Johnston-Weiss Family Papers, 1870s–1977
Information, Description, and Finding Aid
Collection Information
Reference: MS-JOHNSTON
Dates: 1870s–1977
Extent: 1.17 linear ft. across 2 archival boxes
Finding Aid Information
Creator(s): Steven Payne, Ph.D., Librarian and Archivist
Date created/updated: July 8, 2021; additional material added on December 10, 2021
Biography
Herman C. Weiss came to the US from Germany in 1858 and worked in his half brother Charlie’s sash and blind shop in Mount Vernon. In November 1861, he married Adeline Clary whose family came from England and re-settled in Mount Vernon in 1852. She was one of thirteen children and an identical twin of Caroline.
Herman joined the Union Army and left July 3, 1862, returning July 3, 1865.* As an immigrant, he was paid to take someone else’s place in the draft, and also earned his citizenship in the process.
Nathan Johnston, whose family probably came from Ireland and worked on the construction of the Erie Canal, originally settled in the Clinton/Utica area. Nathan and his wife Mary (née Dempster) moved to the Eastchester area to manage a fruit farm. Their son William F. Johnston married Julia, daughter of Herman and Addie Weiss, in 1888. Their eldest child was Herman Weiss Johnston, born in July 1889. They had Nathan in 1890. Twin girls were born in 1893 but died after a few days. Gertrude was born in 1896.
Both the Weiss and Johnston residences were also farms, producing sauerkraut, pickles, strawberries, and other produce. The two properties were on the Boston Post Road and Connor St. William and Julia were active in the development of the community, sponsoring Barn Dances for the Eastern Star. William helped found the volunteer Fire Department and served as School Board President during the construction of a new school.
Herman started a campaign in 1937 to extend the subway to Eastchester. He formed and was Executive Secretary of the Allied Civic Associations of Old Eastchester. He was owner and editor of and writer for the Bronx Civic Voice, which focused on this campaign and eventually succeeded through creative organizing in 1940. Herman was also a Captain in the Air Warden Service.
* Herman and Addie’s Civil War correspondence is microfilmed and stored at Columbia University Library.
Description/Scope and Content
The Johnston-Weiss family papers are divided into eight series:
1) Allied Civic Association of Old Eastchester (ACAOE), which contains documents generated by the organization, started by Herman Weiss Johnston in 1937, first to challenge the liquidation of the New York-Westchester-Boston Railroad line, then to advocate—successfully in 1940—for the extension of the New York City subway system to Dyre Avenue in the northeast Bronx.
2) Eastchester history, which includes writings on Eastchester history, particularly P.S. 15, started in 1848.
3) Herman Weiss Johnston, which comprises documents related to Herman Weiss Johnston, including the manuscript and published version of his memoir.
4) Julia Johnston, which contains documents related to Julia Johnston's death and estate.
5) Nathan Johnston and Son Pickles, which includes documents related to Nathan Johnston and the pickle and vinegar farm and factory that he started in Eastchester.
6) William F. Johnston, which primarily comprises documents related to the estate of William F. Johnston.
7) Photographs, which includes photographs of members of the Johnston and Weiss families, as well as sites around The Bronx [PH-JOHNSTON.1–75]
8) Newspapers, which includes 9 issues from 1939 of the Bronx Civic Voice, started by Herman Weiss Johnston in relation to his activities with the Allied Civic Association of Old Eastchester (Series 1 above), as well as microfilmed copies of the front page of 2 issues of the Bronx Home News from 1939.
Provenance
The Johnston-Weiss family papers were donated to the Society by descendant Peg Johnston of Binghamton, New York, on June 29, 2021.
Preferred Citation
[Item name or description,] Johnston-Weiss family papers, box _, folder _, The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
Points of Access
- Businesses (The Bronx, New York) -- Johnston Animal Barn -- Johnston family farm -- Nathan Johnston and Son Pickles
- Individuals -- Johnston, Herman Weiss -- Johnston, Julia -- Johnston, Nathan -- Johnston, William F. -- La Guardia, Fiorello -- Moses, Robert
- Neighborhoods (The Bronx, New York) -- Baychester -- Co-op City -- Eastchester
- Organizations (The Bronx, New York) -- Allied Civic Association of Old Eastchester
- Transportation -- Cross-Bronx Expressway -- Dyre Avenue Subway -- Westchester-Boston Railroad
Related Collections
- Bronx Board of Trade records. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Bronx Old Timers Association records. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Baychester Nereid Taxpayers and Civic Association records. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Dietrich Family photograph collection. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Ferris Family papers. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- R. Hoe & Co., Inc. records. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Samuel Keeler papers. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Joseph McCarrell Leiper papers. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- James J. Lyons papers. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Ira L. Zuckerman photograph collection. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
Series
| Series | Title | Box | Folders |
| 1 | Allied Civic Association of Old Eastchester (ACAOE) | 1 | 1–11 |
| 2 | Eastchester history | 1 | 12–19 |
| 3 | Johnston, Herman Weiss | 1 | 20–38 |
| 4 | Johnston, Julia | 1 | 39–40 |
| 5 | Johnston, Nathan, and Son Pickles | 1 | 41–46 |
| 6 | Johnston, William F. | 1 | 47–57 |
| 7 | Photographs [PH-JOHNSTON.1–75] | 1 | 58–64 |
| 8 | Newspapers | 2 | 1–14 |
Container List
Series 1: Allied Civic Association of Old Eastchester (ACAOE)
|
Box |
Folder |
Contents |
Date |
|
1 |
1 |
Brief on Westchester-Boston Railroad |
1939 |
|
1 |
2 |
Constitution and By-laws |
n.d. |
|
1 |
3 |
Contact cards of supporters |
n.d. |
|
1 |
4 |
Moses’ Toll Truck Highway plan |
1939 |
|
1 |
5 |
Plan to Connect Westchester-Boston Railroad with New York City Transit |
1939 |
|
1 |
6 |
Popular Fallacies Regarding the Northeast Bronx |
n.d. |
|
1 |
7 |
Property Tax Reductions |
1939 |
|
1 |
8 |
Report of Subcommittee to Receive and Report on Plans Affecting Westchester-Boston Railroad |
n.d. |
|
1 |
9 |
Sale of Westchester-Boston Railroad |
n.d. |
|
1 |
10 |
Timeline of Events |
1939 |
|
1 |
11 |
Value of Westchester-Boston Railroad |
1939 |
Series 2: Eastchester history
|
Box |
Folder |
Contents |
Date |
|
1 |
12 |
Animal barn (wild animals) |
1933 |
|
1 |
13 |
Barn Dance, Minnehaha Chapter, no. 227, Order of the Eastern Star [added December 10, 2021] |
1907–1911 |
|
1 |
14 |
Dichtung und Wahrheit, play set at Strawberry Farm, Eastchester [added December 10, 2021] |
1911 |
|
1 |
15 |
Eastchester in 1842 |
1942 |
|
1 |
16 |
Notes |
n.d. |
|
1 |
17 |
Old Red School House of Eastchester (P.S. 15) |
1942 |
|
1 |
18 |
Old Red School House of Eastchester, notes |
n.d. |
|
1 |
19 |
Old Timers of East Chester |
1942 |
Series 3: Johnston, Herman Weiss
|
Box |
Folder |
Contents |
Date |
|
1 |
20 |
Air Warden Service, information |
1941 |
|
1 |
21 |
Air Warden Service, certificates and awards |
1941–1945 |
|
1 |
22 |
Air Warden Service, history |
1943 |
|
1 |
23 |
Art and Architecture notebook (CCNY) |
1912 |
|
1 |
24 |
Birth certificate information from 1889 |
1944 |
|
1 |
25 |
Census record of 1900 |
1944 |
|
1 |
26 |
Correspondence, incoming |
1953 |
|
1 |
27 |
Death, letters of condolence |
1969 |
|
1 |
28 |
Death, obituary |
1969 |
|
1 |
29 |
Estate documents |
1969 |
|
1 |
30 |
Last will and testament |
1969 |
|
1 |
31 |
Marriage certificate |
1916 |
|
1 |
32 |
Memoir, published |
1977 |
|
1 |
33 |
Memoir, family correspondence |
n.d. |
|
1 |
34 |
Memoir, notes |
n.d. |
|
1 |
35 |
Memoir, negatives |
1976 |
|
1 |
36 |
Memoir, original drafts |
1961 |
|
1 |
37 |
Memoir, typed manuscript |
n.d. |
|
1 |
38 |
Volunteer fireman certificate |
1918 |
Series 4: Johnston, Julia
|
Box |
Folder |
Contents |
Date |
|
1 |
39 |
Estate |
1940 |
|
1 |
40 |
Obituary |
1940 |
Series 5: Johnston, Nathan, and Son Pickles
|
Box |
Folder |
Contents |
Date |
|
1 |
41 |
Estate documents |
1898 |
|
1 |
42 |
Lease |
1898 |
|
1 |
43 |
Legal documents |
1889 |
|
1 |
44 |
New York City departments documents |
1889–1894 |
|
1 |
45 |
Notes |
n.d. |
|
1 |
46 |
Taxes |
1896–1897 |
Series 6: Johnston, William F.
|
Box |
Folder |
Contents |
Date |
|
1 |
47 |
Estate, appraisal, folder 1 |
1935–1936 |
|
1 |
48 |
Estate, appraisal, folder 2 |
1935–1936 |
|
1 |
49 |
Estate, correspondence |
1934–1954 |
|
1 |
50 |
Estate, Department of Buildings |
1945–1946 |
|
1 |
51 |
Estate, Disbursements |
1934–1940 |
|
1 |
52 |
Estate, Last will and testament |
1935 |
|
1 |
53 |
Estate, miscellaneous |
1935–1936 |
|
1 |
54 |
Estate, properties |
n.d. |
|
1 |
55 |
Estate, sale of properties |
1924–1954 |
|
1 |
56 |
Estate, Taxes |
1934–1935 |
|
1 |
57 |
Marriage |
1888 |
Series 7: Photographs [PH-JOHNSTON.1–75]
|
Box |
Folder |
Contents |
Date |
|
1 |
58 |
Allied Civic Association of Old Eastchester, Celebration of Dyer Avenue Subway with Mayor LaGuardia [PH-JOHNSTON.1–4] |
1939–1940 |
|
1 |
59 |
Bronx sites (3509 Connor Street, Weiss family business, Seton Falls Park, P.S. 15) [PH-JOHNSTON.5–9] |
1906–1930s |
|
1 |
60 |
Family photographs (William F. Johnston, Julia Johnston, Herman Weiss Johnston, and others) [PH-JOHNSTON.10–22] |
1930s–1960s |
|
1 |
61 |
Framed photographs (Nathan and Mary Johnston?) [PH-JOHNSTON.23–25] |
1870s? |
|
1 |
62 |
Individual photographs (Nathan Johnston, Julia Johnston, Herman Weiss Johnston, William F. Johnston) [PH-JOHNSTON.26–41] |
n.d. |
|
1 |
63 |
Unidentified individuals, folder 1 [PH-JOHNSTON.42–64] |
1890s–1930s |
|
1 |
64 |
Unidentified individuals, folder 2 [PH-JOHNSTON.65–75] |
1980s–1930s |
Series 8: Newspapers
|
Box |
Folder |
Contents |
Date |
|
2 |
1 |
Bronx Civic Voice, vol. 1, no. 1 (2 copies) |
June 17, 1939 |
|
2 |
2 |
Bronx Civic Voice, vol. 1, no. 1 (2 copies) |
June 17, 1939 |
|
2 |
3 |
Bronx Civic Voice, vol. 1, no. 2 (2 copies) |
August 12, 1939 |
|
2 |
4 |
Bronx Civic Voice, vol. 1, no. 3 (1 copy) |
September 2, 1939 |
|
2 |
5 |
Bronx Civic Voice, vol. 1, no. 4 (1 copy) |
September 16, 1939 |
|
2 |
6 |
Bronx Civic Voice, vol. 1, no. 4 (2 copies) |
September 16, 1939 |
|
2 |
7 |
Bronx Civic Voice, vol. 1, no. 5 (1 copy) |
September 30, 1939 |
|
2 |
8 |
Bronx Civic Voice, vol. 1, no. 5 (2 copies) |
September 30, 1939 |
|
2 |
9 |
Bronx Civic Voice, vol. 1, no. 6 (1 copy) |
October 14, 1939 |
|
2 |
10 |
Bronx Civic Voice, vol. 1, no. 7 (1 copy) |
October 28, 1939 |
|
2 |
11 |
Bronx Civic Voice, vol. 1, no. 8 (1 copy) |
November 11, 1939 |
|
2 |
12 |
Bronx Civic Voice, vol. 1, no. 8 (1 copy) |
November 11, 1939 |
|
2 |
13 |
Bronx Civic Voice, vol. 1, no. 10 (1 copy) |
December 16, 1939 |
|
2 |
14 |
Bronx Home News, microfilmed copies of front page |
March 3, 1939; June 28, 1939 |