Photoessay #2894 - Mr. Adler and Mr. Zunder

S o someday I will figure this out.  Max Adler and Maier Zunder were very prominent citizens of nineteenth century New Haven, both Jewish immigrants from Bavaria who separately built successful business and were heavily involved in civic activities.  A later essay I read mourned the loss of 'lay leadership' at Mishkan Israel.  I'm sure that the author referred to these two men.

They worked together on many occasions.  Max Adler was president of Mishkan Israel for years and Maier Zunder was treasurer.  Early on Maier organized a successful B'na B'rith  lodge and Max was a charter member.  They, along with another man, organized and built the Harmonie Social Club.  When you saw one man's name, you saw the other.  Raising money for the injured German soldiers or victims of persecution in Armenia, they both were there.

In 1895 and 1896 they both held leadership positions in the effort to built the magnificent Orange Street temple.

On July 13, 1895, Max Adler wrote this handwritten letter which Maier Zunder put in his scrapbook.

My dear Mr. Zunder,

It was a great source of pleasure to me to read in the New Haven papers, that the Board of Education conferred upon you the distinguished honor of having the new Georg Street

“The Zunder School”

It may well be said “honor to whom honor is due,” for you have certainly earned this mark of respect by twenty-two years of continuous work in educational field in this district.  I beg to convey to you my sincerest congratulation and feel quite sure that I voice the sentiments of your friends when I say we all rejoice that the Board of Education has so fittingly honored one of our German-American citizens.

Yours sincerely,
Max Adler

 They worked together for the Masons and Odd Fellows and the Chamber of Commerce.

So, what's the deal here?  If you've read my blog, I've mentioned it before. Maier Zunder was appointed to the Board of Education in 1868 and served for 22 years actively and effectively.  He was known nationally as an education expert.  He served as President of the Board and chair of important committees. 

In 1889, who runs against him?  Max Adler!  With a nasty ad hominem campaign based on a trumped up issue of "Free Textbooks".  This slate of candidates publicly labeled Maier as "anti free textbooks."  Maier replied that he certainly felt that text books should be provided for families who had trouble paying for them.  He pointed out that the budget was very tight and the district could not pay for free textbooks without raising taxes.  Large public meetings occurred with Adler leading the "Free Textbook slate"campaigning against the old guard.  Many sessions of men shouting at each other.  At the election, the Free Textbook won, humiliating the loser Maier Zunder.  For the rest of his life, Maier continued to attend the meetings and contribute his expertise.

Max Adler resigned after one year publicly unhappy about his committee assignment, leaving the seat open.  The Board offered it to Maier Zunder but he refused it.

So what was all that about?  What was Max Adler doing disrupting Maier's successful tenure on the Board of Education?

And they soon went back to their old partnership working for the good of the community.  Check out the letter plus they worked on other issues.

I don't know if the new Board was able to provide free textbooks.....

I find myself grieving for Maier's loss; wishing it hadn't happened. But, somehow it did.