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View a map of this person's neighborhood in 1900.
In 1900, Joseph and Sarah Stein rented an apartment at 336 Madison St., a building comprised of mostly Russian families. Joseph worked as a bricklayer. He and his parents were born in Russia and came to the U.S. in 1896. Sarah came a year later, also from Russia. Their mother tongue was Yiddish, and while Joseph could read, write, and speak English, Sarah could do none of these. By 1920, the Stein's livelihood seemed to improve. They relocated to Brooklyn and both had become naturalized citizens. Joseph was working as a manager, a highly rated job, and the couple had two children, Joseph, age 14, and Rose, age 12, both in school. Today, 336 Madison St. no longer exists, as many Lower East Side tenements were demolished to make way for public housing projects. In its place is a housing project at 338 Madison, built in the 1940s as part of the Vladeck Houses. This area has traditionally attracted immigrants because of low rents and because family and friends often settled here first. In the 1940s, residents were predominately Jewish, while later occupants included Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Russians, and Chinese. The building is now mostly comprised of Chinese and Hispanic people. Fernando Lugo, 55, was born in Puerto Rico and has lived in the U.S. for 40 years. A retired Merchant Marine, Fernando lives with his brother and mother in a two-bedroom apartment. He complains of drug use in the neighborhood, as does Dave Martinez, 31, who lives with his parents. Dave would like to move, but can't because he is currently unemployed. Elderly residents comprise a large population of those living at 338 Madison. Delores Gaston, 83, has lived here for 50 years and likes it because "the people are friendly." She came from Puerto Rico in 1945, and her daughter Carmen came four years later. Gaston worked in a zipper factory, earning $28 a week. Carmen went to school and later worked in a doll factory making $30 a week. Carmen Ayende, now 64, recently moved back to 338 Madison St. to take care of her aging mother who receives Social Security and pays $200 a month for her one-bedroom apartment. |
