Live-Wire

Illuminating bits and pieces of Jersey City`s Past

A streetscape, where the present and the past intertwine. The corner store, now a Christian bookshop, shows a faded advertisement on the sidewall telling the story of a different era. An era of electric appliances, where Louis Migdoll and his wife Bessie reigned as the "Live-Wire Merchant."

-Nathalie Kalbach-

“Live-Wire”: Acrylic Paint, Markers - 12x12 - available

I pass this corner store often, and the sign always spoke out to me, making me curious about its story.

Research lead me to Louis Migdoll, born in Russia in 1897, who came to Jersey City at 17. Shortly here, he joined the U.S. Army and served in WWI. Upon his return he switched from a motion picture operator to an electrician. The building on Monticello Ave, built in the 1930s, boasts a beautiful corner storefront and became his electric appliance store.

His wife Bessie and their children lived in the neighborhood. The Migdolls were founding members of the Emanu-El Synagogue at 633 Bergen Ave at the corner of Jewett Avenue built in 1948.

Sadly, Mr. and Mrs Migdoll`s son, Benjamin was killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II fighting Nazi Germany. The library of the synagogue carried his name, and hosted many interesting cultural events, including an art show in 1960 curated by Herbert Migdoll, featuring pieces by Picasso, Chagall, Cezanne and Miro on loan from the MET. Herbert is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Migdoll and very well known photographer and artist.

The building on Bergen Ave has housed the Church of the Good Shepherd since 1981. Before the temple, a small colonial Dutch farmhouse stood on the property, built in 1805, later owned by William Jewett a renowned portrait painter. Architect Broome, who designed City Hall and my house, later owned it.

Louise and Bessie passed away just a month from each other in 1982.

For many in this city, the memories of the Electric Appliances Store and the Migdoll family remain vivid. Their tales are like live wires of the past, sparking fond recollections and shared experiences. They speak of Louis, well into his 70s, ice skating at Rockefeller Center, of seeking his expertise as an electrician on Arlington Ave, or simply waiting at the bus stop in front of the store, where the sign stands as a familiar landmark.