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Finding Home QR Code

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103 Orchard Street: Apartment 7 Floor Plan

The EpsteinFamily1950s

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Rivka and Kalman Epstein circa 1947

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Jacob and Golda Epstein 5

Blima and Bella Epstein on Delancey Street, c. 19556

Epstein Declarations of Intent, 1947

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DECLARATION OF INTENTION1. (1) My full, true, and correct name is REGINA EPSTEIN

2. (2) My present place of residence is 154 Orchard St., New York NY

3. (3) My occupation is fur cutter (4) I am 26 years old. (5) I was born on November 21,

1920 in Lodz, Poland (6) My personal description is as follows: Sex female, color white,

complexion fair, color of eyes hazel, color of hair lt. brown, height 4 feet 11 inches, weight

120 pounds, visible distinctive marks none, race white, present nationality Polish

(7) I am married: the name of my husband is Kalman; we were married on March 10, 1947

at Frankfurt A.M. Germany; he was born at Breslau, Germany on April 24, 1908; and

entered the United States at New York, N.Y. on April 22, 1947 for permanent residence in

the United States, and now resides at 154 Orchard St., New York NY

(8) I have no children

(9) My last place of foreign residence was Frankfurt A/M, Germany (10) I emigrated to the

United States from Bremerhaven, Germany (11) My lawful entry for permanent residence in

the United States was at New York, N.Y. under the name of Regina Epstein on April 22,

1947, on the SS Marine Perch

(12) Since my lawful entry for permanent residence I have not been absent from the United

States

(13) I have not heretofore made declaration of intention.

(14) It is my intention in good faith to become a citizen of the United States and to reside

permanently therein. (15) I will, before being admitted to citizenship, renounce absolutely

and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty

of whom or which at the time of admission to citizenship I may be a subject or citizen. (16) I

am not an anarchist; nor a believer in the unlawful damage, injury, or destruction of

property, or sabotage; nor a disbeliever in or opposed to organized government; nor a

member of or affiliated with any organization or body of persons teaching disbelief in or

opposition to organized government. (17) I certify that the photograph affixed to the

duplicate and triplicate hereof is a likeness of me and was signed by me.

I do swear (affirm) that the statements I have made and the intentions I have

expressed in this declaration of intention subscribed by me are true to the best of my

knowledge and belief: SO HELP ME GOD.

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DECLARATION OF INTENTION(1) My full, true, and correct name is KALMAN EPSTEIN

(2) My present place of residence is 154 Orchard St., New York NY NY

(3) My occupation is presser umbrellas (4) I am 39 years old. (5) I was born on April 24,

1908 in Breslau, Germany (6) My personal description is as follows: Sex male, color white,

complexion medium, color of eyes brown, color of hair brown, height 5 feet 6 ½ inches,

weight 160 pounds, visible distinctive marks tattoo-105360 on left arm, race white, present

nationality German

(7) I am married: the name of my wife is Regina; we were married on March 10, 1947 at

Frankfurt A.M. Germany; she was born at Lodz, Poland on November 21, 1920; and entered

the United State at 154 Orchard St., New York, N.Y. on ___________ for permanent

residence in the United States, and now resides at ______________

(8) I have no children

(9) My last place of foreign residence was Frankfurt A/M, Germany (10) I emigrated to the

United States from Bremerhaven, Germany (11) My lawful entry for permanent residence in

the United States was at New York, N.Y. under the name of Kalman Epstein on April 22,

1947, on the SS Marine Perch

(12) Since my lawful entry for permanent residence I have not been absent from the United

States

(13) I have not heretofore made declaration of intention.

(14) It is my intention in good faith to become a citizen of the United States and to reside

permanently therein. (15) I will, before being admitted to citizenship, renounce absolutely

and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of

whom or which at the time of admission to citizenship I may be a subject or citizen. (16) I am

not an anarchist; nor a believer in the unlawful damage, injury, or destruction of property, or

sabotage; nor a disbeliever in or opposed to organized government; nor a member of or

affiliated with any organization or body of persons teaching disbelief in or opposition to

organized government. (17) I certify that the photograph affixed to the duplicate and

triplicate hereof is a likeness of me and was signed by me.

I do swear (affirm) that the statements I have made and the intentions I have

expressed in this declaration of intention subscribed by me are true to the best of my

knowledge and belief: SO HELP ME GOD.

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Interview with Bella Epstein, 2014

[swelling voice singing in Yiddish]

My father bought a record player that he used to play Yossele Rosenblatt albums on.

Yossele Rosenblatt was a famous cantor, and he would say “Oh, a shtime, a shtime!”

That means “A voice, a voice!” and I’d say “Okay, fine.”

And then, when my father wasn’t using the record player, I had gotten my mother to

buy me a record, and it was Paul Anka, “Oh Please Stay By Me Diana.”

[Doo wop music and Paul Anka singing in a deep voice]

That was the song. It was played more in my house than anywhere else in the world.

That was it. That made me an American.

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Lower East Side Census Demographics, 1950-1980

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103 Orchard Street: Apartment 7 Floor Plan

The SaezVelez Family

1960s

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Ramonita Rivera Saez, 196914

Ramonita Saez’s Union Life Membership Card 15

Interview with José Velez, July 2014

“And my mother would work a lot, believe me, a lot. And before she left in

the morning my brother and I will…we had to keep a schedule. She will just

get the beans, add the little water, that actually softens them up, so when we

came from school, we switch on the burner very low, my brother or I, either

one, and when my mother came from work—4:00 or 4:30—the beans will be

done. And clean the table. And if we burned the beans, we’d be in trouble.”

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José Velez’s Class Portrait PS42, 1959(Jose is third from the right, second row)

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Andy and José Graduation Portrait, 1968 18

Andy Velez’s Induction Letter, 196819

Selective Service System

ORDER TO REPORT FOR INDUCTION

The President of the United States,

To: Mr. Andres A. Velez

81-83 Delancey St. Apt. 15

New York, NY 10002

June 21, 1968

(Date of Mailing)

GREETING:

You are hereby ordered for induction into the Armed Forces of United States, and to report

at Armed Forces Examining Station Rm 204

39 Whitehall Street, New York, NY

on JUL 3 1968 at 7 A.M.

for forwarding to an Armed Forces Induction Station.

(Signature)

(Member of Local Board)

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Ramonita with her Grandchildren

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