Minnie Waxstock

Minnie Philo Waxstock

Photo by Ben Levinson circa 1984, courtesy of JMABC

(additional images below)

(Fashions of the Day)

Birth: 1872 in Warsaw, Poland

Death: March 9, 1919 in Victoria, B.C.

Plot: Row G – Plot 26

Inscription:
In Loving Memory of
MINNIE P. WAXSTOCK
1872-1919
ISAAC A. WAXSTOCK
1871-1947

Biography:
Milliner, wife and mother
Minnie was Regina and Rabbi Solomon Philo’s third child and second daughter.

By the 1880’s Rabbi Philo and his family had settled in the United States. He became a naturalized American citizen on January 3, 1888. Later that year, Rabbi Philo left his position as rabbi, cantor and teacher at Anshe Emeth in Cleveland to become cantor and teacher at Beth Israel Congregation in San Francisco. Not long after his arrival, Rabbi Philo became embroiled in an conflict with a fellow rabbi and a member of the congregation and left his job.

In 1891, Rabbi Philo brought his wife and eight children from San Francisco to Victoria to become the rabbi at Congregation Emanu-El. He was a controversial figure whose approach to Judaism was too Reform for some members of the congregation. For example, Rabbi Philo invited men and women to be part of a Shabbat choir. Traditionally only men sing in synagogue choirs. His contract was not renewed and he moved to Vancouver. He was the rabbi of the Reform Congregation Emanu-El in Vancouver for about four months before he returned to the United States.

Jewish Museum and Archives Scribe Magazine

The eldest Philo daughters, however, remained on Vancouver Island.

Louise “Louisa” Ethel Philo (1865–1939) married John Mahrer of Nanaimo. The Mahrers were one of the first Jewish families in Nanaimo. John was one of the most prominent citizens. He was a brewmaster, city councillor and was heavily involved in having Nanaimo Opera House built.

On August 14, 1892, the twenty-year-old Minna “Minnie” Philo married the twenty-one-year-old Vancouver-based cigar and tobacco merchant Abraham Isaac Waxstock, known as Isaac. According to the 1894 Victoria City Directory, Minnie’s younger brothers A.A. (Adam Arthur) and Joseph were listed as cigar makers. In 1895, A.A. was listed in the Vancouver City Directory as a cigar manufacturer and J (Joseph) as a violin teacher and elocutionist.

In 1893, Minnie gave birth to Ethel Belle (1893–1942). The couple’s, son, David (1896-1953), was born in Vancouver. Minnie’s mother, Regina Philo, died in 1898 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Not long after, Minnie gave birth to the couple’s third child, Regina “Rena” (1898–1986) in Vancouver.

In the 1901 Census of Canada, Minnie and Isaac and their children were listed as living in Dawson City, Yukon. According to the 1905 Victoria City Directory, the Waxstocks had moved to 201 Superior Street. Minnie was listed as the proprietor of the Elite Millinery located at 43 Fort Street. Their name was absent from the directory until 1909, when Millie was listed as the proprietor of Elite Millinery. The February 15, 1909 edition of The Victoria Times reported that Mrs. Waxstock and her head milliner left Victoria to attend “wholesale millinery openings in Seattle and Portland.”

The Victoria Daily Times reported on March 5, 1909 that Elite Millinery on Douglas Street displayed “about 250 models with prices to suit all purses, and exclusive designs to suit the most fastidious.” The article went on to say: “A great many Paris hats are shown, which display all the chicness and daintiness for which that centre of fashion is famous.” Other details can be found in the article which is posted above.

The March 10, 1909 edition of The Victoria Daily Times described the opening of the season by reporting that the hats in Mrs. Waxstock’s store included “certain designs which were not duplicated elsewhere.” The latest fashions were characterized as; “extremely fantastic in form and what they lack in width of brim is more than compensated for by the size and volume of the crown.” The article concluded: “As a general rule, if the hair be properly dressed they will be becoming, but the hair simply must be worn very full and fluffy or the hats will make their wearer look ridiculous.” See the article posted above for more details.

According to the Victoria City Directory of 1910, the Waxtocks lived at 854 Cormorant Street. Elite Millinery under Millie’s proprietorship was listed at the same address. Fashionable hats for 1910 were described in the The Victoria Daily Times on March 12, 1910 as having “greater dimensions than ever.” And as being “beautifully proportioned, however, and so fascinating one forgives their size.”
Mrs. Waxman’s store was reported to have “the finest Paris hats chosen especially for her business, many of the patterns being held exclusively by her. In black hats alone she has no less than 300 different shapes untrimmed while the range of finished articles is very wide covering the whole of the newest and most recent styles and shapes.”

The article continues: “On the whole, the hats shown in this store are more artistic and more becoming than last year, and that is saying a lot. Many of the styles imitate very closely those worn in France in the time of Louis XIII., Louis XIV., and Napoleon. In the matter of trimmings, flowers still prevail with the smaller flowers in most favor…. Grasses in all colors, the natural cured grasses, are seen almost everywhere. Natural wheat and other grains are used with great effect at this (Mrs. Waxstock’s) shop, the natural ingenuity and artistic sense of Mrs. Waxman and her large staff of young ladies turning out some of the most delightful effects.” See the above article for more details.

By 1912, Millie had moved her shop to 1316 Douglas Street. The Victoria Daily Times published the following classified ad on December 26, 1912:
FOR SALE- 3 diamond rings, one pair of diamond earrings; goods will be sold to cover my equity; first quality diamonds; they will bear strictest investigation. Apply Elite Millinery Store 1316 Douglas Street
In 1913, the Waxstock family moved to 1115 Princess Street.

According of The Daily Colonist on February 26, 1914, Millie secured a long-term lease at 1604 Douglas Street. She would be opening a new store with a “fresh stock of choicest millinery in early March. The store would be known as The Cut-Rate Millinery.” There was also a store in Vancouver by the same name.

Millie was in attended high profile social events. On April 28, 1917, The Victoria Daily Times reported that the Red Cross was holding a “five hundred tournament.” The event was to include cards, refreshments and dancing, and Mrs. Waxstock would be offering “good prizes.”

After her death, The Victoria Daily Colonist of October 1, 1921 published a notice of the lots for that would be auctioned for unpaid taxes. That included Lot 5 in the Malahat District in the name of Mrs. I. Waxstock (Est).

Ethel, David and Regina:
Ethel, David and Regina were the progeny of Minnie and Isaac Waxstock. They were all musical and took to the stage as children. Some of their theatrical accomplishments were tracked by the papers. The eldest daughter, Ethel Belle Waxstock (1893-1942), was first mentioned in the Nanaimo Daily News on July 16, 1904. At the age of eleven she sang a duet in a school play. The Victoria Daily Times on November 12, 1907 reported that Ethel passed her primary course exams in music.

According to the Victoria Daily Times on October 12, 1908, Ethel and Regina, performed when the Victoria hive of the Ladies of the Maccabees celebrated the 16th anniversary of their order. Ethel played a piano solo and Regina sang. The Victoria Daily Times reported on April 18, 1910 that Misses Waxstock had performed at a concert for St. Andrew’s Society.

When the renowned violinist and pianist Joseph Philo was in Victoria to visit his sister Minnie Waxstock in November 1911, he accompanied his niece, Ethel, when she sang excerpts from “Spring Maid”.

In 1915, Ethel married Jacob, son of Rev. and Mrs. Dobrin of New York and moved away.

David Waxstock (1896-1953) was a musician. The Victoria Daily Times noted that he performed at a concert on December 6, 1910. On July 24, 1912, The Daily Colonist reported that David gave a “beautiful rendering of Jocelyn’s ‘Berceuse’ on the violin at a Victoria West Concert.” The concert also featured a “number of well known local performers.”

Of the three siblings, Regina “Rena” Philo Waxstock (1898-1986) got the most press. The Victoria Daily Times on September 12, 1908 reported that she won second prize in an amateur vaudeville show hosted by the Empress Theatre. She was about ten years old and sang “There’s Another Picture in My Mamma’s Frame.” She sang so well that people wanted to hear more. In response, Regina repeated the chorus.

According to The Victoria Daily Times on February 1, 1910, Regina took part in an amateur singing contest “and was much appreciated by those who heard her.” Regina won “several prizes.” The paper commented that Regina was “improving continually, and will no doubt develop to be a splendid singer.”

Regina’s singing of “The Minstrel Boy” at the opening exercises at George Jay School was noted by The Victoria Daily Times on September 5, 1914. The following year Regina sang as part of a school concert at George Jay School. The concert raised funds for cadet uniforms for the school’s corps.

On April 13, 1918, the Nanaimo Daily News announced that Regina would take part in a fundraising concert to aid the Red Cross. She was scheduled to sing “character” songs.

The Nanaimo Daily News reviewed the concert on April 19, 1918 and noted that Regina, “whose fame had preceded her from her home in Victoria, fairly brought down the house with her character songs. This versatile little lady seemed equally at home in Yiddisher dialogue, in sentimental music, in mimicry, and in eccentric songs and she met with the heartiest of receptions from the audience.”

The Vancouver Daily World advertised on August 24, 1918 that “Regina, a comedienne with a refreshing style was secured to play at a concert at the Imperial Theatre for the Social Reconstruction League.” The concert was billed as the “biggest thing of its kind ever attempted in Vancouver.”

In January 1919, the B’nai B’rith Order celebrated its diamond jubilee of it’s founding. Victoria Lodge no. 758 gave a banquet in its honor. Regina “contributed” musical numbers. Her father, Isaac was past president.

In 1924, Regina married “Bert” Abraham Robinson. The couple settled in Seattle, where Regina became a star on the radio station KJR. The Daily Colonist in 1930 advised Victorians that they could listen to Regina on Tuesdays and Thursdays and that she would be performing on the regular “Show Boat” program.

The Victoria Daily Times December 24, 1930

A few article referred to a Miss Waxstock performing at different event. The Evening Post on November 11, 1909 said that Miss Waxstock would be singing duets with Miss McGregor and Miss Wilson. Mr. and Miss Waxstock were scheduled to participate in a fundraising social for the Ladies Aid of the First Congregational Church held in June 1912.

Parents:
Regina Grosswirth Philo (1842–1898)
Rabbi Solomon Philo (1842-1923)

Siblings:
Louise Philo Mahrer (1865–1939)
Herman Philo (1867–1924)
Adam/ Arthur A. Philo (1874–1934)
Tudor Philo (b. 1876)
Rabbi Isadore Edmund Philo (1873–1948)
Prof. Joseph Philo (1876–1920)
David Philo (b.1877)
Rosa/Rose Philo (1878–1956)
Sarah Philo (b. 1883)
Harry/Tutor

Spouse:
Isaac Abraham Waxstock (1879–1947)

Children:
Ethel Belle Waxstock 1893–1942
David Waxstock 1896–1953
Regina “Rena” Waxstock 1898–1986

Additional Images: