Founder of Central Iron & Metal, industry pioneer Morris Blyveis dies
Morris Blyveis, 93, of 1028 W. Highland Blvd., founder of Central Iron & Metal Co. Inc. and a pioneer in the scrap metal business in Michigan, died Tuesday in Lakeview General Hospital, where he had been a patient one day. He was born in Zaslow, Poland, Dec. 25. 1884, when the city was under Russian rule. The family later moved to Konstantyn, Russia, where Morris learned the trade of tinsmithing. He later worked for two years on a dairy farm and then returned to work as a tinsmith before coming to the United States in 1907 to join his brothers, who had left Russia earlier. When he arrived in New York City, he had 25 cents in his pocket and was cheated out of the money by a pie vendor minutes before leaving the boat. He was taken in by a Jewish society and boarded there for two days before his brothers learned of his arrival and sent funds for him to travel to their new home in Massachusetts. The brothers later moved to Battle Creek with an auto light firm which located here and left Morris behind. He later moved to Detroit, where he was employed by the Fisher Body Co. Because of his knowledge of metals, friends encouraged him to come to Battle Creek and start a scrap business. He quit his job at the auto body company and moved to Battle Creek in 1914 with $100 in savings. He soon found that he didn't have enough capital to purchase scrap metal, and his Detroit friends sent him $500 to aid the business. He was joined by two of his brothers as partners. They operated a successful business until the stock market crash of 1929, when the business was dissolved. After the crash and the Depression, he borrowed $700 from the old City Bank and restarted the scrap business, this time as the sole owner at a location on Fountain Street. At first the business consisted mainly of purchasing materials from homes and farms. It now purchases from major industries. The firm is one of the largest producers of plate scrap in the state and sells steel and non-ferrous metals to foundries and smelters through brokers. The firm moved to 75 N. 14th St. in 1950, and with additional land purchases, now encompasses more than 20 acres. It includes many large pieces of specialized metal recycling machinery. The firm was sold to Blyveis' sons, Ben and Sam, in the 1950's. Sam Blyveis died in 1972, and the firm was later sold by Ben Blyveis to his brother's sons, Ronald and Alan Blyveis, who now are the third generation of the family to head the firm. Morris Blyveis continued as an adviser in the firm until his death. He was a charter member of the Half-Century Club of the Institute of Scrap Iron and Steel and was the recognized as only the second member of the state institute to start a scrap iron business in Michigan. He was an honorary life member of Temple Beth El and was active in organizing the temple. He also was a member of B'nai B'rith, a life member of Elks Lodge 131 and a member of the Knights of Pythias. He was preceded in death by two wives, the former Ida Spiel in 1944, and the former Ida Tucker in 1961. Surviving are his son, Ben of 140 Brewer Drive; daughters, Mrs. Martin (Doris) Spector of Prairie Village, Kan., and Mrs. Richard (Rose) Goodhart of Sedalia, Mo.; eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Shaw Funeral Home. Battle Creek Enquirer 31 May 1978 page 8
Morris Blyveis, 93, of 1028 W. Highland Blvd., founder of Central Iron & Metal Co. Inc. and a pioneer in the scrap metal business in Michigan, died Tuesday in Lakeview General Hospital, where he had been a patient one day. He was born in Zaslow, Poland, Dec. 25. 1884, when the city was under Russian rule. The family later moved to Konstantyn, Russia, where Morris learned the trade of tinsmithing. He later worked for two years on a dairy farm and then returned to work as a tinsmith before coming to the United States in 1907 to join his brothers, who had left Russia earlier. When he arrived in New York City, he had 25 cents in his pocket and was cheated out of the money by a pie vendor minutes before leaving the boat. He was taken in by a Jewish society and boarded there for two days before his brothers learned of his arrival and sent funds for him to travel to their new home in Massachusetts. The brothers later moved to Battle Creek with an auto light firm which located here and left Morris behind. He later moved to Detroit, where he was employed by the Fisher Body Co. Because of his knowledge of metals, friends encouraged him to come to Battle Creek and start a scrap business. He quit his job at the auto body company and moved to Battle Creek in 1914 with $100 in savings. He soon found that he didn't have enough capital to purchase scrap metal, and his Detroit friends sent him $500 to aid the business. He was joined by two of his brothers as partners. They operated a successful business until the stock market crash of 1929, when the business was dissolved. After the crash and the Depression, he borrowed $700 from the old City Bank and restarted the scrap business, this time as the sole owner at a location on Fountain Street. At first the business consisted mainly of purchasing materials from homes and farms. It now purchases from major industries. The firm is one of the largest producers of plate scrap in the state and sells steel and non-ferrous metals to foundries and smelters through brokers. The firm moved to 75 N. 14th St. in 1950, and with additional land purchases, now encompasses more than 20 acres. It includes many large pieces of specialized metal recycling machinery. The firm was sold to Blyveis' sons, Ben and Sam, in the 1950's. Sam Blyveis died in 1972, and the firm was later sold by Ben Blyveis to his brother's sons, Ronald and Alan Blyveis, who now are the third generation of the family to head the firm. Morris Blyveis continued as an adviser in the firm until his death. He was a charter member of the Half-Century Club of the Institute of Scrap Iron and Steel and was the recognized as only the second member of the state institute to start a scrap iron business in Michigan. He was an honorary life member of Temple Beth El and was active in organizing the temple. He also was a member of B'nai B'rith, a life member of Elks Lodge 131 and a member of the Knights of Pythias. He was preceded in death by two wives, the former Ida Spiel in 1944, and the former Ida Tucker in 1961. Surviving are his son, Ben of 140 Brewer Drive; daughters, Mrs. Martin (Doris) Spector of Prairie Village, Kan., and Mrs. Richard (Rose) Goodhart of Sedalia, Mo.; eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Shaw Funeral Home. Battle Creek Enquirer 31 May 1978 page 8
Founder of Central Iron & Metal, industry pioneer Morris Blyveis dies
Morris Blyveis, 93, of 1028 W. Highland Blvd., founder of Central Iron & Metal Co. Inc. and a pioneer in the scrap metal business in Michigan, died Tuesday in Lakeview General Hospital, where he had been a patient one day. He was born in Zaslow, Poland, Dec. 25. 1884, when the city was under Russian rule. The family later moved to Konstantyn, Russia, where Morris learned the trade of tinsmithing. He later worked for two years on a dairy farm and then returned to work as a tinsmith before coming to the United States in 1907 to join his brothers, who had left Russia earlier. When he arrived in New York City, he had 25 cents in his pocket and was cheated out of the money by a pie vendor minutes before leaving the boat. He was taken in by a Jewish society and boarded there for two days before his brothers learned of his arrival and sent funds for him to travel to their new home in Massachusetts. The brothers later moved to Battle Creek with an auto light firm which located here and left Morris behind. He later moved to Detroit, where he was employed by the Fisher Body Co. Because of his knowledge of metals, friends encouraged him to come to Battle Creek and start a scrap business. He quit his job at the auto body company and moved to Battle Creek in 1914 with $100 in savings. He soon found that he didn't have enough capital to purchase scrap metal, and his Detroit friends sent him $500 to aid the business. He was joined by two of his brothers as partners. They operated a successful business until the stock market crash of 1929, when the business was dissolved. After the crash and the Depression, he borrowed $700 from the old City Bank and restarted the scrap business, this time as the sole owner at a location on Fountain Street. At first the business consisted mainly of purchasing materials from homes and farms. It now purchases from major industries. The firm is one of the largest producers of plate scrap in the state and sells steel and non-ferrous metals to foundries and smelters through brokers. The firm moved to 75 N. 14th St. in 1950, and with additional land purchases, now encompasses more than 20 acres. It includes many large pieces of specialized metal recycling machinery. The firm was sold to Blyveis' sons, Ben and Sam, in the 1950's. Sam Blyveis died in 1972, and the firm was later sold by Ben Blyveis to his brother's sons, Ronald and Alan Blyveis, who now are the third generation of the family to head the firm. Morris Blyveis continued as an adviser in the firm until his death. He was a charter member of the Half-Century Club of the Institute of Scrap Iron and Steel and was the recognized as only the second member of the state institute to start a scrap iron business in Michigan. He was an honorary life member of Temple Beth El and was active in organizing the temple. He also was a member of B'nai B'rith, a life member of Elks Lodge 131 and a member of the Knights of Pythias. He was preceded in death by two wives, the former Ida Spiel in 1944, and the former Ida Tucker in 1961. Surviving are his son, Ben of 140 Brewer Drive; daughters, Mrs. Martin (Doris) Spector of Prairie Village, Kan., and Mrs. Richard (Rose) Goodhart of Sedalia, Mo.; eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Shaw Funeral Home. Battle Creek Enquirer 31 May 1978 page 8
Morris Blyveis, 93, of 1028 W. Highland Blvd., founder of Central Iron & Metal Co. Inc. and a pioneer in the scrap metal business in Michigan, died Tuesday in Lakeview General Hospital, where he had been a patient one day. He was born in Zaslow, Poland, Dec. 25. 1884, when the city was under Russian rule. The family later moved to Konstantyn, Russia, where Morris learned the trade of tinsmithing. He later worked for two years on a dairy farm and then returned to work as a tinsmith before coming to the United States in 1907 to join his brothers, who had left Russia earlier. When he arrived in New York City, he had 25 cents in his pocket and was cheated out of the money by a pie vendor minutes before leaving the boat. He was taken in by a Jewish society and boarded there for two days before his brothers learned of his arrival and sent funds for him to travel to their new home in Massachusetts. The brothers later moved to Battle Creek with an auto light firm which located here and left Morris behind. He later moved to Detroit, where he was employed by the Fisher Body Co. Because of his knowledge of metals, friends encouraged him to come to Battle Creek and start a scrap business. He quit his job at the auto body company and moved to Battle Creek in 1914 with $100 in savings. He soon found that he didn't have enough capital to purchase scrap metal, and his Detroit friends sent him $500 to aid the business. He was joined by two of his brothers as partners. They operated a successful business until the stock market crash of 1929, when the business was dissolved. After the crash and the Depression, he borrowed $700 from the old City Bank and restarted the scrap business, this time as the sole owner at a location on Fountain Street. At first the business consisted mainly of purchasing materials from homes and farms. It now purchases from major industries. The firm is one of the largest producers of plate scrap in the state and sells steel and non-ferrous metals to foundries and smelters through brokers. The firm moved to 75 N. 14th St. in 1950, and with additional land purchases, now encompasses more than 20 acres. It includes many large pieces of specialized metal recycling machinery. The firm was sold to Blyveis' sons, Ben and Sam, in the 1950's. Sam Blyveis died in 1972, and the firm was later sold by Ben Blyveis to his brother's sons, Ronald and Alan Blyveis, who now are the third generation of the family to head the firm. Morris Blyveis continued as an adviser in the firm until his death. He was a charter member of the Half-Century Club of the Institute of Scrap Iron and Steel and was the recognized as only the second member of the state institute to start a scrap iron business in Michigan. He was an honorary life member of Temple Beth El and was active in organizing the temple. He also was a member of B'nai B'rith, a life member of Elks Lodge 131 and a member of the Knights of Pythias. He was preceded in death by two wives, the former Ida Spiel in 1944, and the former Ida Tucker in 1961. Surviving are his son, Ben of 140 Brewer Drive; daughters, Mrs. Martin (Doris) Spector of Prairie Village, Kan., and Mrs. Richard (Rose) Goodhart of Sedalia, Mo.; eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Shaw Funeral Home. Battle Creek Enquirer 31 May 1978 page 8
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