[at-l] Boy Scout Hike 6 of 10

[Arthur Gaudet]

(I have photos of the home on Manor Avenue as well as of the building that
served as the Emanuel Synagogue & meeting place for the Vets. --arthur)


Mr. Grabow is Moe Grabow 


According to Max Gordon, "he (Mr. Grabow) led the veteran's group that provided
equipment and expenses", that "one veteran had a truck, and it was our
lifeline", that "maps (were) provided by the veterans" and that the veterans
"also met the hikers at various points along the trail." It's unclear just how
many veterans participated in the trip and we don't know for certain if Mr.
Grabow was one of the support crew.

 

With only his last name as a clue I was able to winnow down a list of 18 male
Grabow's with origins in the Bronx who received social security benefits.
Comparing this list with death notices in the New York Times from 1936 to 1999 I
came up with only one that matched my age criteria. His obituary confirmed his
position as a leader in 2 Jewish, World War I veterans groups based in the
Bronx:

 

 "Moe Grabow, age 78, husband of Eve, died 4/13/1969. Past Commander of Savenay
Post of the American Legion and Past Commander of the Jacob Levy Post, Jewish
War Veterans." (NYT) <outbind://15/#_edn1> [1]

 

The SSDI also identifies his address in the Bronx at the time of his death.
<outbind://15/#_edn2> [2]

 

Moe, the son of Mr. & Mrs. J. Grabow, becomes engaged to Eve or Eva
<outbind://15/#_edn3> [3] (Yellen) <outbind://15/#_edn4> [4] in 1923. He was
born in 1891, she in 1901. They marry and by April, 1930 have a 3-year-old son
named David. <outbind://15/#_edn5> [5] By 1933 they are listed in the City
Directory as "Moe & Eve Grabow, salesman, householder, 1236 Manor Avenue"
(between Westchester Avenue and E 172nd St.) <outbind://15/#_edn6> [6] This
location is 3 blocks from Emanuel Synagogue. They live at this address at least
until 1936 when the HNBM mentions Moe Grabow, living at 1236 Manor Avenue,
Bronx, who's on a barn dance committee for the Jacob Levy Post.
<outbind://15/#_edn7> [7] 

 

It's interesting to note that in 1936 Moe isn't the commander of the Jacob Levy
Post. The commander in mid-1936 is William Gordon <outbind://15/#_edn8> [8]
recently replacing Joseph Gross. <outbind://15/#_edn9> [9] Pvt. Jacob Levy Post
#82 meets Mondays evenings at Emanuel Synagogue. <outbind://15/#_edn10> [10]
Since Moe Grabow isn't the head of the organization it's somewhat likely that he
could attend the boys on the hike as a support person. But he's leaving his wife
and 9 year old son behind, and possibly deserting his job as a salesman for the
4 month trip (if he still has a job, after all this is the Depression.). To me
it seems unlikely that Mr. Grabow went on the hike, but instead facilitated in
the planning stages for the Boy Scouts. Max Gordon's comments aren't clear on
this point.

 

Later, by 1948, Mr. Grabow is commander of Savenay post, #724, American Legion
<outbind://15/#_edn11> [11] and at some point was commander of Pvt. Jacob Levy
Post #82 as indicated by his obituary. It would be interesting to find his son,
David Grabow born about 1927, to talk about his father's connection with the
BSH.

 


  _____  

 <outbind://15/#_ednref1> [1] NYT, April 13, 1969.

 <outbind://15/#_ednref2> [2] SSDI, Moe Grabow, the Bronx, 061-12-3401 25
November 1891, April 1969, Allerton Avenue, Bronx, NY 10467.

 <outbind://15/#_ednref3> [3] NYT, December 9, 1923, Moe is the son of Mr. &
Mrs. J. Grabow. Eve's the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Isaac Yellen of 72 W. 118th
St., New York City.

 <outbind://15/#_ednref4> [4] Obituary for Isaac Yellen, father of Eve (Mrs. Moe
Grabow), September 3, 1967.

 <outbind://15/#_ednref5> [5] USC1930. April 15, 1930, Moe Grabow is 39 yo, Eve
is 29 yo, son David is 3 yo. (This is the US Federal Census for 1930)

 <outbind://15/#_ednref6> [6] MBCD33

 <outbind://15/#_ednref7> [7] HNBM, January 30, 1936.

 <outbind://15/#_ednref8> [8] HNBM, January 30, 1936.

 <outbind://15/#_ednref9> [9] HNBM, January 8, 1936.

 <outbind://15/#_ednref10> [10] HNBM, January 5, 1936.

 <outbind://15/#_ednref11> [11] NYT, June 12, 1948. Obituary for Julius Levine,
past commander of Savenay Post, American Legion.

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