1900 U S Census
Tonie Eisenberg 
Antonia Eisenberg arrived in February 1900 and didn't marry until January 1902. A search for Eisenberg, female, born in Austria in 1883, living in New York County, NY found her. Not yet "Tillie", she is "Tonie".

She is a servant living in the apartment of the Louis Goldstein family at 97 Willett Street. From Marcia Eisenberg’s interview of her husband’s mother Jennie (Fingerhut) Eisenberg (transcribed by Marcia’s son Jonathan Eisenberg), we learn that one of Tillie's sisters explained that working as a servant paid $10 a month. It was also safe. A factory job meant that she might have to "be good" to the boss.

1930 U S Census
Nathan and Tillie Berger and son Sam

In 1900 the Lower East Side was the world's most crowded area. In the early 1900s two bridges and the subway system connected Manhattan to Brooklyn and many of the nearly half million Jews who lived there moved to newer housing in Brooklyn. The Bergers made their decision to leave after 24 years on Willett and Rivington Streets. They would be following many friends and former customers to Brooklyn. They may have realized that a neighborhood of well-established families would be a better place for their daughters, then ages 16 to 20, to find husbands.

In 1926 Nathan and Tillie bought a new four-apartment building at 1454 West 8th Street in the Bensonhurst area in southwest Brooklyn. They will live the remainder of their lives in that building. We grandchildren knew the building so well. Three of us were born there, five lived there, and we all remember countless family gatherings there.

The Berger family lived in the largest apartment, three bedrooms in the front of the second floor. At last they had a bright, spacious home, a fine place for the girls to bring their suitors. Sam, 23, who grew up having to sleep on a cot in the kitchen, now had his own bedroom.

Nathan, 46, who knew little English, would have found it hard to live in a place where English was the prevailing language. His daughters credit much of the success of the poultry market he owned in Brooklyn to Tillie, outgoing and speaking English, who worked with its customers. The census form shows her a "cashier, poultry store". 

We, the grandchildren, did not hear Yiddish at home, except when our parents wanted to say something not intended for our ears. We remember our talks with Tillie (Baba). But Nathan (Zaide), not confident in his English, was quiet at family gatherings. We don't remember conversations with him. When he spoke, it was in Yiddish, to Tillie or to friends when playing Pinochle. Yiddish was also the language of his Orthodox shul, except for the prayers in Hebrew. A memory of his funeral in December 1948 is the hearse stopping in front of his synagogue, whose doors were opened as a gesture of respect.

The three Berger daughters would marry in Brooklyn, within a span of six months. Anna, the oldest, was the first. On December 1, 1928, almost 23, she wed Bernard Feigenbaum, 33. Only four weeks later, December 29,1928, Esther, 19, married Nathan Reimer. then 23. Last, but only five months later, on June 3, 1929, Lillian, 22, married Samuel Connor, 24.

After Nathan, Tillie and Sam moved to the smaller rear apartment on the second floor, Anna and Bernard Feigenbaum moved into the front apartment. Stanley Feigenbaum, the first Berger grandchild, was born there. Before the 1930 Census, the Feigenbaum family has moved to Port Washington, on Long Island.

The 1930 Census finds only Nathan and Tillie Berger and son Samuel, now "Sam", at 1454 West 8th. Their two younger daughters are only a few blocks away. Lillian and husband Samuel Connor, and Esther and husband Nathan Reimer and their infant daughter Bernice, are in rented apartments in 6309 Bay Parkway. The census form lists the Reimers below the Connors, which suggests that the sisters lived in adjacent apartments.

Sam Berger owns a haberdashery store at 106 Court Street in Downtown Brooklyn. Following the custom of the time, he will live at home until he marries. On December 30, 1930 he will marry Pauline Rosenbloom. We know (from the 1940 census), that she has told him she is four years younger than he. But, born in 1901, she is actually two years older.

The 1930 form shows the building's value as $20,000. Check the current value.