My roots in Philadelphia: a history of my family... (Penn: house, living)

[Gold]

Dear Friends,

My name is Dmitri. I live in Israel.
I have may be some unusual question to you.

The point is I do research on my family history.
In particulary I try to find trace one of my relative.

She is my granny's fathers sister. Her name is Basia(Bassie) Urin.
She immigrated from Russia to USA in 1923.
During all these 85 years our family knew nothing about her.
But a few month ago I was very lucky.

I found some document that is called "Ship Manifest" that describing her arriving in USA on a ship. According to this document she arrived in USA on 24th August, 1923. She was born in Sapezhinka village (Belorussia). Her birth year is 1898. Her first address of residence was
612 Wilder Street - Philadelphia, 19146.

May be she spent whole her life there...

I looked in the 1930 US Census to see if I could find Basia. I did find the family listed on the Ship Manifest as her Brother-in-law, Mayer Plotkin as follows (I suppose Annie would be Basia's sister if Meyer is her brother-in-law):

1930 United States Federal Census->Pennsylvania->Philadelphia->Philadelphia(District 1-250)->District 12(Wilder Street)

Plotkin Meyer, Head of Household, male, white, age 38, married at age 20, born Russia, both parents born Russia

Annie, wife, female, white, age 36, married at age 18, born Russia, both parents born Russia

Morris, son, make, white, age 16, born Pennsylvania
Birth 9 February 1914 Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Marriage 1950 (Age 36) to Alice (b. ca 1918)
Death 10 February 1990 (Age 76) ??? (not sure)

Sophie, daughter, female, white, age 14, born Pennsylvania
Birth about 1916 Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Marriage 1940 (Age approx. 24) to Al COHEN (b. ca 1915, d. bef 1978)
They are known to have had two daughters:
Susan COHEN Female
Birth 1946 -- Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mary COHEN Female
Birth 1948 -- Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Frank, son, male, white, age 12, born Pennsylvania.

It doesn't look like Basia was living with Meyer Plotkin family in 1930, so she may have already married by then. There is also a chance, as is common with many immigrants from that time period that the spelling of her name changed. I did some various searches and did not find anything at all that seemed like it could be her.

Also I know that Meyer Plotkin was a tailor. In ~1930 (at least) he owned a house on 612 Wilder Street, Philadelphia of value $4000. He worked on some factory. According to memories from my granny (she is alive), Basia were tailor - the same occupation either.

I’d like to belive there is any chance to find trace of my relatives in Philadelphia...
I did some research on the famous family history related web sites.
But I didn't find any results.

Almost all our/Basia's relatives from Sapezhinka (about 200 people including children and old people) were killed by fascist aggressors. I have found materials in archives as they perished/were killed. I know much and read much. But I could not present such horror to myself. To small children and teenagers tore backbones through a head. It was horror which never dreamed any Hollywood director. Francis Ford Coppola in many interviews speaks about importance of family, about traditions, about understanding of the 'roots'. It's very important for every person. It gives understanding to that, what for we live also who we are. And I see that the history of the Mario Puzo/Francis Ford Coppola Godfather is a children's babble in comparison with history which I research.

According to my granny's memories our family recieved some messages from Basia at ~1950-60 during 1941-45 War evacuation in USSR. Basia tried to set connection to my grand-grand-mother (granny's mother). My granny remembers that they received some letters arrived from Philadelphia.

But in 1950-60 to have relatives in USA were too dangerous for USSR
citizens. So, my relatives decided not to get back to Basia's letters.
Thus our relation was interrupted. I'd like believe not forever...

Any help/assistance on this matter would be appritiated. I thought because the number of visitors of this forum is huge, there is a chance (may be 1/10000000000000) someone from Plotkin's ancestors could read this.
It would be great...

If you know someone, in particulary of age 90+ with last name Plotkin
who lives in Philadelphia not far from Wilder Street (ZIPCODE 19146)
please forward this message.

Thanks in advance.
Best Regards,
Dmitri.
Contact e-mail: dmitrir2006 @ gmail . com

[juniperbleu]

Unfortunately, I don't know anyone you mentioned, but one thing you can try is the Red Cross. I interned there with International Social Services, where (among other things) they look for missing relatives. Many go back to World War II, especially for those who were separated by the Holocaust. It's a long shot, but they have a lot of community resources to utilize. I was thinking about putting in a request myself for my great-grandmother's family (I'm sure there has to still be some over in Ukraine).

The Philly branch is American Red Cross | Philadelphia & Southeastern Pennsylvania. I'm not sure, but I think that the original request will have to be made with your local chapter, and then they'll forward it on. Since you have a good amount of information (more so than most, believe me), it might be a bit easier.