Augustus Pollack

Augustus Pollack. Friend of Organized Labor. , Born in Germany in 1830, Augustus Pollack came to Wheeling in the 1850s and established the Crown Stogie Company in East Wheeling. Most known for his labor-management relations, he paid excellent wages, provided exceptional conditions, and supported the growth of unions within the community. Strikes were unknown within his company. He was called "a believer in the dignity of … toilers.", [Captions:] , ❶ A Benevolent Man , A German Jew, Augustus Pollack was a respected member of Wheeling's Jewish community. He served as Secretary of Congregation L'Shem Shomayim ("For the Sake of Heaven," better known today as Temple Shalom) from 1858-59 and as its president from 1866-68. He was also a secretary of the Hebrew Benevolent Society of Wheeling., ❷ A Fitting Memorial , Shortly after he died, the Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly created a committee tasked to build a public monument in Pollack's memory. Designed by Fred F. Faris and S. Absjornsen, the 37-feet-tall memorial cost $8,433 to construct. Six international unions, 750 local unions and 3,000 individuals contributed to the project. The monument originally stood at the northwest corner of the courthouse and was dedicated on May 28, 1916 with 10,000 people in attendance., ❸ A Monumental Undertaking , In November of 2013, local union members worked together to move the Augustus Pollack statue to Heritage Port. The Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly raised funds to relocate the statue from local and national organizations, in addition to financial and in-kind support from the Wheeling National Heritage Area and Savage Construction Company. Workers from the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers #1 and International Union of Operating Engineers #132 donated time to this effort., [Sidebar:] , Wheeling National Heritage Area , The Wheeling National Heritage Area preserves and celebrates the city's dramatic setting, resources, and history, including its role as the birthplace of the state of West Virginia during the Civil War., A National Heritage Area is a part of our country's landscape that has been recognized by the United States Congress for its unique contribution to the American experience.