From Schubin, Germany (now Szubin, Poland) - to Berlin - to Brooklyn - to Middle Island, New York and from Carl Braunhart (who changed his name to Carl Hart) - to Heinz Braunhart (who changed his name to Henry Hart) - to Herbert Hart - and from 1913 until today - almost 100 years - the one constant has been Carl Hart Bicycles. Although no longer in the family, it survives today.

Below are four photos of these bicycle shops as they changed throughout the last 97 years:

Thanks to Herbert Hart, who has recently come down with the same disease that I and a few relatives of ours have - "Scanningitis". He has provided us with the German passport of his father, Heinz Braunhart, who later changed his name to Henry Hart when he came to America.

Heinz's story goes like this - he left Germany at age 20 in 1935 for Palestine. He was joined by his mother Hedwig's half brother - Isbeth Bukofzer. Heinz immigrated to America in 1937. As stated previously, Carl came in 1939 and Hedwig in 1940; Heinz's sister Hanna never made it out.

Two of Heinz's passport pages are below:

Thanks to Herb Hart, we have the passport of his grandfather, Carl Braunhart. It is a 5 page document and we are posting here all 5 pages. Interestingly, on one page his first name is spelled with a "C" - Carl, and on another with a "K" - Karl. It is amazing that he was able to get out of Germany at that time - he arrived in New York in January, 1939. I believe that some conniving, cleverness, and luck was a contributing factor. Fortunately his wife Hedwig was able to leave a year later in early 1940. Unfortunately their daughter Hanna was captured and killed.

I have to admit that Samuel Braunhart is probably my favorite Braunhart ancestor whom I never met (that leaves out the living and close family - so I can't get in trouble with THAT statement). Anyway, Sam stood up for what he believed in and didn't take any guff from anyone - my kind of guy. With the exception of his stance on the Chinese Exclusion Act in the late 1800s, I would likely agree with most of his positions. Of course he was not alone with his feelings regarding the Chinese laborers and businessmen making and selling goods much more cheaply than their American competitors. At that time it was seen as a real threat to "American" business growth, especially in San Francisco.

In any case, Sam was feisty and didn't back down from anyone. Below is a photo of him as well as an article from "Pen Pictures of our Representative Men", written by Hugh J. Mohan, E. H. Clough, John Paul Cosgrave in 1880.

Read the article and you will see what I mean.