B. Berman

Bernhardt “Barnette” Berman (1850-1922) was born in Poland and immigrated to the United States in 1868. After spending two years in New York, Barnette moved to Columbia, South Carolina, at the suggestion of Barrett Visanska (1848-1932), a local jeweler and family friend from Suwałki, Poland. Around 1870, Barnette opened a clothing store in his own name at 1631 Main Street where he sold fine jewelry, watches, cigarette cases, and vanity boxes, in addition to clothes. In 1873, he married Rosa Fannie David (1850-1893), a fellow Polish immigrant, and started a family. After more than thirty-five years in business, Barnette retired in 1907. He also served as the president of the Columbia Hebrew Benevolent Society for thirty years and was largely responsible for the creation of the chapel that his funeral service was held in after his death in 1922.