Henrietta : Hood's Devoted Friend

 AUTHOR'S NOTE: The following "Story in Stone" was researched and written by Hood College senior Genesis Kapp as part of her internship with us here at Mount Olivet Cemetery (spring semester 2025).

Having the great honor of placing flowers on the grave of a person you do not know, or have never met, is quite amazing. This individual died 27 years before I was even born. She wasn't a relative, or family friend. I hadn't even heard her full name until a few months ago. That  name is Henrietta Rosenstock.

I know it may sound insane, but I feel as if I now know this person. Not directly, as most people would think, but through intensive research over several weeks, including interviewing a few people in our local community that did know her. More than anything, I feel a connection to this woman through my college experience.  I am a senior at Hood College and will be graduating next month. Henrietta was vested in my school and the education of my classmates, along with those before me, and those that will come after.

It's April 18th, a vibrant, spring day. It also happens to be the death date of my subject. If she were still living, she would be 128 years old. Having an internship at Mount Olivet Cemetery this semester, I learned that Henrietta's grave site has been the recipient of a gorgeous bouquet of flowers on this date, each year since she passed in 1975. Her loving husband, Sam, had set up this endowment with the cemetery at that time.

​When learning of my desire to write this "Story in Stone" about Henrietta, the cemetery superintendent, Ron Pearcey, and my internship coordinator, Chris Haugh, entrusted me with the task of placing these flowers on this important day.

​In the following short blog here, I'd like to introduce you to Henrietta, if you didn't know anything about her already. She was a great woman, the kind that Hood College hopes to produce in alumnae of the institution. The school mission reads: "Through an integration of the liberal arts and the professions, Hood College provides an education that empowers students to use their hearts, minds and hands to meet personal, professional and global challenges and to lead purposeful lives of responsibility, leadership, service and civic engagement." Although she never attended this institution as a student, Henrietta embodied this mantra throughout her life.

​Henrietta Spaget Kaufman was born May 7th, 1896 in Tarboro, Edgecombe County, North Carolina.  This small community near Rocky Mount was founded in 1760 by British colonists. Henrietta came from Polish-Jewish immigrant grandparents, and her family started a small, but booming dry goods business in Tarboro. This childhood experience helped give her a firm business knowledge, along with a sense of community service for later in life. She would assist her husband with a successful career in running fruit and vegetable canning-establishments here in Frederick, Thurmont and Florida. 
 
Henrietta was the daughter of Michael D. Kaufman (1870-1932) and Pearl Morris (1871-1963). Her father was a native of Norfolk, Virginia, the son of retail clothing merchant Jacob Kaufman (1845-1912) from Poland, and Henrietta Spaget (1847-1889) of Prussia. Our subject's mother (Pearl) met Michael in  Tarboro in the early 1890s presumably, and married in 1894. Their first born child died in infancy, followed by Henrietta who would be born next in 1896. Two additional children would grow the family in the form of Henry Morris Kaufman (1897-1975) and Michael David Kaufman, Jr. (1907-2007). Michael Kaufman would own a clothing store in Tarboro as well. One of his ads from 1903 proclaimed that he had just returned from New York with new merchandise. Indeed, Jewish-owned stores were often perceived as being more cosmopolitan and having more fashionable merchandise.

1907 dated postcard showing Tarboro, NC's Main Street

(Wilmington, NC) Semi-Weekly Messenger (Jan 18, 1894)

Tarboro's B'nai Israel Synagogue

Michael Kaufman family living in Tarboro in the 1900 US Census

Originally born in Richmond, (VA), Pearl (Morris) Kaufman (Henrietta's mother) had moved to Tarboro at an early age. The oldest of six children, she was educated at Mrs. William Dorsey Pender's Seminary in Tarboro and Women's College in Richmond, VA. Pearl's father, Henry Morris, was not only an exceptional businessman, but a local leader in the civic and political realm as he served as Tarboro's mayor.

1880s view of Tarboro's Main street with the H. Morris & Bros. Dry Goods Store in center of photograph as a neighboring hotel burns.

​The Find-a-Grave memorial page on Find-a-Grave.com gives an interesting biography of Henrietta's grandfather Morris and how he came to America, and Tarboro:
 
"Henry Morris was born in England, the eldest son of 5 children born to Jewish immigrants Aaron W. Morris (1818-1887, born Poland) and wife Sarah (c.1817-1893, b. Germany). The family immigrated to America, where Aaron Morris established himself as a clothier in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Co, NY. By 1870, the family had removed to Richmond, VA and re-established a store there, where a thriving Jewish community was established.
 
In 1869, 29-year old Henry married 18-year old Sarah Lichtenstein (1851-1929) of Richmond, daughter of Polish-Prussian Jewish immigrant, Simon Lichtenstein & his German wife, Rebecca Schultz. (Sarah Liechtenstein was older sister to David Lichtenstein (who married Hannah Zander) and also removed to Tarboro where he rose to great prominence and success.)
 
Within the year, Henry & Sarah, along with his younger brother William Meyer Morris, had removed to Tarboro, NC and established MORRIS BROS. STORE on the 400 block of Main Street, selling ready-to-wear clothing and shoes. The brothers later partnered with brother-in-law, David Lichtenstein, and had stores in Tarboro, Greenville, and Washington."

H. Morris & Bros. storefront in Tarboro, NC in the 1880s

Henry Morris obituary in the Tarboro, NC newspaper (May 13, 1887)

​At age 11, Henrietta moved to Norfolk in 1907 as her father opened a retail business back in his hometown. The 1910 Census shows him working as a salesman at a clothing store.

Virginian Pilot (Nov 7, 1909)

Norfolk's Maury High School, under construction in 1910

Kaufman family in Norfolk, VA living on Olney Rd in 1910 US Census

​​The Kaufman family lived in the Warwick Apartments and Mr. Kaufman was working as a clerk at the Old Dominion Paper Company in 1915-1916. Henrietta's name appears in the Ledger-Star newspaper of June 14th, 1916 as part of the graduating class of Matthew Fontaine Maury High School in Norfolk In 1916. She appears to have gotten her certificate in Commercial Arts. ​​Later that same year of 1916, the Kaufmans would move from Norfolk, VA to Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Their specific destination was Brookline, Massachusetts, a southwest suburb of Boston.​

Ledger-Star (June 14, 1916)

According to later Brookline City Directories, the Kaufman family took up residence at 26 Claflin Road. A brief mention in a Boston area newspaper of the time points to the possibility that Henrietta worked as a saleslady in a local dress shop. Regardless, it would be a turbulent time for the country as troubles had been brewing in Europe since 1914. In April, 1917, the United States officially joined our allies in "the Great War" against Germany, also known as World War I. In July, 1918, Henrietta would enlist in the military. Perhaps the naval influence of Norfolk, Virginia stayed with our subject and provided the inspiration to serve her country. She enlisted on July 23rd in the US Navy and initially held the rank of yeoman (f), but eventually served as one of only eight women chief petty officers during the first World War.
 
The Yeoman Corps of women in World War I primarily held secretarial and administrative duties. A Chief Petty Officer would expand on these duties, and recipients of this rank were held responsible for training  junior officers and leading yeoman divisions and other petty officers.

Boston Globe (July 25, 1918)

​Henrietta would be discharged in April, 1919. The Brookline Directory shows her living with her parents in 1919 and 1922. In the 1920 US Census, Henrietta's occupation is listed as secretary in the investment field. 

1920 US Census showing Kaufman family in Brookline, MA

Henrietta's employment is shown on the third line down on this extension of the 1920 US Census record

26 Claflin Street (left side of stairs) served as home to the Kaufman family in Brookline, MA

I had the opportunity to interview Jenny Morgan, a great niece of Henrietta who lives here in Frederick County. Jenny's grandfather was Henrietta's youngest brother, Michael Kaufman, Jr. Of her Aunt Henrietta, Jenny said:

"She was a determined woman all of her life. After her military duty, she went to New York City and went to work on Wall Street as a secretary/market analysist. Brother Michael would eventually work as a stock broker in New York beginning in the 1930s, and would go on to have a seat on the New York Stock Exchange."

It is not known how Henrietta received her job but it has been conjectured that perhaps a relative or family friend may have assisted her in gaining this job on Wall Street since it was very uncommon to see women working for the stock market during this time. It could also have come as a result from a contact from her US Naval days as well. This was an amazing opportunity for Henrietta, one that would have implications for the rest of her life.

Female employees read the ticker-tape at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in the early 1920s.

The New York Stock Exchange of the mid-late 1920s.

Passport picture of Sam Rosenstock from 1925

​During this time in New York is when it is thought that Henrietta Kaufman met her future husband, possibly around 1926-1927. His name was Samuel Rosenstock, a Baltimore native who had been living in Frederick with relatives for many years. It has been found that "Sam" had worked in the stock market business as a "runner" for a Baltimore bank investment company, but the time of this employment is not exactly known. 

Sam Rosenstock has a "storied" history as well that Chris (Haugh) plans to write as another one of these "Stories in Stone" in the near future. Sam came to Frederick to live with his uncles who operated a canning plant here. This is where Sam got his earliest employment and training for the future in an industry that brought him great wealth over his lifetime. 

Perhaps Henrietta and Sam simply met while Sam was visiting New York City for business or pleasure purposes. Records on Ancestry.com show that Mr. Rosenstock made a few trips to Europe at this time, leaving out of New York. Maybe he could have met her at this time or upon revisiting Wall Street as his short career as a runner more likely would have occurred a decade earlier.

Whatever the case may be, Henrietta married Sam in early 1928, and Sam brought his bride back to Frederick to help him run his canning empire. 

---

Frederick Post (March 6, 1928)

Photo of Henrietta from 1928 before she married

Frederick News (March 24, 1928)

​After the couple married, they eventually returned to Frederick as Mr. Rosenstock owned canning establishments in Frederick and Thurmont. He was a mover and shaker in the community through civic work as well and quickly got Henrietta involved in this arena, along with his business endeavors. In the 1930s, Henrietta served as Recording Secretary for the Frederick City Hospital Board of Directors. 

In 1932, Henrietta's father died. Her parents had been living Raleigh, North Carolina since 1929. This death precipitated in Pearl Morris moving to Frederick to live with Henrietta and Sam at the fine home called "Rosehaven" they had built along the Old National Pike (MD144) on the eastern side of Jug Bridge. The large parcel of land on the east side of the Monocacy River is still referred to by some as the old Rosenstock Farm and stretched northward to once include today's Clustered Spires Golf Course. This is the vicinity of today's Spring Ridge, and the Rosenstock's large home has been recently revealed from tree cover, for all to see, thanks to construction of a housing development.

The Rosenstocks former Frederick Home of "Rose Haven" in the vicinity of Old Jug Bridge on the east side of the Monocacy River

1940 US Census showing Pearl Morris living with Sam and Henrietta in Frederick. Note another resident in the household, Thomas Schleines, a 15-year-old ward of the state.

In the 1940 Census, we see that the Rosenstocks had a teenager named Thomas Schleines living in their household. Nothing more could be found about him. Henrietta and Sam never had any children of their own, though both loved children and giving back to the children of the community. 

​The canning businesses in Frederick County continued to flourish through the Depression era and into the 1940s. The couple would build a large string-bean canning plant in 1941, and opened this large scale facility in Belle Glade Florida in 1943. This  facility was located west of Palm Beach, Florida where the Rosenstocks spent winters at "The Breakers."

"The Breakers," Palm Beach, FL was the winter home of the Rosenstocks

The Rosenstocks had an active social life, traveling, hosting parties and recreating with friends. Known relationships of note included All Saints Episcopal Church's Rev. Maurice Ashbury and wife Frances, and Hood College president Andrew G. Truxall and wife Leah. 

Rosenstocks and Ashburys

Andrew G. Truxal served as Hood College's second president from 1948-1961. He is buried in Frederick's Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Sam sold his Frederick plant to the Jenkins Brothers in 1946, along with his other operations. He had accomplished what he set out to do  in this industry and, now in retirement, he and Henrietta could dedicate their lives to philanthropy and community service. Both of them were very ambitious and wanted to make Frederick a better place than they found it. Two such groups that Henrietta was active in were the Kiwanis Club of Frederick and the Salvation Army's Women's Auxilary. 
 
One of the more surprising activities that the couple became involved in was assisting different churches in Frederick County. One such was a proposed Baptist Church Center in Walkersville in which they pledged money for a chapel building.

Frederick Post (Aug 29, 1966)

​​Growing up, Henrietta's family were devout members of the Jewish faith and traditions. Interestingly, upon reaching Frederick, she would eventually become a member of the Catholic Church. Talking to her niece, I found out more about this,. Although Henrietta, herself, still identified as Jewish, she would convert to Catholicism and the teachings of the Catholic Church. She continued to practice in this faith tradition for the rest of her life, and many others in her family would follow her lead, including Sylvia (Kaufman) Cable, Henrietta’s niece (Jenny Morgan's mother).

Interior of Henrietta's St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Frederick, MD

​The Rosenstocks owned a great deal of property tracts around Frederick. In the 1950s through 1970s, they would sell some of these parcels and donate the money to Hood College—​ the origins of an irrevocable trust and endowment. This was somewhat influenced by Sam's longtime service on the Board of Trustees for the local college, along with having an intimate friendship with President and Mrs. Truxal.

Frederick News (June 29, 1951)

This generous practice of giving would lead to a major structure to be built on campus in the late 1960s.  Rosenstock Hall would be constructed and named on Sam and Henrietta's behalf thanks to their authentic and financial dedication to the college. The cornerstone would be laid in October, 1969. 

Proposed design of Rosenstock Hall

Frederick News (Oct 4, 1969)

The official dedication of Rosenstock Hall would occur on September 4th, 1970.  Henrietta would even go on to have a special Library Fund in her name, the Henrietta Kaufman Rosenstock Library Fund.

Frederick News (Sept. 5, 1970)

Dedication Day of Rosenstock Hall in early October, 1970 with Sam and Henrietta pictured in center.

Frederick Post (Oct 3, 1970)

Rosenstock Hall on the Hood College campus today

The plaque placed on Rosenstock Hall back in 1970 still states the fact that Henrietta and Sam were "Devoted Friends of Hood College."

This portrait by artist Rembski was donated to the college in 1981 from the Rosenstock estate.

​Henrietta passed in spring,  1975. Looking through obituary-related articles and tributes, all I could find was that she died of "a lengthy illness." Upon the interview with Jenny Morgan, it was revealed that her decline in health was due to liver cancer. 

Henrietta's niece shared that the Rosenstocks cut short their "wintering in Florida" in early1975. They returned  from Palm Beach  shortly after Christmas. Henrietta went into Frederick Memorial Hospital soonafter. A few months later, she would die on April 18th, 1975. From what Jenny was able to share with me, Henrietta and Sam likely knew about her terminal condition for a while, but things took an a more accelerated turn after the couple returned to Frederick. Henrietta's death made front page news in her adopted hometown of Frederick​—a town more beloved by her than Tarboro, Norfolk, Brookline and New York City.

Frederick News (April 19, 1975)

A powerful editorial would appear in the Frederick paper on the day of Henrietta Rosenstock's funeral. It would praise her accomplishments from business to volunteer and philanthropic. She certainly helped make Frederick a better place.

Frederick Post (April 21, 1975)

Henrietta would be buried in the Rosenstock family plot (Area EE/Lot1) next to her mother who had passed in June of 1963. As a side note, Pearl Morris Kaufman was the first patient of Vindabona Nursing home of Braddock Heights, which opened as such in 1954.  As can be imagined, Henrietta's funeral was well-attended and officiated over by the archbishop of the Catholic Church of Atlanta, Georgia. The couple had earlier bought plots in Mount Olivet because Sam refused to be buried in a Catholic Church cemetery like St. Johns in downtown Frederick. Mount Olivet was non-denominational, and Sam thought this would be the perfect place for Pearl, and later themselves when their time would come. 

Frederick News (April 22, 1975)

​Sam Rosenstock only had to experience five anniversaries of his beloved wife's death. He would die on March 20th, 1981 at the age of 95. Before he left us, he met with Mount Olivet's superintendent, Ron Pearcey, to set up an endowment to place flowers on Henrietta's grave on her birth and death dates, and also on the major Catholic holidays of Christmas and Easter. I received the chance to place a beautiful assortment of daisies and carnations on April 18th, next to daffodils that had been placed in advance of Easter.

Not only did Henrietta make Frederick a better place as stated a moment ago, but she and her husband certainly made Hood College a better place. As I conclude my collegiate experience here on Hood's Campus, I have a personal attachment to this outstanding woman of Frederick's past whose everlasting legacy will continue to be felt by students just like me into the future. Thank you Henrietta.

Special thanks to Jenny Morgan, historian John Ashbury and Hood College archivist Mary Atwell for their assistance with this article.