1940 US Federal Census Data Old Orchard Beach
Where one member of the family was an East European immigrant
Data extracted by DMJ consultants (2020)



Namedate of birthplace of birthmarriage statusrelation to head of householdaddressoccupationindustryresidence in 1935 highest gradedays worked in prior yearincome in prior year
Fredrick Robinson1874Polandmhoh32  Bridgeport, CTHigh School, 4th year  
Herman Gerrich1886Polandmhoh5 Beach St.SelectmanGovernment High School, 1st year52 
Rebecca Goodkowsky1867PolandmwifeCleaves St.   Elementary School, 8th grade  
Joseph Goodkowsky1867PolandmhohCleaves St.Proprietor   10 
Lena Robinson1880Odessa, Russiamwife32Proprietess Miami, FLCollege, 2nd year  
Sara Usen1883Russiamhoh4 1/2 Old Orchard St.Manager  Elementary School, 8th grade18 
Jacob Sudenfeild1900RussiamhohCarl Ave.Proprietor  Elementary School, 6th grade25 
Anna Sudenfeild1905RussiamwifeCarl Ave.Manager  High school, 4th year25 
Morris Silverman1880Russiamhoh4 Kinney StLaborer  Elementary School, 8th grade14 
Rose Silverman1884Russiamwife4 Kinney StProprietess  High School, 1st year10 
Goldie Silverman1907Mainesdaughter4 Kinney St   High School, 1st year  
Bessie Millman1900Russiawhoh7 Kinney St   Elementary School, 7th grade  
Goldie Millman1919New Hampshiresdaughter7 Kinney StWaitressRestaurant High school, 4th year  
Gertrude Harrisburg1885Russiawmother5 Flint St   Elementary School, 8th grade  
Samuel Harrisburg1900Mainemhoh5 Flint StProprietor  High School, 3rd year10 
Frances Harrisburg1906Mainemwife5 Flint St   High school, 4th year  
Shirley Harrisburg1932Mainesdaughter5 Flint St   Elementary school, 2nd grade  
Robert Harrisburg1935Mainesson5 Flint St      
Dora Goldberg1884Russiawhoh8 Beach St.   High school, 1st year  
Sophia Goldstein1880Russiamwife90 East Grand Ave.Clerk  High school, 1st year30 
Ludwig Goldstein1865Russiamhoh90 East Grand Ave.Proprietor  High school, 4h year30 
Ida Goldstein1914Mainesdaughter90 East Grand Ave.   High school, 4th year  
Harry Goldstein1914Mainesson90 East Grand Ave.SalesmanBoston, MA High school, 1st year22 
Harry Fineburg1873Russiamhoh20 Staples StreetProprietor  Elementary school, 7th grade26 
Celia Fineburg1883Russiamwife20 Staples Street   Elementary school, 8th grade26 
Robert Fineburg1927Mainesgrandson20 Staples Street   Elementary school, 6th grade  
David Dopkeen1877Russiawfather in law70 East Grand Ave. Albany, NY High school, 4th year 

Methodological notes :

This data was culled from the original U.S. census manuscripts, as found on www.ancestry.com.
Jews are understood to constitute an ethnic group of Eastern and Central European origin characterized by common names and occupational pursuits, as well as a distinctive language.
This definition lends itself well to analysis of the data preserved in census records.
Two primary methods were used to identify Jews:
1. Individuals born abroad whose mother tongue is "Yiddish," "Jewish," or "Hebrew" were automatically included in the spreadsheet, as were all members of their families.
2. For individuals born abroad whose mother tongue was another Eastern or Central European language (e.g., Russian, Polish, German), or individuals born in the U.S. with one or more parents from Eastern or Central Europe, we examined surnames, given names within a household, and occupations in light of common Jewish characteristics. This method of analysis is, of course, subject to inaccuracy, as we may have excluded Jews with uncommon names or occupations or included non-Jews whose characteristics appear Jewish. Individuals listed with the annotation "nj?" in the far right-hand column are those whose Jewish ancestry is plausible but questionable.
This method of analysis easily misses Jewish households whose members' parents were all born in the United States. In 1930 Maine, however, such households were quite rare. Special efforts were made to identify households of this nature in Portland, where they constituted less than 1% of identified Jewish households.
All members of a household containing a Jew are included in the spreadsheet, with the exception of Jewish lodgers and servants, who are listed individually. Household members who are evidently not Jewish (such as non-Jewish servants and some spouses or in-laws) are listed with the annotation "nj."
Information on place of birth
Some people replied with the name of the place when they left; others replied with the name of place when the census was taken; in other cases it just seems that it was easier for the census taker to write ‘Russia’ rather than Lithuania, Ukraine or other unfamiliar country names.
And there is another reason to be skeptical of the accuracy of the place of birth information. Immigrants from the Pale had a very justified fear of the Russian and often local governments. One way to manage this reality was to tell government representatives what they expected they wanted to hear or what they thought would bring them the least trouble. This may well explain why a number of family members, who were clearly from Eastern Europe, may have answered ‘Maine’ or ‘New York’.

Last Updated : Jan 2 , 2021

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