Fonds jhse-105 - Singer family fonds

Millie Podersky Singer was born at the Edmonton General Hospital, in 1922. Her mother, Anna Pollock, was from New York City, and came to Edmonton when she was 16. Her father, Louis Podersky was born in Chicago and came to homestead in Lacombe when he was two, with his parents, in 1894. He left home when he was twelve and came to Edmonton to work as an auctioneer. He married Anna Pollock when he was 21 and she was 20. They had four children: Danny, Freddy, Edie and Millie. Millie lived on 112 St. and attended Oliver School. Millie opened up the first Baby store in Edmonton, the Trudy Gay Shop, next to the Strand Theatre on Jasper Avenue. Millie married Henry Singer on March 3, 1941. Henry was from Saskatoon, a talented musician and songwriter, mainly a percussionist, who played in the Salvation Army band in Saskatoon. At 16, he left Saskatoon and moved to Toronto, and eventually worked in the music department at Eaton's. He later worked in Bermuda for four years, and eventually played with the Edmonton Symphony. He served in the army for four years during World War II, and produced several shows for the servicemen, which toured the country. In 1938, Henry opened Bond Clothing on Jasper Ave., and ultimately opened Henry Singer Menswear in Edmonton, a business still run by his son Freddie and grandson Jordan. Henry and Joe Shoctor, along with Moe Lieberman, were the original founders of the Edmonton Eskimos and Henry and Joe had a pre and post-game radio show on CJCA. He was also a photographer, and started the photo gallery at the Edmonton Art Gallery, and wrote a children's book, "Little Johnnie Greenhorn". He was also a race car driver and community leader. Henry and Millie had four children, Freddie Singer, who married Jennie Zottenberg; and Trudy, who married Danny Pekarsky, as well as Danny, a photographer in Vancouver, and Trig. Henry died in 1980.