OPEN KITCHEN

The Levine family came to New York from Plonsk, then part of Russia, in 1890, and raised five children at 97 Orchard St. Harris Levine worked in the garment industry and set up a piecework shop in his house, so his wife, Jenny, shared her kitchen with him and his staff of pressers. Their apartment can be toured as part of the Tenement Museum’s new “kitchen talks” series. Have a look.

1. Stove:

Fired by coal, it was used for both cooking meals and for heating the pressers’ irons.

2. Big pot:

It was used for boiling water for laundry — note the washboard in the sink — and for warming water for baths.

3. Shelf:

Pots, pans, flour, condiments and candlesticks used on Sabbath were stored here.

4. Cast-iron sinks:

There wasn’t water in the tenements until 1901. Before then, Jenny hauled pails of water from a faucet in the yard. The sinks were used for laundry, washing up babies and food preparation (hopefully, not all at the same time).

5. Ironing board:

The pink fabric on it is from a dress Harris was assembling. When not in use, it was folded away to make room for a table at family mealtime.

6. Adjoining room:

Some of the family’s five children were born right here.

What you won’t see in this picture:

an ice box or refrigerator, which meant Jenny went to market at least once a day to feed her family.