Archives & Special Collections
Hours, Policies and and Access
Mission Statement and Collection Policy
Donating to the Archives and Special Collections
Collections
History of UMass Dartmouth & the University Archives
Southeastern Massachusetts Historical Collection
Paul Rudolph & His Architecture
Archives of the Center for Jewish Culture
Franco-American Historical Collections
Congressman Barney Frank Archives Collection
Howard T. Glasser Archives of Folk Music and Letter Arts
Eastern European Immigrants
Immigrants from Poland and Russia started coming to America in the 1880s to escape harsh conditions in their native shtetls where life for the Jews became more and more difficult under the Tsar Nicholas II. Many young men came here to escape conscription into the Russian army. After coming to Ellis Island in New York City and various other ports along the east coast, families were sent to communities across the country by an organization called HIAS. Those who moved to New Bedford were attracted by the opportunity to work near the textile industry in New Bedford and Fall River. Many were peddlers, grocers, farmers, merchants, and businessmen who supported a population working in the mills. A few worked in the mills and others became financial investors in local mills.
Several immigrants who lived in New Bedford became farmers and bought farms in Acushnet, Rochester, and Dartmouth. Sy and Ruben Goldstein’s father bought a dairy farm in North Dartmouth as did Harry Helfand. Barney Helfand, Harry’s son, also bought a farm in Mattapoisett and Samuel Fleisch bought a farm in Acushnet with his friend Mr. Arenberg, who later bought his own farm in Rochester. Samuel Cronig worked on the Fleisch farm before moving to Martha’s Vineyard where he became a successful businessman. Many local markets, such as Wainer’s Fruit market, now called Sid Wainer and Son, purchased their produce from these farms. Wainer’s today grows its own produce and imports products from all over the world.