Grandfather's First Home in America

My grandfather, Michał Dańko, arrived at Ellis Island on the steamship the S.S . Zeeland on 07 Mar 1905. According to his passenger manifest, he was met by Isaac Flichtenfeld, a Jewish umbrella maker residing at 35 First Avenue in New York City. I assume his first residence in America was Isaac’s home.

One week ago, after the 2009 Conference of the Polish Genealogical Society of Connecticut and the Northeast, a group of the conference speakers took a quick trip to New York City to visit Ellis Island. Later, after returning to Manhattan, we were enjoying a drink at an Irish Pub on Second Avenue when I realized that we were close to the address where my grandfather first stayed when he arrived in America.

I used my iPhone to quickly check the address on my grandfather’s passenger manifest, confirmed that it was 35 First Avenue, and then Lisa Alzo, Matthew Bielawa, and I headed for the address. Jonathan Shea met us there a few minutes after we arrived at the address.

35 First Avenue, New York City

35 First Avenue, New York City

SOURCE: 35 First Avenue (Manhattan, New York County, New York City, New York, USA). Photographed by Matthew Bielawa for Stephen J. Danko on 09 August 2009.

A restaurant currently occupies the structure at 35 First Avenue, but the building doesn’t appear to be the original: the structures on either side of 35 First Avenue are much taller and show signs that another tall building once stood at 35 First Avenue.

I was a bit disappointed that the actual building was no longer there, but elated that I was able to see the first address that my grandfather called home in America.

Copyright © 2009 by Stephen J. Danko

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One Response to Grandfather's First Home in America

  1. Lisa Alzo says:

    Steve,

    That was so much fun watching you find the place that was once your grandfather’s first address in America! Only something fellow genealogists can appreciate!

    Lisa

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