Harry Freedman

In 1905, Harry Freedman and his family fled their home country Crimea due to mass political and civil unrest caused by the Russian Revolution to seek a new beginning within the United States of America. Upon arriving in New York, Freedman secured as job as a tailor, before moving to Lafayette, Indiana to live among a nearby Crimean family who moved into the area. In Lafayette, Freedman established a clothing store, which he operated for 14 years before moving to Crawfordsville in 1921 with his wife Sophia (Feinstein) Freedman. He began his local legacy in Crawfordsville, as Freedman established himself as a prominent local businessmen and civic leader. As unemployment swept the local community due to the Great Depression (1929-1939), Freedman and other local leaders established the Community Chest, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing aid to people in need and creating jobs for the unemployed. As unemployment swept the local community during the Great Depression (1929–1939), Freedman and other local leaders established the Community Chest, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing aid to those in need and creating jobs for the unemployed. Freedman continued to serve his local community until he passed away in 1970, in Chicago, Illinois. Freedman left behind a continued legacy of civic leadership, as his beloved Community Chest continues to impact lives within the Crawfordsville community.