Isaac Strouss

Isaac Strouss was born May 20, 1848 in Hanheim, Rhine Hesse, Germany. In 1865, at the age of seventeen, he immigrated to America where he was met in New York by his distant cousin, David Theobald. Once back in Youngstown, Strouss took a job at Theobald’s clothing store. 

The work Strouss did for his cousin included sweeping, putting coal on the fire, and unpacking boxes. However, he had an ambition to learn more about the trade. While working at the Woolen Store, he met and became friends with a bookkeeper named Bernard Hirshberg. A few years later, Strouss became manager of the store. This position allowed him to become more familiar with the merchandise and to perfect his English. In 1876, Theobald sold the business to Strouss. With his friend Hirshberg as an associate, the business became known as Strouss & Hirshberg. 

On July 19, 1906 the firm incorporated as The Strouss & Hirshberg Co. (despite the fact that Bernard Hirshberg had already decided to withdraw from the day to day running of the business). Located on the north side of West Federal Street, the store had three floors with a basement, totaling 25,000 sq. ft. and 100 employees. The store became one of Youngstown’s leading retail establishments.  

Strouss was an active community member belonging to the Rodef Sholom Congregation, fraternally connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of B’nai B’rith, and a representative to the Jewish Orphan Asylum of Cleveland. His other services included the board of the Fresh Air Camp and director in the Dollar Savings and Trust Company of Youngstown. In September of 1874 he married Miss Lena Pfaezler and they had two children, Helen C. and Clarence J.

Strouss Hirshberg exterior, Acc. No. 86.57.121

Isaac Strouss, original photograph by D. Perel of Youngstown, Acc. No. 86.57.403

Interior of Strouss Store, August 1945, Acc. No. 86.57.415. MVHS Collection.

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