Stepping into the first floor hallway of 97 Orchard Street, we immediately noticed the kind of living conditions that those who lived in the building went through. The hallways were tight and dilapidated. The walls had floral patterns carved in and small hanging paintings, the flooring was honeycomb tiled, and the design of the ceiling gave a false sense of home and security. The stairs were composed of shaky, creaking wooden planks that were deemed a fire hazard.

The first thing to stand out in the family’s apartment was the coal-powered stove. Imagining it being used, a thick cloud of smog would fill the air, along with an unimaginable amount of soot that would be inhaled by everyone inside. In front of the stove was an ironing board where someone worked while the mother would be cooking. The ironing tool was heavy and seemed awkward to use in such a cramped space. Next to the stove and ironing board was a baby crib, which, although unsafe, was the easiest way for the mother to keep an eye on the baby while continuing her housework duties. The apartment, doubling as a dress factory, was inhabited at least by eight people: the parents, several children, and two hired young women who assisted in the dress making. It was astonishing to learn that many of these hired women might be  abused by their employers and had no choice but to stay due to the scarcity of work available in contrast to the plethora of job-seekers.

Utilities were non-existent in the apartment. Oil lamps were used for light during evenings. Water was supplied via a central location on the ground floor for the entire building. The limited supply of even the most basic necessities made life in the tenement buildings extremely dejected and melancholic. Only during the Saturday Sabbath was life more enjoyable; the mother would clean the house and the family would be able to enjoy a good meal together and pray for the future. During these years, Jewish immigrants generally remained in their enclave in the Lower East Side and strongly held onto their cultural customs and identity.

The second family apartment we visited provided a view thirteen years into the future. Although the space was a few square feet smaller than the first, it actually felt more spacious. The home did not serve as a factory, so there was more space for more leisure items such as a large couch, dumbbells for exercise, and souvenirs from fun places like Coney Island. In comparison to the first apartment, more natural light entered the rooms, allowing for a livelier atmosphere. By the time this family was living here, there was electric lighting in the building. Despite having available electricity, however, they themselves would not touch the light switches due to Jewish observances. Instead, they asked other tenants to do it for them. By this time, many of the Jewish immigrants were beginning to assimilate into American culture while keeping many of their traditions.