LIVING HISTORY
43
In 1912, St. Lucie County had been
in existence less than a decade. Fort
Pierce, the county seat, was young,
too, with stores opening on Second
Street, which would later become the
shopping hub for three counties.
One of the community’s earliest merchants
and part of the town’s first Jewish
family was Isadore Holtsberg, who moved
to Fort Pierce in 1912 and opened Holtsberg’s
Dry Goods at 117 North Second
St. His son, Fred, later operated a grocery
store in Jensen Beach before moving it to
Fort Pierce. Fred’s son, Harold Holtsberg,
82, still remembers his father delivering
groceries as far south as Hobe Sound late
on Saturday night. Stores on Second Street
would stay open on Saturday nights to
accommodate people who came into town
just once a week to do their shopping.
“Second Street was Main Street, period,”
Holtsberg says. “I remember on Saturday
nights we’d come downtown with my
mother and you’d know everybody who
came into town.”
The Holtsberg family left the dry goods
business early on. Isadore died, and in
1927 his widow, Sara, sold the store to the
Rubin family. The families were distant
relatives. The Rubins became the second
Jewish family in Fort Pierce and one of the
region’s best-known retailers.
The Rubins had come to the United
States from Romania. Three brothers first
Early Jewish History on the Treasure Coast
This is an unedited excerpt from “The Pioneers of Temple
Beth El’’ by Estelle Lincola Paden, who was historian of the
temple from 1950 through 1979.
The first Jewish family came to Fort Pierce in 1912. They
were Sara and Isadore Holtsberg, who were later joined by
their son Fred. The Holtsberg’s opened a grocery store on
Second Street. Son Fred delivered groceries as far south as
Jensen...by row boat. Fred Holtsberg married Harriet (Hattie)
Wild of Indiana, and they were blessed by the addition of
Harold Holtsberg who became the official Shofar blower of
Temple Beth El.
Fred Holtsberg served as Mayor of Fort. Pierce for two successful
administrations. He also served as one of the early
presidents of Temple Beth El.
The next Jewish family who came to Fort Pierce also made
an indelible print on the Jewish life and times of the community
from 1926 to the present. They were Ida and Ralph
Rubin. Ralph Rubin became an established merchant, was
involved in many community projects, and served as one
of the early presidents of the Chamber of Commerce. The
Rubin store is still located on North Second Street and is
known as “One of Florida’s Better Stores.” Ralph Rubin
became one of the most loved and respected merchants in
town. The original Rubin store was not as large or as attractive
as the present one; but it was indeed one of the most
popular and well known stores in Fort Pierce, particularly
since Second Street was the popular area in Fort Pierce at
that time.
Arthur Rubin continues in the Rubin establishment in the
same tradition of his parents — of highest integrity and consideration
of customers and employees. Arthur Rubin also
has been involved in community projects, Temple activities,
and all Judaic needs as well.
Bernard Rubin has officiated as Mayor of Fort Pierce and
served as mayor for two successful administrations…
It was not an easy task to organize a group of people from
many different religious backgrounds, such as Orthodox,
Conservative, and Reform. It was the determination and
fervor of the faithful few who not only brought it to fruition
but helped to keep the Jewish Community in working order
and interest. Also, with the cooperation of the membership,
a House of God was built to support Judaism for those current
members and to the future generations of children and
adults, fervently hoping that Temple Beth El would always
maintain a Temple and Jewish Community dedicated to the
teachings of Torah and to not only speak the words, but live
according to the basic philosophy of Judaism — to “love
Mercy; to do justly and to walk humbly with our God.”
>>
Ralph Rubin
sits on a car
bumper and
his brother,
Isadore,
stands next to
the car, in
about 1924.