A snapshot from our history: Silverman’s Jewellers

June 17, 2021

This issue of the Jewish Heritage Connects looks back at an interesting piece of our community’s history, highlighting Silverman’s Jewellers. It’s the story of an immigrant Jewish family that built a longtime and successful business in our community, lovingly recounted to his children. Photos from our treasured collection illustrate this snapshot from our commuity’s history.

                                                                  THE SILVERMAN JEWELLERS STORY 

As told by our father Manuel Joseph Silverman of Winnipeg before he passed May 16, 2011 to his daughters, Karen Narvey, Merrill Shwaid and Susan Mintz.

The story begins in the small shtetl of Sahki in Lithuania in 1889 when Dad’s father was born. He was given the name Yisroy Itzchak (known as Isadore) after his own father who tragically died before his son was born. Isadore’s mother Esther, a young widow with 3 daughters and one son was determined that her clever boy should have a trade, and arranged for the young man to become a watchmaker apprentice.

Around 1908 Isadore left for Canada, a learned young man, who was able to speak, read and write English before stepping outside his hometown in Lithuania. He arrived in Halifax, and headed to the home of his cousins who were amazed to see him.

While in Halifax he was introduced to Esther, the beautiful daughter of Rabbi Saul and Annie Schorr. Reverend Schorr, as he was known, was descended from a distinguished family of Viennese cantors, rabbis, and an opera singer. When the Rabbi left Halifax for a contract in Winnipeg, Isadore followed, and because the Reverend Saul was then moving to the U.S., and the couple did not want to be parted, they were married.

After arriving in Winnipeg, Isadore was quickly hired by the D.R. Dingwall Co., the jeweller of the day. During the Great Depression Dingwalls was taken over by Birks.

Dad’s brother Abe inherited many of his father’s skills and left school early to work at his father’s side. This was the beginning of a family business. There was never a shortage of work for the kind of quality in watch and jewellery repairs they turned out. Even before Dad’s Bar Mitzvah, he joined his father and brother to run errands, and slowly and reluctantly began his watchmaking apprenticeship.

Our father left school in 1935 in Grade 9 to begin a career in the family business. All his life, this was a major regret for this talented and clever man who was anxious to continue his education. But times were tough, and his father and brother impressed upon him the importance of having a trade. But he thought that he would never emulate the brilliant skills of his father and brother. Even at that early date, a boy of 15, Dad knew that his future lay in merchandising. However, the world was rapidly changing. World War II had broken out, and he enlisted in the RCAF, serving 5 1/2 years.

Returning home to the family business, brother Abe and Dad began serious talks about expanding their watch repair business into a merchandising business. They were up on the 9th floor of the Confederation building, 457 Main Street, where they had undertaken to train a group of men, mostly farm boys, but paid for by the federal government. Most of them stayed for about 2 years.

One day, quite unexpectedly, a ground floor store became available in their building. It was not a great location, but the rent was cheap. It was a start, and the repair business took care of their bills. About 18 months later, the Confederation building was sold, and the rent for the two places more than doubled. It set the stage to move into a building of their own at 487 Main Street. Abe bought the lot for $4,300, and Sigurdson, a builder, put up a building for $10,000. Some 3 days before the opening, their beloved father passed away!

One day, quite unexpectedly, a ground floor store became available in their building. It was not a great location, but the rent was cheap. It was a start, and the repair business took care of their bills. About 18 months later, the Confederation building was sold, and the rent for the two places more than doubled. It set the stage to move into a building of their own at 487 Main Street. Abe bought the lot for $4,300, and Sigurdson, a builder, put up a building for $10,000. Some 3 days before the opening, their beloved father passed away!

The business expanded. Silverman Jewellers became the official watch inspectors for the CNR and CPR, the only organization to hold this dual appointment, and they added a jewellery factory for jewellery repairs and to design one of a kind creations in gold and precious metals. To staff this facility, they imported goldsmiths and diamond setters from Europe and the Orient.

About 1964 the business underwent a major expansion, and the original structure was torn down. A split level jewellery store was created by architect Paul Saunders of Ottawa, built by Fuji Builders, and without any promotion, their sales doubled in the first year! The business became a go to location for engagement rings, as well as bridal gift registrations.

 In 1971, an unsolicited offer arrived for their business that was too good to turn down. Abe and Dad were tired of the long hours away from their families, and the toll it was taking, so they decided to call it quits. Some 30 years later, old friends and customers stated how heartbroken they were about the closure.

Nothing could ever compare with the pride Dad felt when someone asked,” Are you Mr. Silverman the jeweller?”