Saidye Rosner Bronfman

PART ONE - CANADA Saidye

Dear Mr.Bronfman:

Reading the recent W.J.C. report with the picture of your beautiful mother prompts this letter.

As a child the writer spent the years 1912 to 1915 with his family in Plum Coulee. Although I have memory problems, at 90 I have almost total recall of those years.

Jacob Abramovich, my father, worked for the Rosner and Brownstones as bookkeepper. I played with the children of both families. Since Saidye was almost ten years older, she was probably away at school. On more than one occasion I spent the night with the Rosners.

I have a pleasant memory of breakfast with Mr Rosner. I was served THREE soft boiled eggs. I had never had more than one at a meal; we were five children in our family, three more were added after we returned to Winnipeg.

I spent many an hour on Saturday filling egg crates. Farmers brought in tubs filled to overflowing to trade their eggs for everything from flour to shoes.

Would it be possible to communicate with any of the surviving siblings of either or both families? I am writing an autobiography and would very much like to share memories.

I have been in touch with one of the oldest residents of Plum Coulee, Mr. Mantey, ( copy enclosed), also the present postmaster. Unfortunately I never knew Mr Mantey since he is four years my junior and started school after we returned to Winnipeg. Of course he recalls the same teachers, the stores, including Rosner and Brownstone's.

If any of your Uncles or Aunts recall the famous Krafchenko case, they might be interested in the real story. I and sister Rose were the only eye witnesses. Because of our age we were never asked to appear in court. Actually no one except our parents knew we had observed the actual murder.

The recent stories in the Winnipeg Free Press and the Altona paper recounting the episode are incorrect in several details. I may send my version to the editors.

Our maternal uncle Joseph Wilder who operated the Central Drug Co in Winnipeg did 'business' with your father. Or was it your grandfaher? I worked for this Uncle at age fifteen.

I am so very sorry that I had never thought of communicating with the families before this. Of course, I had no idea that Saidye had become a Bronfman.

I would very much appreciate hearing from you or if possible any of Saidye's family. If my memory is true, I believe the Rosner's siblings were all girls and the Brownstone's all boys?

In 1923 when my family emigrated to the U.S. our name was legally changed; Sadly because antisemitism was so prevalent. Any of your Rosner or Brownstone Uncles or Aunts who attended the Plum Coulee school may recall the 6' Mr. Penner. Because I was born left handed, I was severly beaten to the extent that I was hospitalized in Winnipeg for five months with Rheumatic Fever. We were excused from their morning prayers, beaten again after school by the village toughs. I have suffered memory and other problems all my life as a result.

Plum Coulee was such a wonderful place for a child to grow up. For a few of us it was spoiled. Perhaps it made a difference if one was poor as well as Jewish...

I have been a widower for several years. Recently, in my 88th year I suffered a heart attack.

I recently came across a book `The Rest of Us' by Stephen Birmingham. I assume you must be familiar with the volume. It mentions the fact that, would it be your Aunt who married Dr. Rady? He was our family doctor when I was 16. Just out of college, he operated on my leg four times. Osteomeylitis.

I trust I haven't bored you. Just had to write. Actually cannot write due to a stroke. The word processor is a G-O-Dsend. I started this several months ago, but health problems...

Be assured that I am not looking for a handout or a free bottle of your...

(In case the name Bronfman does not strike a bell, they are one of the wealthiest families in the world, probably the wealthiest Jewish family. They own Seagram's Whiskey. In a later chapter, you will learn more.)

(So far I have not mailed this letter, not sure when, or if I will ever mail it.)

On to Uncle Frank

Top of Page
Table of Contents
Back to Ben Bertram
Back to Jacques & Anne
Back to The Abramovich & Wilder Families
Back to Bertram Home Page
Master Index