Simon and Pauline Reinhart (Reinhardt)
Simon Reinhart, Victoria 1890 (photo JMABC)
Values Codes: I-H-E-L
Simon and Pauline Reinhart were early settlers in Victoria, in 1858.
Simon Reinhart, born 1829 in Oberlustadt in Bavaria.
He first came to America in 1844, at the age of 15, and was educated in law.
Along the way
Simon Reinhart had business connections in San Francisco when he established a wholesale liquor business in Victoria, Reinhart Bros. on Yates Street.
Reinhart Bros Advertisement in Victoria,
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Victoria, BC
Active in the lower mainland, he bought one of the first lots at Old Fort Langley (Derby), projected to be the capital of the new Colony of British Columbia.
When New Westminster was chosen instead, he associated there with Morris Meyer, A. S. Elasser and Benedict Reinhart.
Their general store, Meyer, Reinhart & Co. on Scott’s wharf supplied miners traveling further up the river to the gold fields.
The firm also bought real estate in New Westminster.
Community
Before their arrival in Victoria, Mrs. Reinhart (Pauline Del Banco) was elected Treasurer (in 1855) of the Ladies’ Benevolent Society of San Francisco, which had been formed by the “German Jewish ladies to extend aid to German-speaking needy.”
Mrs.Simon Reinhart, nee Pauline Del Banco (photo JMABC)
While living in Victoria, she was a member of the Hebrew Ladies Society and on the general committee of the Female Infirmary.
The Reinharts purchased tickets for the first High Holy Day services at Congregation Emanu-El.
Mr. and Mrs. Reinhart entertained in their Humboldt Street home and were involved in the colonial society of that era.
By 1866, Simon Reinhart had wound up his business affairs in Victoria.
A farewell dinner was tendered in his honor, attended by many of the leaders in the community, apparently on the eve of his departure to Europe.
Elko, Nevada
As late as 1872, the Reinharts had moved to Elko, Nevada where Simon’s father had a large retail establishment. [Click here for Part II of the Reinhart saga.]
Sources
- Cyril Leonoff, editor, “Pioneer Jews of British Columbia,” Western States Jewish History 37/3&4.
- Sarah H. Tobe, “Lured North of the 49th, Jewish Colonial Roots,” Western States Jewish History 46/2&3.
- Archives of Sarah H. Tobe, Cyril E. Leonoff, Christopher J.P. Hanna, and David Rome.
Sarah H. Tobe is curator of this Simon and Pauline Reinhart exhibit.