Visit to Almena, Wisconsin in 2012
Home of Lillian Rose Kaner and Benjamin Berkowitz from 1920 to 1935
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Lillian Rose Kaner (1891-1969) was a daughter
of Sabsie Kaner and Kate Kalie Salonovitz.
She was married to Benjamin (Barney) Berkowitz (1884-1935) in Superior on June 6, 1920.
Benjamin came to the United States in about 1904 when he was in his teens.
His picture below could have been taken in Lithuania (Russia) before he left home or after he arrived in Superior.
Lillian and Ben's wedding picture is also shown below.
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After their marriage, Lillian and Ben moved to Almena, Wisconsin,
where Ben was the proprietor of a general store.
The family lived in a quarters behind the store.
They lived in Almena for 15 years until Ben died in 1935 at the age of only 47.
Lillian and the kids then moved back to Superior.
Their grandson Terry Golob visited Almena in the summer of 2012.
He created a picture travelogue which is presented below as follows:
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I flew [from California] to Rochester for a week. I drove thru Eau Claire to Almena. It was
quite odd to be there. I talked to a woman there who informed me of the three different
locations of Ben's General Store. Around 1920, Ben and Harry were in business together
but they split up and then owned there own stores in Almena. Back then, the downtown
served the local people of Almena. Back then, people didn't have cars to drive to other towns
to buy merchendise, so hopefully they did ok.
Ben passed away in 1935 at the age of 47 years old. I'm not sure where he passed away. It
wasn't in Barron County. I went to the County Records office in Barron and they didn't have
a death certificate. I think three of Harry's children were born in Almena. My mom as well.
Walking on Soo Avenue was very odd and a somber experience. I could only think about
the day he probably didn't feel well. From that point on, life became very difficult for
Lilian and my mom.
Certainly, there are a few original buildings still standing in Almena.
Another day, I drove up to Superior and went to see the location of the house
on Grand that is today a lot. My mom used to speak of the park across the street.
I took a picture of the park.
Then I went out to the cemetery. I recall driving on Tower Avenue out to the cemetery back when I was about
11 years old when my family spent a few days visiting Duluth. I recalled the airport and I recalled driving
up a hill when approaching the cemetery.
Again, a verry somber experience. I found [graves for] Sabse, Kalie, Barney, and Harry. I found Jake MIller. I could not find
Lilian or Benny and Hazil. The temp was about 88 and I was suffering. I tried and tried, but I finally gave up.
I will see them on my next trip. Again, it was a somber experience. So many of them were good people and important to my mom.
Meaningfull people.
I returned to Rochester the same day. ...
I went back to the park in SE Rochester where I grew up. Very odd. Very nice too. Lots of
memories. ................................... Terry Golob - August 2012
Terry provided the following pictures and accompanying text.
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This is Almena, Wisconsin today. The building was the Bank in the town of Almena.
The empty lot
to the left of the bank is the location of Ben Berkowitz's General Store (his second location out
of three locations).
This particular location burned down while he owned the store.
This is the structure where Ben Berkowitz had his first store.
The structure has a new outside.
This was Ben's first of three
locations, all along Soo Avenue in Almena, WI.
Both these structures existed in the 1930s in Almena. The structure to the left was the bank
that Ben likely used as his bank.
All structures on the left existed in the 1930s while Ben had his store.
The building to the left is the first location of Ben's store. The structure remains, but it's been
redone on the outside.
The Village Hall is shown. This is the location of Ben's third and final store in Almena.
This would have been the location where my mom would have lived for the first four
years of her life.
This is Kelly Park on Grand Avenue in Superior. The four kids used to play in the park; their home was across
the street.
The house on the right was lived in by Benny and Hazel. There is a lot between the two homes shown in the picture.
This is where the home was that Lilian lived in with her four kids. I believe this is the home where Lilian's parents lived
as well.
The home was torn down and today is an empty lot.
In the middle is the lot where Lilian raised her four kids in Superior. Benny and Hazil lived to the right.
I visited Hebrew Cemetery in Superior.
[Markers for Barney (Ben) Berkowitz and Kalie Kaner are shown. Marker images are also shown in the Cemetery Marker Index.]
Downtown Superior on Tower Ave.........
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Note:
Almena is a town in Barron County, Wisconsin about 60 miles (97 km) northeast of Minneapolis.
As of the 2000 census, there were 910 people, 355 households, and 301 families residing in the town.
Historically, the population of Almena was 1289 in 1920, 1283 in 1930 and 1243 in 1940.
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Created by: Allan@Garon.us
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Feedback always welcome!
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Page created in Sep 2012
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