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At least four Jewish families from Ottawa were involved with the raw hide and furs business in the Lowertown area at the turn of the century. In addition to these, records show that the Futeral family had a factory on O'Connor Street where the furs were fashioned into hats and coats. Abraham Dworkin had also moved from tailoring to furs in his establishment on Rideau Street by 1901. A thick fur coat was an important item of clothing to withstand freezing Canadian winter temperatures.

The 1900 Census for Russell, South, Egansville Village shows that Henry and Edith Dover had a store while David Dover is listed as a pedlar. Jacob Kizell is also listed as a pedlar in Eganville, where the village is built upon the steep slopes of the mighty Madawaska River. Other records indicate that Jacob Kizell lived in Killaloe which is located between Eganville and Barry's Bay. Dover and Black bought hides from the local farmers. Dover's store in Eganville may have been a depot for this important trade. The Kizell's had a place on York Street where the hides were assembled and salted before being shipped off to be finished and manufactured into gloves and other leather goods.

In an audio interview with Mrs. Rachel Black (conducted in Yiddish) she spoke about her husband Edward working with Jack Kizell and Samuel Spevak. Edward Black bought skunk, mink, fox and racoon furs from the Algonquin Indians who trapped in the densely forested region around Golden Lake. Mrs. Black went with her husband to help weigh the furs. She recalled paying 8 or 10 cents a pound when she lived there. The Blacks eventually moved into Ottawa where Mrs. Black provided Kosher food for visiting Dovers and Kizells during the High Holy Days.

Norman Kizell started a Raw Hides and Furs business on York Street in the 1930's. Samuel Spevak started his own business called Capital Hide and Fur which was also located on York. He handled various furs such as mink, beaver and racoon along with wool.

Abraham Shapiro and Lazarus Molot started designing fur coats in the late 1930's. They both had shops on Rideau Street for many years.

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Dover and Black Raw Fur and Hide
20th Century, Circa 1915
27 York Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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Fire in the Byward Market near Norman Kizell's Raw Hides and Furs
20th Century, Circa 1949
78 York Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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Kizell family of Jurburg, Lithuania
20th Century, Circa 1907

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Kizell Brothers
20th Century, Circa 1948

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Engagement photograph of Samuel and Sophie Spevak
20th Century, Circa 1900

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Molot Furs
20th Century, Circa 1964
181 Rideau Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Michel Lafleur

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Abe Shapiro of Shapiro Furs
20th Century, Circa 1970
458 Rideau Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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Dworkin Furs building
7 March 2012
256 Rideau Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Michel Lafleur