Bertha Obernauer
The Jewish Encyclopedia
of Western Pennsylvania
A project of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center
Born in the Kingdom of Württemberg, in southern Germany, Herman Obernauer (1856-1947) spent his late teens and early twenties traveling throughout Europe as a salesman.
Obernauer immigrated to the United States in 1880 and settled in Pittsburgh. After working as a bookkeeper, he started Herman Obernauer & Company, a distillery and wholesale liquor business on Fifth Avenue.[1]Burgoyne, Arthur Gordon. “All Sorts of Pittsburgers,” Pittsburgh, the Leader All Sorts Co., 1892 (online—Historic Pittsburgh). In 1892, he moved his business up the street to the corner of Fifth and Stevenson and covered the side of the building in painted advertisements for his various products.[2]Fifth and Stevenson photograph, May 20, 1911, Pittsburgh City Photographer Collection, 715.112081.CP (online). He also became an investor in the district as one of the first directors of Merchants Savings & Trust Company.
Obernauer sold the business in 1915—several years before the enactment of Prohibition—and spent the rest of his career in real estate. He appears to have sold the business to a Philip Braun, who operated a liquor business out of the building until 1918. For many years, the building housed the Admiral Restaurant. Most recently, it was Aces & Deuces Bar.
Obernauer was a well-known figure within the local community of German Jews. He was one of the pallbearers at the funeral of “Grandma Hirsch.” He was a member of Rodef Shalom Congregation.
He was also an active member of the local Democratic Party and served as an elector in four presidential elections.[3]“Eightieth Birthday Celebrated,” Jewish Criterion, Jan. 31, 1936, p11 (online). He tried inventing, and he jointly held a patent for a foldable stool.[4]U.S. Patent No. 1,009,584 (online—Google Patents).
After establishing himself in Pittsburgh, Herman Obernauer married Bertha Dinch (d. 1928), the daughter of Frederick and Martha Dinch of old Allegheny City. They had three children, Olga Obernauer Jaskulek, Harold Obernauer and Arthur Obernauer.
References
| ↑1 | Burgoyne, Arthur Gordon. “All Sorts of Pittsburgers,” Pittsburgh, the Leader All Sorts Co., 1892 (online—Historic Pittsburgh). |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Fifth and Stevenson photograph, May 20, 1911, Pittsburgh City Photographer Collection, 715.112081.CP (online). |
| ↑3 | “Eightieth Birthday Celebrated,” Jewish Criterion, Jan. 31, 1936, p11 (online). |
| ↑4 | U.S. Patent No. 1,009,584 (online—Google Patents). |
