N. L. Steiner Marbleworks photograph

Part Of

Morris Norman collection

Level

Item

Fonds

22

Item

120

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1890]

Physical Description

3 photographs : b&w and sepia (1 negative) ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Newman Leopold Steiner was born in Tachau, or Tachov (now part of the Czech Republic) ca. 1829, to Wolfgang Steiner and Francisca Rothschild. He was the eleventh in a family of fourteen children. Educated in Vienna, Steiner played an active role in the failed revolution of 1848. Not long after, he left for New York, trained as a stone sculptor, and then moved to Toronto in 1852. He set up a stonecutting and marble merchant business, first on Parliament Street, then King Street, and then at Yonge Street Wilton Avenue, and finally at Wilton and Victoria Street. He is credited with carving the crest above the main door of University College. Steiner was also involved in municipal politics, elected to City Council a total of five times between 1880 and 1885. He was defeated in 1889, but in 1897 he became an Alderman for Ward Three. In 1901, he was appointed Honourary Commissioner to the Pan American Exposition held in Buffalo in 1901. Steiner is considered to be Toronto's first Jewish Alderman and first Jewish Justice of the Peace. Steiner was also a member of St. John's Lodge in the Masonic Order, and was the founder and first president of the German Benevolent Society. Originally involved with Holy Blossom Temple, after 1882 Steiner, his wife Bertha and and their four children were no longer affiliated with the Jewish faith. Members of his family (excluding Steiner) joined the Unitarian Church in Toronto. Steiner married Bertha Sternberger in 1876, who was the daughter of a cantor in New York. They had six children: Herbert, Athur, Ernest, Walter (who died as an infant), Florence and Estelle. Steiner died in 1903 and was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Scope and Content

Item is one albumen photograph taken of N. L. Steiner's Marbleworks at 16 Wilton Avenue in Toronto, as well as a corresponding negative and copy print. There are six men posing in front of the building.

Name Access

N. L. Steiner's Marbleworks

Steiner, Norman Leopold

Subjects

Storefronts

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Physical Condition

1 albumen print is in fairly good condition, although it is slightly stained and torn in places.

Places

Wilson Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

2002-5-1

Source

Archival Descriptions