Never felt it actually, as I look back, maybe junior high school. In high school, never. [what school] WEST HIGH SCHOOL,across the tracks. J SO you lived on State Street and West High. H B Well, from State Street we moved to, in fact that was kind of like the Jewish ghetto. TL-.,... ,.."'..,.,.._,...+~. |
