This is Mr. Solomon Margulies, the owner of the colonial products store where I worked from 1929 until 1943. Initially, I served my internship there, and then I remained employed there and was even his accountant. It says on the back of the photograph: "To Miss Maly with warm friendship and particular affection, Solomon Margulies, 16.V.1943."
Solomon Margulies had two children, a son and a daughter. The son, Lica Margulies, died on the Struma. He left to Israel and died on the ship. He was 1 year younger than me [was born in 1916]. His sister, Aniela Margulies, is also younger than me, we may be some 6-7 years apart [was born around 1920-21]. She married after World War II, at the end of the 1940's, beginning of the 1950's. The wedding took place here in Botosani, they left to Israel afterwards - she was already married when she left. She left to Israel early on, around 1950. Indeed, I have no news of her anymore.
The Margulies family lived in Carol Square. The Margulies store selling colonial products was downstairs, on the ground floor, and they lived on the first floor. It was located opposite the monument. [Ed. note: The monument "Major Ignat's machine gun company mounting an offensive," erected by the Botosani-born architect Horia Miclescu and inaugurated in 1929.] There was a park in Carol Square, and there were stores on both sides of it. It was still part of downtown Botosani, but it wasn't located on the main street.
There were very many Jews in Botosani before World War II. There were more than 10,000 Jews living in Botosani back then. [By means of immigrations from Galicia, "through natural growth," the number of Jews was going to increase significantly: in 1832, there were approximately 1477 Jews living here; in 1930 - approximately 12,000 Jews, today there are only 125 left. The Jewish Community of Botosani. http://www.romanianjewish.org/ro/mosteniri_ale_culturii_iudaice_03_11_10.html] There were only Jewish stores throughout the old downtown area: manufacture shops, stores selling colonial products, an inn, 2 restaurants - there were all kinds of stores. All the traders in downtown Botosani were Jewish. There was Moscovici, Oizderovici, there were many of them. There was only one Christian trader - his name was Anchele.
