The Great War 1914-1918 took its toll on the Lipschitz family in Winnipeg. In 1917, Cecilia, oldest daughter of Helen and Aurial Joseph, became caregiver to her new husband, soldier Thomas E. Moffat. [see Liverpool-Winnipeg post]
Helen was in Winnipeg and helped her daughter through that difficult time. Her son Solomon, the scholar in the family, also needed support in his plans to go to university and study Chemistry.
1 June 1916 Census
In the Manitoba Census of 1 June 1916, the Lipschitz family in Winnipeg resided at 654 Anderson Ave, the house on the left in the modern photo.
This address and 448 McKenzie St. Winnipeg are right beside each other, where Anderson Ave. and McKenzie St. meet.
The Lipschitz family in Winnipeg were: Joseph 46, Helen 43, Solomon 16, Samuel 6. Joseph’s occupation “Contractor-Builder”, Helen’s occupation “Grocer-Retail”. [The parents’ ages are two years younger than is correct.)
21 Oct 1920: Helen’s New Life
Four years later, on 21 October 1920, Helen, age 50, and youngest son Samuel, age 10, leave Winnipeg, forever.
She cites 448 McKenzie St. Winnipeg as her last address. The nearest relative in the country she came from: “Husb. Joseph, Edmonton Alta.”
She herself paid for the trip. She has brought with her $500.00 cash. Their final destination is Los Angeles. She named a friend (Mr. Monoz?) in Los Angeles, with whom she and Samuel will stay. She also identified Mglin, Russia, as her place of birth.
1921, Ocean Beach, San Diego
Helen did not remain long in Los Angeles. To our surprise, she and young Sam settled in the Ocean Beach area of San Diego, in a surf-and-sun paradise! Here is a 1920s postcard.
In 1922, the first San Diego directory we can find, her address is 5034 Newport Ave, Ocean Beach, San Diego. Helen appears in all the San Diego directories from 1922 to 1942.
The above image is from the 1929 directory entry. She and Samuel also have a residence on Coronado Street, and he is working as her clerk.
Below is Newport Street in 1927. The photo seems to be facing the ocean. If so, the Helen Lipsett house/shop at 5034 Newport is on our right, just past the parked car.
Newport Street, the central street in Ocean Beach, is shown on a modern diagram of the street (right)
Below is what life on the beach looked like in the 1900s in Ocean Beach.
Surfboards had not been invented yet.
For the next decade, Helen and Sam continue the dry-goods business in Ocean Beach.
In 1926, at age 16, Sam Lipsett graduated from Point Loma High School in San Diego.
1 Apr 1930: the US Census for Helen
In San Diego, City Point, Helen Lipsett, age “65”, occupation is “Proprietor” of a “department store (retail)”. Son Samuel. age 20, is a salesman in the store. The main shop and Helen’s residence is still 5064 Newport Street. She owns another property on 4966 Coronado Street (a few streets away), where son Samuel now lives.
Helen throws a couple of little fibs at the census-taker. She reports that she is a “Wd=widow. This is a neat way of explaining why there is no “husband” in her life. She states her age as “65” – she is actually 61.
15 Feb 1932, Samuel’s Citizenship
Twelve years earlier (14 Oct 1920), Samuel arrived in California at age 10 with his mother Helen.
Now, on 15 Feb 1932, at age 22, he made a formal application for permanent residency, followed by citizenship, in the United States. He also took care of making his surname officially Lipsett, and no longer Lipschitz.
The address he cites, “5034 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach, San Diego” is the address of Helen’s dry-goods store and their dwelling.
2 Nov 1933 Helen & Sam visit Montreal
Helen Lipsett, age 62, accompanied by son Samuel, age 22, came to Montreal to visit their son/brother “Dr. S. G. Lipsett” at “4835” Queen Mary Road. (The address is actually “4935”.) She cites her sister Rachel Gottlieb in Los Angeles as her contact in the United States.
Here is Samuel’s version of the same document. Rachel Gottlieb is his aunt.
1938 directory Samuel has married Phyllis
We cannot find any record of the marriage of Samuel and Phyllis.
Our first clue is in the 1938 Directory of San Diego. Sam and Phyllis are living at 3919 Arizona Street, a street in the university area of downtown San Diego.
In 1940, Sam and Phyllis have moved back to Ocean Beach, to Helen’s property on 4966 Coronado Av.
1 Apr 1940 US Census
Above is Helen’s record.1940 US Census: Helen Lipsett Age: 60. Estimated Birth Year: abt 1880, Birthplace: Russia, Marital Status: Widowed, Relation to Head of House: Head, Home in 1940: San Diego, San Diego, California. 5034 Newport Avenue. San Diego. Citizenship: Alien; Occupation: Proprietor; House Owned; Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 1000; Attended School or College: No; Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 6th grade; Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 45; Class of Worker: Working on own account; Weeks Worked in 1939: 52; Income: 1340; Income Other Sources: No
In the 1940 US Census, Samuel Lipsett and his wife Phyllis are living at 4966 Coronado Avenue in Ocean Beach. Samuel is working as a Radio Technician.
6 Oct 1940, Samuel’s Draft Card
Samuel Lipsett, Age: 30, Birth Date: 17 Feb 1910, Birth Place: Liverpool, England
Residence Place: San Diego, Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: California, USA. Employer: Self
Height: 5 8, Weight: 151, Complexion: Dark, Hair Color: Black, Eye Color: Brown
Next of Kin: Phyllis Lipsett; Household Members: Samuel Lipsett 30 Self (Head), Phyllis Lipsett Wife.
We did not find any records that he was called up for military service.
9 Oct 1943 Helen’s final visit
In 1943, at age 73, Helen came to Montreal to visit her son Solomon, aka Dr. S.G. Lipsett, chemist. He was living at 5016 Lacombe Av. with his wife Norma and their two children, Arthur (born 1936) and Marion (born 1939). She travelled alone this time.
Later that same month, Helen returned to San Diego. She died soon after, on 31 Oct 1943.
Next Post
Aurial Joseph’s Story: Winnipeg-California 1920: https://artword.net/lipsett/?p=368
