The Spector Family was better off than the Kravchek's who were next door neighbour's in Kryzhopol. Kryzhopol was around 8 miles from Zhabokrich, the town where Leib Spector was born. The Spector's were 'builders'. Although Dora and Leib were interested in each other as teenagers, Leib's parents felt that Dora's family was not good enough for him to marry into.
According to Dora: We were neighbours. We used to live next door. His father used to build for the landowners. Like years ago in Russia the rich landowners. He used to build houses, he used to build furniture for them. They had a nice house. They lived better than we did. They had six children, five boys and one girl. Papa was the third one. The oldest was a Hebrew teacher, the other one was a service man in the store that my father used to work. He was in the grocery store. My older brother Joe he worked in Odessa, also in a big hardware store in Odessa. That?s it. Sure I knew him.
Leib was in the Russian Army during World War One and afterward was with the Bolshevik's when Dora and her family left for CAN in 1921. When he returned to Kryzhopol Dora had already left for CAN with her parents and most of her siblings. Leib eventually married another woman whose name is not known. Apparently, there were no children and the marriage was not a happy one. According to Dora, Leib's first marriage had already deteriorated and had ended prior to 1927 when he came to CAN.
Sometime in 1925-1926, Leib discovered where Dora was through mutual friends. Leib was in Moscow at the time, with the Bolsheviks, and wrote Dora a letter. He found out the address from Rachel Kravchek (Dora's eldest half-sister) who now lived in Odessa. Dora was now working in Pittsburgh as her brother, who lived there, had gotten her a job there for the summer. Dora had a boyfriend in Toronto but she wasn't really interested in marrying him. Dora was getting older though and her family was anxious for her to marry. After Leib contacted Dora she returned to Toronto and helped make arrangements for him to immigrate to CAN. Leib's intentions were either to return to Ukraine with Bubi (as he believed in the revolution) or to immigrate to Palestine if Dora couldn't get back to CAN from the United States. Ticket purchased through the Russian-Canadian-American Passenger Agency.
Leo took a ship called the "Minnedosa" to emigrate to CAN. The ship had accommodation for 206-cabin, 545-tourist and 590-3rd class passengers. Leo travelled 3rd class. The ship travelled from Liverpool to Quebec and on to Montreal, Que., CAN route.
The "Minnedosa" was ordered by the Hamburg America Line in 1913, but was taken over by Canadian Pacific before completion. She was built by Barclay, Curle & Co Lts, Glasgow (engines by Harland & Wolff, Belfast)and was a 13,972 gross ton vessel, length 520ft x beam 67.2ft, two funnels, two masts, triple screw and a speed of 15 knots. There was accommodation for 550-cabin and 1,200-3rd class passengers. Although her keel was laid in 1913, she was not launched until 17/10/1917 and on 2/5/1918 was towed to Belfast to have her engines fitted. On 5/12/1918 she commenced her maiden voyage from Liverpool to St John, NB and on 13/12/1919 started a single round voyage from the UK to Bombay for the British government. On 21/6/1922 she commenced her first voyage from Antwerp to Southampton, Quebec and Montreal, Que., CAN and in 1925 was refitted by Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd, Hebburn-on-Tyne and her tonnage increased to 15,186 tons. In June 1926 she had accommodation for 206-cabin, 545-tourist and 590-3rd class passengers. She commenced her last Antwerp - Southampton - St John NB - Liverpool voyage on 30/3/1927 and was transferred to the Liverpool - Quebec - Montreal, Que., CAN route on 29/4/1927. On 27/6/1931 she started her last transatlantic crossing from Glasgow to Quebec and Montreal, Que., CAN (129 Atlantic round voyages) and was then laid up in the River Clyde. In April 1935 she was sold for scrapping and was towed to Savona, Italy, but was bought by Italia Line, renamed "Piedmont" and used as a troopship. On 15/8/1943 she was scuttled at Messina, salvaged in 1949 and towed to Spezia and scrapped. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.3, p.1314]
Canadian Immigration record P20496 CP 6 April 1927
Lev Veltman, 31 years old, passed medical inspection in Ukraine 31 March 1927
http://data4.collectionsCAN.ca/
Surname: Weltman
Given name: Ley
Age: 31
Sex: M
Nationality: Ru
Date of arrival: 1927/05/06 (YYYY/MM/DD)
Port of arrival: Quebec , Quebec
Ship: MINNEDOSA , Canadian Pacific
Reference: RG76 - IMMIGRATION, series C-1-a
Volume: 1927 volume 3
Page: 120
Microfilm reel: T-14731
In order to be accepted as an immigrant, Leib needed to be sponsored by a family member. Not having family in CAN, Dora's family sponsored him, pretending that Leib was a brother of her maternal great grandmother. On his immigration papers his name is given as Lev Veltman (or Leo Weltman). The name was later anglicized to Waltman. Leib/Louis came to Toronto on the Canadian Pacific ship "Minnedosa", arriving in CAN and going through Canadian immigration at Quebec City on May 7, 1927. He appears on the ship's return sheet 33, line 25.
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Red Army booklet
Name: Lev Veltman
Father: Ben Tzion
Birthdate: 1896 September 27
Nationality: Hebrew
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To Leo's disappointment, Dora did not wish to return to Ukraine or to move to Palestine. They settled in Toronto where her family was already living and she had lived since 1921. Leo and Dora were married on 27 November 1927.
Leib started a construction business upon arriving in CAN. He started out building commercial buildings as well as homes, similar to what his family had done in Zhabokrich and Kryzhopol, Kryzhopol, Vinnitsa, Ukraine. Their first child, Irving, was born on August 19, 1928.
According to Irving (December 28, 1997), Leib renovated many commercial and residential buildings in Toronto. Among the buildings, in Toronto, were:
- The Strand Theatre (later the Victory Burlesque) at 287 Spadina Avenue (northeast corner of Dundas and Spadina).
- Madison Theatre on Bloor near Bathurst Street - later became The Midtown
- Broadway Theatre on Queen Street next to casino (a Burlesque theatre)
- Concorde Tavern at Bloor and Bathurst Street
With Irving he built or renovated:
- Holiday (Halliday) Tavern at Queen and Bathurst Streets - renovated
- Suffrance Warehouse on Commissioner Street
- Suffrance Warehouse on Munitions Street
- Suffrance Warehouse on Villiers Street
- Harbord Fish Co.
He also built offices, houses, truck scales, and service buildings.
In other cities he built:
- in Hamilton, the Suffrance Warehouse which is now Smith Transport.
- in Oakville, the Oakville Theatre (1940's)
- in Dunnville, the Dunnville Theatre (1940's)
He built houses in Forest Hill Village, I have been told that he built the family a house on Brunswick Avenue (could not have built 399 Brunswick as it was built in 1902), and that he built Sophie Miller's first house on Elderwood Avenue. However, he would frustrate Dora sometimes because he would promise her a house, build it and then would be offered a good price for it, so he would sell the house to someone else rather than move his family into it. It does appear, however, that Leo and Dora lived with Irving, and then Irving's wife Frances (as of 1950), at 399 Brunswick Avenue from 1939 to 1951. They moved in after the home's original owner, Robert Smith, moved out. Historical records seem to indicate that the house was rented from the United Church of CAN, which purchased the house from Robert Smith in 1939.
For a time, the Millers lived upstairs of the Waltman's at 399 Brunswick Ave. until their own house was built. Sophie and Frank Miller were the best friends of Dora and Leib Waltman.According to Goldie Miller Erenberg, the house at 399 Brunswick Avenue had an outstanding garden that was renowned for its size and beauty.
With Irving, Leib also built the Valley View Apartments at 1603 Bathurst Street (ca.1952-1954) as well as the Markdale Apartments (ca. 1948-1950) (now called the Browndale Apartments) on Bathurst Street.
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The properties at 397 and 399 Brunswick Avenue are designated for architectural reasons. The identical houses were constructed in 1902 according to the designs of the Toronto architectural firm of G. M. Miller and Company for brothers and lumber merchants William and Robert Smith.
399 Brunswick Avenue house: The Robert Smith House retains important interior features. On the first floor, the entrance hall has an elaborate wood staircase, and the front (west) and rear (east) parlours display a plaster ceiling with mouldings (west room), panelled wood wainscotting, wood door and window surrounds, and a double fireplace with wood detailing. On the second floor, the fireplace in the front (west) bedroom is identified. No other interior elements are included in the Reasons for Designation.
The properties at 397 and 399 Brunswick Avenue located on the east side of Brunswick Avenue, north of Lowther Avenue. With their setback and landscaped setting, the William and Robert Smith Houses are important features on Brunswick Avenue in the West Annex neighbourhood.
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Shipments to Ukraine to Nephews
+July 28, 1966 Sent gift of a Volga Gaz-21 (a Russian car), at the cost of $3,067.56 to Boris Isaacovich Spector in Kiev, Ukraine
Jan 11, 1968 Sent gift of a Volga EAZ (a Russian car), at the cost of $3,078.63 to Simon Isaacovich Spector in Odessa, Ukraine
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Tombstone reads in English: "In memory of Louis Waltman, Beloved Husband Father and Grandfather, Died July 8, 1968Buried at Beth Tzedec Memorial Park, Section 2, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Border Crossings: From CAN to U.S., 1895-1956 about Leo Waltman
Name: Leo Waltman
Arrival Date: 18 Nov 1931
Age: 35
Birth Date: abt 1896
Birthplace: Odessa
Birth Country: Russia
Gender: Male
Race/Nationality: Hebrew
Port of Arrival: Niagara Falls, New York, USA
Record has photo?: No
Height: 5'6"
Complexion: Fair
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
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Border Crossings: From CAN to U.S., 1895-1956 about Leo Waltman
Name: Leo Waltman
Arrival Date: 8 Apr 1946
Age: 49
Birth Date: 27 Nov 1896
Birthplace: Krijoger
Birth Country: Russia
Gender: Male
Port of Arrival: Buffalo, New York, USA
Departure Contact: Wife Dora
Arrival Contact: Brother-in-law Ben Kraft
Record has photo?: No
Height: 5'6"
Complexion: Fair
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
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Canadian Jewish Review 5 December 1958
HADASSAH Organization held an open meeting at Beth Tzedec Synagogue, with Mrs. Wilferd Gordon, president of Toronto Hadassah, as chairman. Mrs. Gordon introduced the head table guests: Mesdames A. L. Geller, B. Hillman, A. Farber, M. Herman, Sydney Wise, Alfred Freeman, M. Zweig, Lena Johnson, Arnold Epstein, Frank Wilson, John J. De-vor, Irving Beckerman, Bernard Freedman, Percy Dolgoff, Bert Cooper, Frank Goldberg, Louis James, Gershon Gordon, L. J. Samuels. I. Shopsowitz. Mrs. Gordon introduced jftrs. Morris Zweig, chairman of the Hadassah Bond Pioneer Women -Bond?chairmanr Elmer Iseler conducted the orchestra of thirty-three players and chorus of forty-three, while Rabbi Reuben Slonim narrated Honegger's King David. Those who are buying or selling $2,500 worth of Israel Bonds are eligible for pins. They are: Mesdames S. Arbuck, D. Bernholtz, S. Black-stein, Hilda Bookspan, Norman Charles, G. Coblens, S. R. Corn-blum. J. Fein, Eva Goldstein, S. Greenwald, L. Harris, S. Kerner-man, A. Kaplansky, Louis Lazo-nick, A. Nightingale, Louis Rei-der, S. Shatz, Morris Sherman, B. Steinhouse, Robert Sugar, Jenny Ungerman, Louis Waltman N. Zeldin, J. J. Zweig, Robert Zweig, Miss Irene Strauss. Mrs. Max Mr. Ball?estimated 4he ?gross Drive, who reported on the Israeli fashion festival, to take place at a dessert luncheon, at Beth Tzedec banquet hall, on December 15, with styles created by Israeli designers and modelled by Creed's. Leif Erikson, movie and television star, will give dramatic readings. Marilyn Cantor, daughter of Eddie Cantor, the actor, will be the commentator. Admission will be open to all Hadassah Israel Bond subscribers. Mrs. Gordon thanked the membership chairman, Mrs. Alan Small; vice-chairman, Mrs. Gershon Gordon; Junior Hadassah chairman, Mrs. H. Mayzel; and vice-chairman, Mrs. A. L. Geller, for their work on membership. Mrs. Bernard Freedman, dues chairman, read the names of all the chapters who have paid up membership. Mrs. Gordon introduced Mrs. Frank Wilson, bazaar chairman, who reported. Funds raised at the bazaar will go to maintain and further the build-in? of Canadian Hadassah's agricultural school, Nahalal; the hospital at Port Eilat; and the hydro-therapy pool at Sarafan. Mrs, Morris Gottlieb won the door prize of a new car. The total amount brought in that day was $99,037.-04, which was $13,000 over last year's total, and the largest sum ever raised by any one project of the Hadassah Organization of CAN. Mrs. Wilson received an Harrison and Mrs. Shifra Wasser, standard-bearers, sold more than $10,000 worth of Israel Bonds. Dr. Hurwich introduced Theodore Bikel, who sang Hebrew, Israeli, and Yiddish folk songs.
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Canadian Jewish Review 10 August 1962
JEWISH HOME FOR* THE AGED And Baycrest Hospital: The following is the continued list of the theatre night sponsors: Mr. and Mrs. Max Sharp, Mr. and Mrs. J. Shecter, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Shendroff, Mr. and Mrs. David Sher, Mr. and Mrs. George Sher, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sherkin, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Sherkin, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Sherkin, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Sherkin, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Sherman, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Shier, Mr. and Mrs. Milton Shier, Mr. and. Mrs. Albert Shifrin, Mn and Mrs. Irving Shnier, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Shnier, Mr. and Mrs. S. Sholchet, Mr. arid Mrs. Israel Shopsowltz, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel ShopsowiU, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Shully, Mrs. J. Shuster, Mr* and Mrs. A. Siegel, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Siegel, Mr. and Mrs, Harry Siegel, Robert Siegel, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel 'M. Siegel, Simon Siegel, Mr. and Mrs. Gary Silbert, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Silver, Harry Silverberg, Mr. and Mr Si Louis Silverberg, Mrs. Frank Silverman, Mrs. J. J. Silverman, Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Silverman, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Silverstein, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Silverstein, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Simklns, Louis Simon, Dr. and Mrs; Murray Simon, Mr. and Mrs. Morris I. Simpson, Mrs. A. Sloteroff. Mr. and Mrs. H. Slutsky, Mr. ana Mrs. Gerald Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Isa-dore Smith, Mrs. Jacob Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel A. Smith, Mr. and-Mrs. Stanley Smith, Mr. and Mrs. William Smith, Dr. and Mrs.' Harold Sniderman, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Sniderman, Mr. and Mrs. William Sniderman, Mr. and* Mrs. Mac Snitzer, Mr. and Mrs. L. Sobel, Stanley Sobel, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur L. Soles, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Soles, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Sollens, Alec Solway, Dr. and Mrs. Samuel D. Solway, Mr. and Mrs. Archie Sopman, Mr. and Mrs. H. Soupcoff, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Speyer, Mrs. A. Squires, Joseph Starkman, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Sterl'ng, Mr. and Mrs. Milton Stern, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stickley, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stone, Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Stone, Irving Stone, Mr. and Mrs. Manning Stone, Martin Storm, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Straus, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Strean, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Strom, Mr. and Mrs. Jules Stu-rhen, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stud-nitz, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Stulberg, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Stupp, Mr. and Mrs. D. Sugar, Mr. and Mrs. Saul Sugar, Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Su-kerman, Dr. and Mrs. A. A. Suss-man, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Sussman, Mr. and Mrs. I. P. Sussman, Mr. and Mrs. Manny Swadron, Mrs. Benjamin Swartz, Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Swartz, Mr. and Mrs. H. Max Swartz, Mrs. Becky Sweet, Mrs. B. Syrotiuk, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Szel, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Tanenbaum, Mr. and Mrs. Max Tanenbaum, H. Wayne Tanenbaum, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Tanz, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Tarshis, Mr. and Mrs. Irving Tator, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Tator, Mr. and Mrs. N. A. Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. Irving Tenney, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Tep-perman, Mr. and Mrs. Morris S. Till, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Title, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Title, Mr. and Mrs. Noah Torno, Phillip Torno, Dr. and Mrs. A. A. Track, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Track, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Verner. Mr. and Mrs. Norman Vigod, Ralph Vogel, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wagman, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wagman, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wagman, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Waldman, Mr. and Mrs. James E. Walker, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Waltman Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Wasserman, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Watkin, Mr. and Mrs. M. Webber, Mr. and Mrs. S. Webber, Mr. and Mrs. B. Weber, Mr. and Mrs. David Weber, Mr. and Mrs. B. Weinberg, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Weinberg, Mr. and Mrs. H. Weiner, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Weiner, Mr. and Mrs. J. Weinstein, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Weinstein, Mr. and Mrs. S. Weinstein, Mr. and Mrs. P. Weinstein, Mr. and Mrs. Her- Resorts ? Massachusetts in the I embrace i o The Best Days of Summer Are Free from Aug. 12-Aug 31 Stay 8 Ocyi-fsYtWyfaf 7 1 DAY FREE $U n Prd sit °° Captivating Cap* Cod ... Buoyed by the tang *^*'?* cf salt-sprinkled air and gently rippling waters ... escape from the ordinary to the fabled spefl of the Sea Crest on Captivating Cape Cod. Superistfve EnUrtsinment ? El Rico Orch. ? Twist Band ? Late Late Shows Every Night ? Summer Family Plan ? Tots. Tweener, Teener Programs ? Night Patrol ? 1.000 foot Private Silver Sand Beach ? Surf Swimming (water temp.. 72") ? Free Mats ? Free Chaise Lounges ? Free Golf (Mon.Fri.) 18 Hole Course ? New Pitch and Putt Green ? Tennis ? Sailing ? All Sports ? Superb Cuisine ? Outdoor Dining on Ocean Deck-Terrace. sea, crest No. Fshaouth, Msss. Hotel Tel: KimbaH 8-3650 or tee your Travel Agent ? SEA CREST SUMMER STAR PARADE Billy Biktr ? AH* Dnkt ? Hal Kmtr Uny Btft * PartJtaiy * JMMt W^iy - Write or call: Lester Moss, Res. Mgr., Milton Q. Shapiro, Kea Battles - Sieve Hill, Owner-Ma nifrmwu. bert Weiss, Harvey White, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Winbaum, Mr. and Mrs. Morry Wingold, Mr. and Mrs. B. Winston, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Wintraub, Hart Wintrob, Mr. and Mrs. Trying Wintrob, Mr. and Mrs. V. Wise, Mr. and Mrs. Harold B. Wolfe, Mr. and Mrs. I. Sydney Wolfe, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Wolfe, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Wolfe, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Wolfe, Mr. and Mrs. Max Wolfe, Mr. and Mrs. Raphael Wolfe, Sol. Wolfish, Mr. ana Mrs. B. Wortsman, Mr. and Mrs. K. Wortsman, Mr. and Mrs. S. Wortsman, Mr. and Mrs. Moe Wortzman, Mr. and Mrs, Leon S. Yolles, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel C. Yolles, Mr. and Mrs. Carl L. Young, Mr. and Mrs. A. Zeidel, Mr. and Mrs. Noel Zeldin, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Zeldin, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Zelsman, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph ZoBky, Mr. and Mrs. Louis J. Zuker, Mr. and Mrs. Jack J. Zweig, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Zweig, Dr. and Mrs. Stephen W. Zweig, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Zwig.
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Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Waltman, 3603 Bathurst Street, were on vacation in Kiev, Odessa, Moscow, and Leningrad, Russia; and visited their son, Dr. Bernard Waltman, who resides in Stockholm, Sweden.
Canadian Jewish Review 16 July 1965
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