On Saturday, Jacob Biber passed away in Florida with his sons Buck, Ben and Joe at his side. He is survived by his wife Eva. Jake had battled cancer, and it had recently returned. As many of you know, the past few months have been very difficult. At this time, funeral arrangements are incomplete, but they will take place here in CT, most likely on Monday, Nov 30. While many of you know Buck & Sonia and Josh and Melissa, most of our current campers may be unaware of Jake's story, for while you may know that he founded the Preston Trading Post, this was long after his emigration and struggles that were documented in his first book "Survivors", published in 1982. It is still available in print, and the following are excerpts from some reviews: "This is a story of man's inhumanity to man and the struggle of two people whose very survival is in itself a miracle. It is a story that needs to be told... it is a true story." "For those who were not interned in the camps, the War was no less real or devastating in its impact. Survivors brings that point home with telling force." ~Ivan Katz, New Haven Register"Survivors by Jacob Biber is the kind of book you want to read in one sitting." ~Elizabeth Lengyel, The Day, New London"Once in a while, a book arrives from a little publishing house that turns out to be a little diamond. Such a book is Survivors by Jacob Biber." ~Bill Pike, Willimantic Cronicle"Despite its tragic theme, Survivors is not a depressing book, it is an inspiring one." ~Margaret Vasington, Hartford Courant. The following comes from an early issue of The Preston Pipeline, and offers a glimpse into Jake's story (as he often contributed poetry to that publication). Preston Trading Post was started in 1974, by Jacob Biber, in the then vacant Biber Egg Farms, processing plant. Jacob, a Holocaust survivor, settled in Preston with his wife Eva, and had three sons. They settled on a dairy farm, the barn of which, later would become the original Preston Trading Post. Mr. Biber eventually converted his dairy farm to chicken farming, as this was a popular activity in Preston in the 50's and 60's. The extent of the business grew and the business was shipping eggs to large chains in New England and New York. In 1973, Jacob sold the business, but kept the property. In traditional New England style, Jacob was restive and industrious. He determined to occupy himself, and the buildings, with a small retail business, and still sell some eggs, but also sell estate furniture, antiques, collectibles, and the like. This was the Trading Post's beginnings. In 198 1, two weeks before Christmas, a terrible fire destroyed the original structure. The Bibers were undeterred. Using their existing warehouse, (a former chicken coop), they converted it to the store that stands today. His son Joe continues to operate PTP. Jake published another book titled "Risen from the Ashes" just a few years ago, and despite being 94 years old, retained his accuity. His 2nd book is described as follows: When Jacob Biber and his wife Eva escaped from the Ukraine, after a series of harrowing adventures that saw most of his family killed by the Nazis, an uncertain future awaited the refugee Jews. In the ruins of postwar Germany, Biber and his family and the other survivors were herded into temporary camps erected by the Allied soldiers, unable to return to their destroyed homes in Russia and other parts of Europe. Many would go to Israel, others would come to the United States, still others would seek South American homes. This is the moving story of what happened to the remnants of the great Jewish civilization in Europe, and how each individual began rebuilding his and her life anew.
Buck and his family have appreciated the concern that so many campers have expressed over the course of these last few months. On a personal level, I must thank Jake for playing a great part in where I am today. When the holidays roll around and you watch Jimmy Stewart's "It's a Wonderful Life", about how one life can impact so many, you sometimes forget how true that is. If you remove all the obvious ancestral ties, there are probably a few hundred people, perhaps more, who, if not for their existence, your own life would be readically different. As I began working summers at a local tomato farm, my father had recently changed jobs and after many years at Gorin's Furniture and Campo's in New London, had begun working at the Preston Trading Post selling furniture for Jake. Being a Preston native, I had recalled visiting the Post many times, and distinctly remember buying thousands of baseball cards from the "original store", and remarking that I was getting a great deal because they were selling "old" cards at current prices. When I was old enough to find a non-farming summer job, I applied to Strawberry Park, and I am sure that there was a little nepostism in helping me land work at the business run by my dad's boss's son. If not for Jacob Biber, I would not be working at Strawberry Park, would never have met Jen and had our two wonderful boys. Thank you Jacob, and in an attempt to offer the proper Yiddish blessing, "Alav hashalom". Our thoughts are with the entire Biber family.
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