141 -151 south Fifth Street
No actual structures appear at this address until around 1869. These structures were mostly wood frame or brick houses that were one or two stories, with one or two families occupying them. United States census data from these years shows that the people living in these houses were mostly immigrants or first generation United States citizens. People with Irish, Scottish, English, Russian, and German heritage could all be found here.
In 1880, the land at 140 South Fourth Street was sold to the St. Francis Monastery. Soon after it became the location of the Franciscan Brothers St. Leonard’s Academy, an educational institution affiliated with the Catholic Church that was very prominent in the neighborhood of Williamsburg.
Around the turn of the century, construction of the Williamsburg Bridge was getting underway. Unfortunately, this had some negative effects on the neighborhood adjacent to the bridge. Construction of the bridge began in 1897 and the Brooklyn approach to the bridge was to go right between South Fifth and South Sixth Streets. As a result, many homes were torn down and residents were displaced. Included in this displacement were the residents of 141-151 South Fifth Street, as their homes were demolished to make way for the bridge. However, by 1910 the block would become home to the factory of one of America’s most famous kitchenware companies: Farberware.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a large influx of Jewish immigration into the Lower East Side of Manhattan from Eastern Europe. Many Russian immigrants were farmers who had not been allowed or were not able to cultivate their crops. One such immigrant was Simon W. Farber from Antipol, Russia, who passed through Ellis Island in 1899. His family farm was suffering greatly, so he left home to become a tinsmith. After holding various jobs in Russia, he decided to come to the United States.
In 1900 Farber rented a downstairs basement shop in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, at 66 Norfolk Street, and had his name lettered on the window. This is where his trade began. Finally, in 1910, Farber Brass and Copper Goods moved its factory to 141-151 South Fifth Street, Brooklyn, which is also the year they introduced the first line of “Farberware.” From there the company continued to make many innovations in the line of cookware.
In 1880, the land at 140 South Fourth Street was sold to the St. Francis Monastery. Soon after it became the location of the Franciscan Brothers St. Leonard’s Academy, an educational institution affiliated with the Catholic Church that was very prominent in the neighborhood of Williamsburg.
Around the turn of the century, construction of the Williamsburg Bridge was getting underway. Unfortunately, this had some negative effects on the neighborhood adjacent to the bridge. Construction of the bridge began in 1897 and the Brooklyn approach to the bridge was to go right between South Fifth and South Sixth Streets. As a result, many homes were torn down and residents were displaced. Included in this displacement were the residents of 141-151 South Fifth Street, as their homes were demolished to make way for the bridge. However, by 1910 the block would become home to the factory of one of America’s most famous kitchenware companies: Farberware.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a large influx of Jewish immigration into the Lower East Side of Manhattan from Eastern Europe. Many Russian immigrants were farmers who had not been allowed or were not able to cultivate their crops. One such immigrant was Simon W. Farber from Antipol, Russia, who passed through Ellis Island in 1899. His family farm was suffering greatly, so he left home to become a tinsmith. After holding various jobs in Russia, he decided to come to the United States.
In 1900 Farber rented a downstairs basement shop in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, at 66 Norfolk Street, and had his name lettered on the window. This is where his trade began. Finally, in 1910, Farber Brass and Copper Goods moved its factory to 141-151 South Fifth Street, Brooklyn, which is also the year they introduced the first line of “Farberware.” From there the company continued to make many innovations in the line of cookware.
In 1926, St. Leonard’s Academy decided to move its location and sell its property. S.W. Farber Incorporated bought the lot and the factory was expanded. The Farber Company continued to manufacture cookware, but during World War II they also went extensively into the manufacture of radar equipment for the armed forces and received four Army-Navy E pennants for turning out a huge quantity of 50-calibre machine-gun belt links at a time when there was a critical shortage of them.
At the time of Simon Farber’s death in 1947, he had built up quite a name for himself, not only in the manufacturing of kitchenware, but also within the community of Williamsburg. He was a very active philanthropist in Brooklyn Jewish circles. In 1951, a playground was dedicated to him that adjoined the Hebrew School of Williamsburg, which was then located at 310 South First Street.
By 1951, the Farber Company already had another factory in the Bronx and in 1960, 141-151 South Fifth and 138-140 South Fourth Streets had new owners. In 2008, all buildings north of the main building on South Fifth Street were demolished and a plan was made to build a ten story, 75 unit, mixed use residential/commercial building. It was to be built as an addition to the existing building on South Fifth Street, but construction has been delayed for some time now due to various permit violations. The original Farber building is what currently stands at 141-151 South Fifth Street and contains nine dwelling units and a carpentry shop. This site possesses a unique history, telling the story of a Russian immigrant who was able to develop a successful business in the United States simply by persevering.
At the time of Simon Farber’s death in 1947, he had built up quite a name for himself, not only in the manufacturing of kitchenware, but also within the community of Williamsburg. He was a very active philanthropist in Brooklyn Jewish circles. In 1951, a playground was dedicated to him that adjoined the Hebrew School of Williamsburg, which was then located at 310 South First Street.
By 1951, the Farber Company already had another factory in the Bronx and in 1960, 141-151 South Fifth and 138-140 South Fourth Streets had new owners. In 2008, all buildings north of the main building on South Fifth Street were demolished and a plan was made to build a ten story, 75 unit, mixed use residential/commercial building. It was to be built as an addition to the existing building on South Fifth Street, but construction has been delayed for some time now due to various permit violations. The original Farber building is what currently stands at 141-151 South Fifth Street and contains nine dwelling units and a carpentry shop. This site possesses a unique history, telling the story of a Russian immigrant who was able to develop a successful business in the United States simply by persevering.