File:Henry N. Werntz, Distinguished Citizen 1982 (1).jpg

Brunswick Distinguished CitizenDistinguished Citizen 1982

Henry N. Werntz (1882 – 1961) Brunswick Distinguished CitizenDistinguished Citizen 1982 Spouse: Mollie R Werntz Father: Zelicke Werntz Mother: Tsirlia Kats Children: Minnie H Birth: 15 Jan 1883 Death: 19 Jul 1961 Maryland, USA Residence: Baltimore, Maryland, USA

From Smoketown History: Merchant Himan N. (Harry) Werntz (1881-1961) in 1923.

Mr. Werntz was a leading member of the Brunswick Jewish community for several generations. During the railroad boomtown days of the 1930s and 40s, he owned and operated a grocery and dry goods store on E. Potomac St. across from the Y to the south and the Roma Inn (Later the Metropolitan Tavern and now the Potomac St. Grill) to the west. You entered the grocery store on the 1st avenue side and the general merchandise store was on Potomac Street.

Census records show that Mr. Werntz was in business as a grocer in 1910. He was listed as a general merchant in 1930.

Mr. Werntz was a founding member of the synagogue on A Street. He was not an ordained rabbi, but was a religious and ethical man, learned in Jewish law. Known as a "sochet", which qualified him to kill animals and fowl for food in the prescribed manner, he prepared Kosher food in the basement of the old synagogue. He also taught Hebrew to Jewish children. In 1959, the deed for the synagogue was transferred from Mr. Werntz to to Irv Kolker and Nat Winters.

Mr. Werntz had a reputation for generosity and during the Great Depression extended credit to railroad families as did several Brunswick merchants. A local "King of the Hill", he owned many properties from Maryland to N. Virginia Avenues and was a director of People's National Bank from its inception. He was also an occasional contributor to the Baltimore Sun and Blade Times. He lived in Brunswick during the week in the Jordan house, which he shared with his sister Mollie and brother-in-law Malachi, better known as "Mutt", and their family.

Mr. Werntz was introduced to Brunswick by the Kaplon family, which ran Brunswick's largest department store until 1965. Like many Jewish merchants of the late 19th century, the Kaplon, Werntz and Rolnick families travelled northern Virginia first on foot, then by horse drawn cart selling merchandise before opening commercial businesses in small towns in the tri-state area.

Similar to most Brunswick stores of the time, the Werntz store featured shelves stacked high, in this case with shoes, that required a trip up a ladder. Local kids were often given the chance by Mr. Werntz to climb up the ladder when their mothers weren't looking to become the "King of All He Surveyed".

(Passport photo and Werntz/Rolnick genealogy courtesy of Wilfred D. Stein, in-law of the Rolnicks and Werntzes; Other information from "Brunswick: 100 Years of Memories" by the Brunswick History Commission) From Facebook: Jacquelyn Ebersole I will never forget my mother takiing 4 children to that store to buy shoes. It was a wonderful experience. That long ladder he kept pushing back and forth to get way up to the ceiling for our shoes. And he found the right size for each of us. Dec 18, 2010 Peter Wenner : In addition to his business and position as a leader in the Brunswick Jewish community, Mr. Werntz was also a contributing writer for the Baltimore Sun and News-Post. He got Bob Grams a job as a sports cartoonist at the News-Post when Bob was fresh out of BHS. Dec 20, 2010 Owen Brown: My grandfather, Bernard Roudabousch, worked for him for some time. I've got a beautiful large wood buffet that came from his store in my home. Dec 20, 2010 John V. McMurry Sr.: My mother took me in there when I was 5 or 6 years old to buy clothes for school. Early in the morning, so we could be the first customers of the day. She said Mr.Werntz would give a discount to the first customer of the day. She then made me take off my pants to try on a couple pair of pants. I WAS embarrassed, to the point, that she couldn't get me to try clothes on in a store again. She got me two pr. of pants, two shirts and socks. And yes she did get the discount. Jan 4, 2011