Regina Margareten facts for kids

Regina Margareten (born December 20 or 25, 1863 – died January 15, 1959) was a smart business owner from Hungary who moved to America. She became famous as the "Matzoh Queen" of New York City! She came to the United States in 1883. Her family started a small business that grew into a big company called Horowitz Brothers and Margareten. This company made special Jewish foods called kosher foods. Regina was even featured in The New York Times newspaper many times. She worked at her business almost until the day she died.

Starting a Matzoh Business

Regina Margareten was born in Miskolc, Hungary. This happened on either December 20 or 25, 1863. Her parents were Jacob and Miral Chayah Horowitz. Miral was also known as Mary. When Regina was born, she had two names: Rebush and Hannah Rivka. Her father's family was connected to a famous Jewish leader named Shmelke of Nikolsburg.

In 1883, Regina moved to the United States. She was pregnant at the time. Her husband, Ignatz Margareten, and her parents came with her. They settled in New York City.

From Grocery Store to Matzoh Empire

The family wanted to keep following their Orthodox Jewish traditions. So, they opened a grocery store on the Lower East Side of New York. For their first Passover holiday in America, they made their own matzoh. Matzoh is a special flatbread eaten during Passover.

Making matzoh became very popular. Over the next few years, it became the main focus of their family business. This business was known as Horowitz Brothers and Margareten Company.

Growing the Business

The business started small, using a rented bakery in its first year. But it grew very quickly! By 1931, the company was making over a million dollars each year.

Regina was very involved in the business. She would check the matzoh many times every day to make sure it was perfect. She also suggested using wheat from three different American states. This helped make the matzoh even better. Her ideas helped the company grow and start making other kosher products too.

Regina's Leadership and Fame

When her husband died in 1923, Regina became the treasurer of the company. This meant she was in charge of the money. In the 1940s and 1950s, she would speak on local radio before Passover. She spoke in both Yiddish and English.

In 1945, the city took over their original business location. Regina then managed the opening of a much bigger factory in Long Island.

The New York Times newspaper wrote about Regina several times. They featured her on her 80th birthday in 1942, her 91st birthday in 1953, and again in December 1957. She kept visiting the factory every day. She only stopped two weeks before she passed away. Regina died on January 15, 1959, at the age of 95. In her obituary, The New York Times called her the "Matzoh Queen."

Regina's Family Life

Regina Margareten was the main leader of her large family. She owned land near Hunter Mountain in New York State. She even created a place called Margareten Park in Hunter, New York.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Regina would travel back to Hungary every year to visit her family. Once, in the 1920s, she even flew from London to Paris!

Helping Her Family and Others

In 1924, Regina invested in a coal mine in Edelény, Hungary. This helped create jobs for many of her family members who lived there.

When World War II started, things became very dangerous in Europe. Regina and her son Jacob worked together. They helped many members of their Hungarian family come safely to the United States.