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B.
H. Alston Pty Ltd
Importers
of High Class Havana Cigars
Alston’s
Corner
Melbourne
7th
March, 1935
Nat Bharier,
Esq
Dene Holme
Orchard Road
Linthorpe
Middlesbrough
Dear Sir
I notice in the Jewish Chronicle
dated 16th November 1934, that you are endeavouring to write a
history of the early Jewish community of Middlesbrough, and are
appealing for data in connection with it. I have much pleasure in
being able to supply with authentic first-hand information regarding
the First Jewish citizen of Middlesbrough, and some of his
associates.
I was born in Hull in 1859. I removed
in company with. my late parents and also grandfather and
grandmother to Middlesbrough in 1864. At this time there were no
other Jews in the City.
My father, Isaac Altson, - a
descendant of the ancient family of Altschul, originating in the
16th century, Prague see Vol. 1 page 477, of the Jewish Encyclopedia
- My father established a watchmaking and jewellery business in
Sussex Street near the railway crossing in 1865, at which time this
street was the most popular business centre. My grandfather, Morris
Levy, who also had a jewellery shop, near the Knaggs Head Hotel, and
they were both strictly observant Jews, closing their places of
business on Shabbos , and also the two days on each Festival. They
procured their Kosher meat supply with no little difficulty, from
West Hartlepool, and In the height of summer, this difficulty became
acute.
For some years, there were not
sufficient numbers to form a Minyan, but gradually, as the first few
Jews began to arrive either from Poland or Russia, we were able to
form a Minyan, the services being held either at my grandfather or
father's home. Each of these gentlemen possessed a Sefer Torah.. My
grandfather brought his from Poland. A year or two later, my father
engaged rooms, which were fitted up in two divisions for males and
females. One of these rooms was no more than a loft, which was over
a carpenter and joiner's establishment, and had to be approached by
a flight of steps. I was the first boy Barmitzvah in this temporary
Synagogue in 1872, before the present Synagogue was built.
My father G.R.H.S. was an exceptional
Hebrew scholar and Talmudist and for some time he conducted the
entire service. Between 1864 and.1872 the number of Jewish families
in M’bro increased to between 15 and 20, and at the instigation of
my father it was decided to build a Synagogue and my father
negotiated the purchase of land on which the present building
stands. Isaac Altson was elected the first President of the
Congregation before the Synagogue was built and he held that
position for many years. He was also the first Jewish Town
Councillor to be elected in about 1874, I think. As you can well
understand, I am not absolutely certain regarding many dates and
events that transpired after our first removing to M’bro, but you
can easily make enquiries from the Town Clerk regarding the exact
date of my father's election.
As well as my memory serves me, I
will endeavour to supply you with the names of the Jews who arrived
in M’bro a few years after my peoples’ arrival. The names are as
follows: Mr L Smith, a successful hawker who built a number of
dwellings in Marton Road; Mr Nathan, a clothier in East Street; Mrs
Samuel, who carried on an ironmongery and crockery business also in
East Street (This lady's brother later became Lord Bearstead); Mr
Getz, a glazier dealing in sheet glass and paints; Mr I Wilks; Mr
Kaufman; Mr. Laski, the grandfather of what has now turned out to be
a brilliant family of Manchester; Mr Hush; Mr Nelson; Mr Bernstein;
Mr Ascher Michaelson, father of the Rev Mr Michaelson. Mr Michaelson
was in my father's employ at one time; Mr Hyman Benjamin, a relative
of Mr Wilks; Mr. Smollan, whose daughter is now Mrs Hyams who lives
at “Memel”, Southfield Road, M’bro. I would suggest that you
interview this lady, as she may be able to supply some further
information. Her parents arrived some years after 1864; Mr L Levy;
Mr. Jacobs, a scholarly friend of my father, who, I understand, died
a few years ago; Mr Aaronson; Mr Rosenzweig, a tailor; Mr Leventhall;
Mr Friedlander; Mr Berger. I think I am correct in saying that the
Rev Mr Furst was the first qualified minister who went to Edinbrough
after my departure in 1878.
The earliest Hebrew teacher I
remember was Mr Gordon from Poland. He was qualified to kill poultry
and also eked out a precarious living by means of teaching Hebrew to
the few Jewish children, killing poultry, and hawking sponges and
washleather. As a young child, between 7 and 8 years of age, I was
sent to a child's school in Albert Road, conducted by young ladies,
very adjacent to a vacant field, later built on by the present Iron
Exchange. These fields led to Albert Road and football was played. I
later went to three boy’s schools, firstly Dr Grieves (corner of
Albert and Corporation Roads), secondly Mr Sewell's in Grange Road;
and lastly Mr Calvert’s in Linthorpe Road.
I personally left England in 1878 for
Australia, not until, however, I had been the first Jewish volunteer
to join the 21st North York Rifles. I still possess my certificate
of proficiency for first and second year class firing, which I got
when I received my discharge - a document which I possess and
treasure.
In 1888 my parents also left England
to join me, and before leaving they were presented by the executive
of the Hebrew Congregation with a testimonial, a copy of which I
herewith enclose. I also enclose the local Jewish paper, obituary
notices on the occasion of my late father’s death (NB I treasure
these documents very deeply. I would ask you to handle them with
care and to return them to me at your earliest possible
convenience.) Incidentally, when your work is finished, I would like
to purchase a copy, and if sufficiently interesting to the other
members of my family residing in Australia and Great Britain, they
would also be potential buyers.
I have given you a concise account of
the M’bro Jews of the past and my memory is possibly not perfect
on this subject. Now let me give you some impressions of M’bro
Jews of the present as I found them and my memory is perfectly clear
on this subject.
I visited M’bro in 1927 (See your
local paper, North Eastern Daily Gazette, 3rd September 1927). After
attending Shul on the first Shobbos, I felt very surprised, to say
the least of it, that there was neither a tablet nor any reference
in the precincts of the Synagogue to the man who was in reality the
founder of the M’bro congregation. After the service, I
interviewed the present Treasurer and some members of the executive,
including the Rev Mr Epstein, introduced myself, and naturally
expressed surprise at this absence. I offered to defray the cost of
erection of a suitably engraved Memorial Tablet, the wording of
which was mutually agreed upon by the Rev Mr Epstein and myself.
This was at the suggestion of your Treasurer. But before the
illustrious executive could decide to accede to this momentous
proposal, I was called upon at the Grand Hotel by the Treasurer,
whose opening remark was that the Shul was seriously in debt,
although I had given him the two guineas offered on the previous
Shabbos, but owing to his insidious, tactless insinuation I felt
deeply hurt, and appeared not to understand his very shallow
intelligence. He replied to my request that he could do nothing in
the matter, and it would take some time to call his executive
together.
But he promised to let me have his
decision before I left M’bro, when the executive had the
opportunity to fully deliberate on this perplexing problem - I am
still waiting.
To be perfectly frank, I left M’bro
sad, disillusioned, and disappointed to see how the community had
degenerated, compared with the pioneers. I was not altogether
surprised when I learned that most of the active members were either
“M.L.” or “P.B.” [Believed to be Money Lender or Pawn
Broker: Ed]
As a matter of fact, I mentioned to
the late Mr. A. Hyams, that a relative of mine, that provided the
executive had acceded to my reasonable request, and acted as
gentlemen, I had prepared to present the congregation with a
substantial cheque. However, under no circumstances, would I have
made this a condition.
In conclusion, it might be of
interest to you to know that two of my brothers are Artists, each
being Australian Gold Medallists, and winning travelling
scholarships at the Melbourne Art Gallery. The elder, Mr. Abbey
Altson, Australian Gold Medallist and Diploma Societe Des Artistes
Francaises. He has for many years past visited India annually,
commissioned by firstly His Highness the late Prince Ranjit Shinji
and later by his successor to execute personal and gallery oil
paintings for their gallery at the Palace, Jamnagar, Kathiawar. Both
permanently reside in London. I trust the information with which I
have supplied you has been sufficiently interesting.
I remain,
Yours truly
(Sgd) B H Alston
COPY OF TESTIMONIAL REFERRED TO
Tishrei 5649
Middlesbrough Hebrew Congregation
September, 1888.
This testimonial is presented by the
members of the congregation to Isaac Altson Esq. as a token of
admiration and respect for the zealous manner in which he, as a
Trustee and the original founder of the Jewish community of this
town, laboured for the welfare of his brethren. They herewith desire
to express their appreciation of the consistency with which he acted
as an observant Israelite, and the charitable, conscientious man.
They wish him and his family God speed
Signed On behalf of the Congregation.
B. Nelson President
M. S. Bernstein Treasurer
Samuel Kossick Hon. Sec.
(Reproduced by permission of Roma
Brooks)
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