ISIDOR AND IDA STRAUS..
We have been going to Straus park quite often for our evening walks .Located at upper Manhattan on Broadway (where it crosses street No 107) , This .0.44 Acre Park has flower beds, shady trees and ornamental plants apart from benches arranged by Friends of Straus Park Society . This society maintains the Park. As the underground metro train station lies just below the Park , free WiFi provided by MTA in New York is readily available for visitors to this Park. KFC outlet is just across the road. Eden Garden Fruit store( that sells a variety of fresh fruits and juices) is also close by .
There is an impressive Bronze Statue of a woman in reclining posture inside the park . I asked a regular local visitor about the details of this sculpture and he said:
" Do you You know the Titanic sinking in Atlantic ? She is the Great Lady Ida Straus. Jewish immigrants. One time Owners of Macy's Store Chain .The Straus family had their spacious house near this park. The statute was done by well known Sculptor Lukeman and was installed in 1915 A.D. Very old now. I have been coming to this Park since 1970."
And that made me to visit Macy's store on Harold Square (34th street ) again and seek more details.
IDA AND ISIDOR STRAUS..
The straus family moved to America from Baveria ( Germany) in 1854 and settled in Georgia. After the American civil war, they shifted permanently to New York.
Ida Blun Straus was a daring lady. Her husband Isidor Straus was the major co-owner of Macy's store ( Biggest store) in New York at that time They were married in 1871. They were an ideal couple . Both were involved in many philanthropic activities and connected to many Charity organizations. Rarely the husband and wife spent a day away from each other.
The husband and wife were on a tour of Europe and were returning to New york in SS Titanic that sank in Atlantic on 15th April 1912( on its maiden journey ) . The ship hit an iceberg and more than 1500 passengers and Crew members died in this Disaster.
On the night of the disaster, as the call to board the lifeboats went out, Isidor escorted Ida to Lifeboat and prepared to say goodbye to her. Ida, however, refused to enter the small boat, saying, “We have lived together for many years. Where you go, I go.” Several other first- class passengers tried to convince Ida to board but she could not be swayed. Instead, she sent her newly hired maid from England, Ellen Bird, to the lifeboat. Initially, The loyal maid hesitated to move to the life Boat . Ida gave her fur coat to Ellen, saying that she won’t need it anymore.
The Strauses were last seen seated side by side on Titanic's deck..
It was testified ( before a commission of Inquiry ) by a surviving passengers and one crew member later that while they were moving ladies out from the sinking ship to safety boats, Ida decided not to move and stayed in the company of her husband on the deck of sinking ship. Ida and her husband sank together sitting on their Chairs on the deck of Titanic.
Isidor’s body was recovered but the funereal service was delayed for a few days in the hopes that Ida’s body might too be recovered, allowing the two who had lived and died together to also share a funeral—but Ida’s body was never found.
This touching memorial is frequented by many visitors .Sculpture of Ida Straus (Bronze) in reclining posturre has been done by well known Sculptor Augustus Lukeman.If you look at the large wall behind this sculpture ,you can read an inscription from the Old Testament’s Book of Samuel: it states :
“In Memory of Isidor and Ida Straus. Lovely and Pleasant Were they in their Lives. And in Their Death They Were Not Divided. Isidor honored the unwritten and now lost tradition of “women and children first” and Ida, in a world, not unlike today, where commitments were often brief and fragile"
“Entreat me not to leave you…for where thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge…and where thou diest, I will die; and there I will be buried”.
A plaque of husband and wife is prominently displayed at the inner side of the main entrance to Macy's store . Macy's has so many wonderful and historical stories connected with it . That is why so many Tourists and inquisitive people visit Macy's store.
(Avtar Mota)
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