This page was created by Anonymous. The last update was by Stephen Robertson.
Samuel Mestetzky's store looted
The only evidence of the looting is the store's appearance in a list of the first twenty white business-owners who sued the city for damages based on the failure of police to protect their stores published in the New York Sun, New York World-Telegram, New York American, and New York Amsterdam News. By the time the city comptroller heard testimony from those bringing suit, 106 owners had sought damages. Mestetzky was not among those whose testimony appeared in newspaper stories about that proceeding, nor did he appear in any of the trials to test the claims. No one among those arrested for looting was identified as taking goods from this business.
Mestetzky's claim for $5,860.50 in damages was the third largest detailed in the newspaper stories, well above the median claim of $733. The city lost the court cases, so Mestetzky likely was awarded some amount of damages, but based on those case it was likely only a small proportion. It is not clear if he was able to remain in business. The MCCH business survey includes three operating at 60 West 129th Street in the second half of 1935, a white-owned stationery store, and black-owned barber and tailor's shop. Either Mestetzky or Guberman could have owned the stationery store; the newspaper stories did not identify their businesses. The Tax Department photograph was taken from too far away to identify the businesses at the address in 1939–1941.
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This page references:
- "Claim $38,000 Riot Damages," New York Sun, April 23, 1935 [clipping].
- "Harlem Riot Claims," New York American, April 24, 1935 [clipping].
- "$38,000 Sought in Harlem Riot," New York World-Telegram, April 23, 1935 [clipping]
- "Owners Want Riot Damages," New York Amsterdam News, June 1, 1935, 18.
- 370-378 Lenox Avenue & 60 West 129th Street, c. 1939-1940.