Skip to main content

Historic Columbia is closed on Thursday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.

Menu Close Menu

Historic Columbia

Donate
  • FAQs
Upcoming Events

Navigation

  • Tours
    • House Tours
      • Robert Mills House and Gardens
      • Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens
      • Mann-Simons Site
      • The Museum of the Reconstruction Era
      • Modjeska Monteith Simkins House
      • Hours and Pricing
    • Garden Tours
      • Garden Database
    • Offsite Tours
      • Walking Tours
    • African American History Tours
    • Online Tours
  • Education
    • Field Trips
      • House Tours
    • Traveling Trunks
  • Support
    • Corporate Support
      • Additional Support Opportunities
      • Corporate Membership
      • Program & Event Sponsorship Options
    • Donate
    • Membership
      • Palladium
    • Volunteer
    • Partners and Donors
  • Rent a Venue
    • Gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion
    • Seibels House and Garden
    • Robert Mills Carriage House and Gardens
    • Gardens of the Woodrow Wilson Family Home
    • Weddings
    • Photoshoots
    • Contact Us
  • Research
    • Object Collection
    • Projects and Initiatives
  • Preservation
    • Preservation Awards
    • Preservation Advocacy
    • Resources and Services
    • Economic Impact Study
    • Building Richland County
  • About
    • Blog
    • Board Members
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Gift Shop at Robert Mills
      • Online Store
    • Newsletter
    • Staff Directory

Donate

  1. Home
  2. Online Tours
  3. Columbia's Jewish Heritage Sites
  4. 925 Gervais Street

925 Gervais Street

Site of Max Aberman's Dry Goods Store

Max Aberman (1881-1919) operated a dry goods retail business in this building from 1915 until his death in 1919. His wife, Celia Aberman (1888-1944), continued to operate the business for another year with the help of his brother, Gustave Gergel (1898-1927). According to Max’s niece, Shirley Gergel Ness (b. 1928), Max was the first of four brothers who immigrated to the United States from Alexandrovka, Russia:

“…the oldest brother, by the name of Max Aberman. He took the name of Aberman, which was his wife’s maiden name because he did not want to be drafted into the Russian army. They came over much earlier. They came sometime in the early 1900s.”

  • 925 Gervais Street

    925 Gervais Street, 2017. Historic Columbia collection

  • Gergel family

    Members of the Gergel family at Seder dinner, circa 1932. Image courtesy Beverly Barnett

Max immigrated in 1904 and settled in Columbia in 1908. His wife, Celia, and daughter, Olga, arrived from Russia in 1909. In the 1910 United States Census, he is listed as a “traveling salesman – dry goods,” indicating that he was likely a peddler for another established merchant. His brother, Isidore Gergel (1892 – 1963), immigrated in 1913, and two more brothers, Joseph Gergel (1890 – 1976) and Gustave Gergel (1898 – 1927), arrived the following year. All three brothers worked as clerks or peddlers at Max’s store off and on until he died of influenza in early 1919.

Shirley Gergel Ness describes her father’s work as a peddler. Joseph Gergel worked for his brother Max’s store for several years after his arrival in 1914.

Directions:

    Previous1225 Huger Street

    Next1012-1014 Lady Street

    NTHP Preservation Award Winner
    Historic Columbia

    © 2025 Historic Columbia

    Administrative Offices
    1601 Richland Street
    Columbia, SC 29201

    Tours
    All historic house and garden tours start at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills.
    1616 Blanding Street
    Columbia, SC 29201

    Questions? Call (803) 252-7742.

    Newsletter Signup

    newsletter signup

    Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for events, news, and updates from Historic Columbia!

    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Flickr
    • Privacy Policy
    Website by Cyberwoven