This item was given to my great grandfather when he immigrated to Philadelphia from Russia. He joined a club called the Zinkover Farhein and on their 25th anniversary they gave my great grandfather this canasta card set.
My Great Grandfather owned a grocery store on Capital Hill in Washington. D.C. called Congress Food Market. Great Grandpa could only read a little basic English, so when the store wasn't busy he would sit down and read his Yiddish newspaper called "Forverts" (Forward). This picture captures the every day life of my grandpa and his memories of his father.
Mom and Pop grocery stores were common back then. My grandpa would hand deliver groceries to all the neighbors. Grandpa and his whole family lived above the grocery store. Great Grandma would go upstairs to check on the children, cook and then go back downstairs to help in the store.
All of this represents how hard-working that generation was and how things did not come easy for my great grandparents or my grandpa.