On May 24, 1873, Aaron Yara Shafsky was born in Kishinev, Moldavia, near Odessa above the Black Sea. He arrived in California in 1889 with his brothers and changed his name to Albert Shafsky. Together, they started a dry goods business in Fort Bragg, California, first selling their merchandise to the men at the nearby lumber camps, and then establishing their first store in Fort Bragg in 1892.
While brothers Harry and Samuel Shafsky operated the store, Albert with horses and wagon traveled all over the coast, taking orders, selling goods and establishing the name of the Shafsky Brothers. In 1898, Albert was naturalized as a citizen of the United States in the Superior Court of the City and County of San Francisco and married ("Kitty") Dora May Smith. They had five children, three born here in Placerville.
Albert Shafsky left Fort Bragg in 1901 and settled in Placerville, where he opened a department store downtown, first in the Douglas Building, then moving in 1909 to a new building on the old Kunkler lot on the Plaza. The store was known for having the first glass show windows and a milliner who made ladies' hats.
Albert was a Placerville City Council Member from 1906-1910 and Mayor of Placerville from 1906-1908. A copy of the Shafsky genealogy was kindly donated to the Inn by the Shafsky family, and guests are welcome to read more about this fascinating family while staying at the bed and breakfast. These as well as many other interesting books are available in our ever-expanding book collection.
The Albert Shafsky House bed and breakfast inn in Placerville blog. Find out about innkeeping from an innkeeper in California. We have been innkeeping in Placerville, California for over 8 years. Keep up with the happenings in California's beautiful, historic Gold Country, in the foothills between Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe.
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