The partnership between Frank Szemko (1876-1960) and Joseph Steven Gaydica (1879-1963) maintained an iron foundry at 1433 38th St., Brooklyn, in the short time span of 1911 to 1915.

Szemko and Gaydica were immigrants from Hungary / Austria in the 1890s. Frank Szemko's naturalization petition filed 9 April 1900 states that he was born 1 Oct. 1876 and that he emigrated to the U. S. in 1892. His occupation in 1900 was locksmith, and he lived at 404 W. 48th St., Manhattan. Joseph Gaydica's naturalization petition filed 8 Feb. 1902 states that he was born 21 Aug. 1879 and that he emigrated to the U. S. in 1894. His occupation in 1902 was iron worker, and he lived at 642 E. 11th St., Manhattan.

Both men registered for the World War I draft in 1918. Frank Szemko was 41 years old and lived at 19 Fulton Ave., Maspeth, N. Y. His partnership with Joseph Gaydica had been dissolved by 1918, and Szemko was in business for himself as Frank Szemko Inc., Iron Works, at 315 Clinton Place, Maspeth. Joseph Gaydica was 39 years old and lived at 225 East 3rd St., Brooklyn. He was an iron contractor, self employed, at 1433 38th St., Brooklyn.

Joseph Gaydica Iron Works continued Szemko & Gaydica at 1433 38th St., Brooklyn, from 1915 to 1920. From 1920 to 1930 the Gaydica Iron Works continued at two other locations on 38th St. The last location was 1052 38th St., where Berkshire Structural Steel was located from 1930 to 1944. Frank Szemko was listed as "with Berkshire Structural Steel Inc." in Polk's Brooklyn City Directory of 1933-34, but it is not clear what position he had in the company or how long he remained. In the 1930 U. S. Census Frank Szemko, now living in Ozone Park, Queens, was recorded as "Proprietor, Building."

In the 1930 U. S. Census Joseph Gaydica, living at 225 East 3rd St., Brooklyn, was described as "Proprietor, Bathing Par." (parlor?). In 1942 at the time of the World War II draft, Gaydica lived in Newark, New Jersey, and was in business for himself at 500 Broadway, Newark. This draft registration recorded his place of birth as Visoka, Hungary.

Copyright (c) 2011 Walter Grutchfield