Shulman Family
In 1915 Calgarian Tillie Block went to Chicago to visit her parents, who had moved there after several years in Alberta. During the trip she married Simon Shulman,22, who had immigrated to Chicago from Krutche, Russia, four years earlier.
The Shulmans moved to Three Oaks, Michigan, opened a tailor shop, and in 1916 welcomed their first daughter, Emily. In 1917 the young family moved to Calgary, settling next to the Eisenstadt home on 4th Avenue East.
Simon opened 25 Cent Tailors, named for his one-price policy, on 2nd Street East, between 7th and 8th Avenues.
Daughter Jean was born in 1919. During the 20’s the Shulmans moved to 9th Street and 18th Avenue West, where in 1927 their daughter Nettie was born.
Business changes and rising prices prompted a name change in 1939 to Shulman Tailors.
During the war years Jean Shulman took over the family shop and operated it as an all-women business – and became the first woman in Alberta with certification to operate boiler plants.
In 1938 Emily Shulman married Sam Finkleman in Calgary; they had nine children. Jean married Sidney Libin (1917-1986) in 1940 and had three children. Nettie married Maynard Sarvas of Laguna Hills, California; they had three children.
Simon and Tillie Shulman made sure they had their daughters were involved in Jewish community activities, and were among the founders of the I.L. Peretz School. The very first meeting of the Pioneer Women organization in Calgary was held in the Shulman home; Golda Meir was guest speaker.
Simon passed away in 1942 at 48 years of age. Tillie enjoyed a close relationship with 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren before passing away at age 83 in 1977.