Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2021
Samuel Ferdman was born on December 8, 1893, in Russia. He moved to the United States in 1913, and by 1920 he was a peddler and walked the roads in St. Paul. He married Anna Sherin, who arrived from Lithuania. Both Sam and Anna were Jewish and spoke Yiddish. They had two children, Max Melvin, who arrived on November 10, 1917, and Lucille, who was born on June 9, 1927, both in St. Paul.
Not too long after this, the family moved to Shakopee, where Sam was a merchant in downtown Shakopee, on First Avenue. Ferdman’s Bargain Store was located on the south side of First Street. The Ferdmans lived upstairs in an apartment. Sam, Anna, and their two children lived there. This was probably one of the first Jewish families in Shakopee.
On a sunny Sunday in September of 1934, a low explosion, followed by a roar of fire shattered the Ferdman Bargain Store at 3 a.m., according to an article, “Blaze Demolishes Ferdman Store,” in the October 4, 1934 Shakopee Argus-Tribune. The fire siren wailed, and the roused people of Shakopee stared at the mounting flames. They hurriedly rushed to the scene in various stages of dress.
The Ferdman family barely escaped with their lives. Also in the apartment was Sam’s aged mother-in-law, Rebecca Sherin, and Gladys Price who had to escape quickly with only their night clothes on. Gladys was the one who aroused the other people in the house.
The fire had already made great headway in the storeroom at the south end of the building and filled the entire rear of the brick structure with flames. The inside stairs leading to the Ferdman apartment on the second floor were ablaze before the family was awakened by the dense smoke. They exited the store on First Street, almost cut off by roaring fire and acrid smoke.
Apparently, the fire started in the storeroom.
There was a stock of rubbers, socks, gloves, woolen goods, groceries, flour, and bulk food stuff which all started burning, and then it spread rapidly to the second story and over the first floor. According to the October 4, 1934 Shakopee Argus-Tribune, “Windows burst from the building and the liberated flames leaped up the walls sending pillars of smoke and sparks towering skyward. The tin roof, which covered the structure, made it a veritable furnace.
“Power wires leading to the building caught fire and stretched glowing streaks across the smoke-heavy sky. Fallen wires endangered firemen and hundreds of spectators.
“Three streams of water were played on the fire from as many fire pumps. Immediately realizing the difficulties and dangers the blaze offered, Leo Siebenaler, Shakopee fire chief, summoned the Chaska fire department. From 3 o-clock until 6 the departments fought the blaze. Their job was a big one, and the manner in which they handled it won nothing but praise. The prompt response and efficient work of the Chaska department earned for its members no small amount of compliments. This is little doubt that it was the thoroughness of both departments that kept the fire from becoming a more devastating configuration.”
It was not until the eastern sky reddened with the dawn before the fire got under control. By that time, the Ferdman building was burned out, and the adjacent store of R.C. Kline was damaged.
Samuel’s loss was estimated at $20,000. It was partly covered by insurance. Building damage was estimated at $6,000. The building was owned by James Condon of Minneapolis.
Before bed, Samuel placed a roll of bills in his trouser pocket before he retired Saturday night for bed. After the fire, he went with the fire department into the building to search for his glasses. No trace of the spectacles was found. But a small portion of the trousers, containing the pocket and the money, was found!
By the 1940 census, Sam and Anna were in Chicago, where Sam was a proprietor for an apartment hotel.
Eventually they moved to California. Anna died on August 30, 1963. Samuel died on May 2, 1966, in San Joaquin, California. Both were buried at the Congregation of Ahavas Achim Cemetery, a place for Jewish people in San Joaquin.
Bibliography
“Blaze Demolishes Ferdman Store.” Shakopee Argus-Tribune, 4 Oct. 1934.