✅ SOLVED When is it?

[CSA2K]

Found this silver match safe today. The inscription reads:
Souvenir of Fred Heimsoth Cafe 108 W 18th st. Near 6th ave. NY

I found it in the area of Sigel's I corps Army of VA in Aug 1862 so a lot of NY regiments. I cant find anything online on this Fred Heimsoth Cafe though and Id really like to date the business

The safe was water and airtight so the two stick matches that were inside are in pristine condidtion

 

[River Rat]

Wow! What an awesome find!

 

[golden sluice]

Outstanding find there...

 

[GpSnoopy]

Here's a page about some information for that address. No mention of your actual café, but there is a lot of early details missing, particularly the names of the establishment......... It does appear to have been a restaurant at least as far back as 1889. The name in the quote "Harvey's Chelsea House" is the most recent name.......

Harvey's Chelsea House opened in 1889 as a kind of dark-wooded, manly eatery that was prevalent and popular at that time. It was finely appointed. It had a 40-foot bar of red, burled, Honduras mahogany, crystal cabinetwork, a brass clock and rear cabinets of bevelled glass. I'm not sure what it was called back then—it seems to have been called the Old Chelsea Restaurant at some point—

Lost City: Remembering Harvey's Chelsea House

 

[GpSnoopy]

There is a Fred Heimsoth in the 1915 New York Census.....

 

[cambria09]

Hello CSA2K. My compliments on an outstanding find and the intact matches are a real bonus. Found many toasted lighters but still looking for my first match safe. HH C9

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

That is an awesome find.

 

[CSA2K]

Here's a page about some information for that address. No mention of your actual café, but there is a lot of early details missing, particularly the names of the establishment......... It does appear to have been a restaurant at least as far back as 1889. The name in the quote "Harvey's Chelsea House" is the most recent name.......

Yea I'm talking to a friend thats a genealogy guru. She cant place Fred Heimsoth earlier than 1889 in NYC. However he did serve in the 27th MASS. Plot thickens...

 

[Bramblefind]

That's an awesome find! I think it is circa 1880s-1890s. I don't think your Fred Heimsoth is the same as the soldier who served in the Civil War (I found a record that he died at Andersonville in 1864).

I think your Fred Heimsoth was born in 1850 and immigrated to the US from Germany in 1867. Attached is a portion of his passport application. Also attached is a excerpt from the 1886 New York City directory.

Also there is this interesting article from January 1887 from the New York Times about a fire at his home and brother's business at 1005 Sixth Ave. I think this Fred Heimsoth owned a few different properties in New York so it gets confusing trying to figure out where he was living / working. I think he died about 1895 - found a brief obit - and his wife is listed in the 1900 census as a widow.

 

[Bramblefind]

I just found this in the 1898 NY Directory where Fred's bother William is listed as having a restaurant at that address - 108 W. 18th. This would have been after Fred had died.

 

[duggap]

International Match Safe Association and Museum - Established to promote the preservation, education and study of match safes Give this group a try and see if they can give you a date range. Years ago I found one and we eventually got in touch with a site (I think it was this one), they were great and helped me date mine. Good luck and super find.

 

[CSA2K]

Thanks for the good information guys!

 

[lab rat]

Spectacular find and wonderful bit of history! And kudos to the folks putting time in to do the research!

 

[CSA2K]

International Match Safe Association and Museum - Established to promote the preservation, education and study of match safes Give this group a try and see if they can give you a date range. Years ago I found one and we eventually got in touch with a site (I think it was this one), they were great and helped me date mine. Good luck and super find.

I joined their Facebook group. We'll see what they have to say..

 

[markp]

nice find