The downtrodden and oppressed masses in Europe dreamed of America, where the streets were paved with Gold. Visions of the Statue of Liberty danced in their heads. The long and difficult trip across the Atlantic in steerage was not easy, but it was bearable because they dreamed of a bright future in the Golden Land.

The streets were not paved with Gold!

On June 12th, the bus loaded up at the Hamlet Club House with 49 women and five men. We were off to the Tenement Museum on Orchard Street. It was a trip back in time. Irene Frank, one of our group leaders read a touching and sentimental introduction about the old times. Irene is a well-known director of Art Tours from Long Island.

We arrived at The Tenement Museum after one hour and 20 minutes. The building was constructed in 1863. We walked up two flights of stairs and entered the Levine's small cramped apartment. Harris Levine had arrived from Russia in 1890. He had three kids. In the living room was a Singer Sewing Machine. His living room was a "sweat shop" where he employed six people. He had borrowed $50 to start his business. He received 75 cents a dress and they sold in upscale stores for $10. No bathtubs, no toilets, no running water and no heat in those days was the order of living. Rent was $10 a month.

In those years the Lower East Side was densely populated by 2 million people. The needle trades were the leading industry in the area. They supplied the uniforms for the soldiers in the Civil War. Massachusetts wove the material and the tailors and seamstresses of the Lower East Side put the clothes together. Imagine having a "sweat shop" in your living room.

Next, we entered the Rogazchewsky family apartment. They had 4 children and they were from Lithuania. They had running water and gas lights. Mr. Rogazchewsky died in 1918. Tuberculosis was a dreaded disease in that area. His wife assumed the janitorial duties for 22 years in the building.

Also there was the Baldizzi family. They came from Italy and raised their children. One of their grandchildren made a recording which we heard. It was heartfelt and nostalgic. Some important dates: Panic 1873 - 1 of every 4 people lost their jobs. In 1924 - the U.S. government stopped all immigration. In 1929 - the stock market crashed causing vast unemployment. In 1934 - due to Code Violations the building is closed for 53 years. In 1988 the building is renovated. It was soon designated as a national historic landmark. It serves today as a monument to the lives of millions of struggling immigrants who came to America at the turn of the 20th century.

When our tour was over, the bus took us to Sammy's on Chrytie Street for a huge lunch. Sammy's is not impressive from the outside, but the ambience and food are wonderful. A list of dishes includes Chopped Liver (grated horseradish - chopped egg and fried onions), Fried Kreplach - stuffed cabbage - roasted peppers - garlic pickles, Romanian Tenderloin Steak (skirt steak) - Boiled Spring Chicken - Veal Chop - mashed potatoes with Greeven (chicken skin-fried) - potato pancakes and home fried potatoes. On each table sat a jar of chicken fat (schmaltz) and an old-fashioned seltzer bottle.

Dessert consisted of Rugelach - Egg Creams and coffee and tea. As you left they supplied the Alka-Seltzer.

We then visited the museum shop for curios and then a trip through the boutiques and shops to seek out a bargain on Orchard St.

Back on the bus and back to Jericho by 5 p.m. A fabulous day - stepping back in time.

Thanks Irene Frank and your Art Tours.

Mazel Tov! And Via Con Dios!