While looking into my Hoffman family history, one name kept popping up. The name was Arthur Flegenheimer a.k.a Dutch Schultz. He was a gangster during prohibition and also a good friend of my Grandfathers. I have always been infatuated with my grandfather. The stories my dad and his siblings told about him always ended with, “he wasn’t anybody’s huckleberry”, meaning he wasn’t anybody’s fool. He was street smart and wise.

My grandfather George Hoffman was the owner of Hoffman’s Farm in the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s. He was also the President of the Farmers Association on the north shore of Long Island. This position gave him an opportunity to interact with people in high and low places. One of his colorful friends was Arthur Flegenheimer a.k.a. Dutch Schultz. During prohibition my grandfather would travel into New York City and visit his friend Arthur once a month. Sometimes he would bring the local Rocky Point doctor and his politician friend with him. These men would stay in the city for two to three days at a time. Other times Arthur would travel out to Long Island for business always making it a point to stop by the farm to say hello to his friend George. These two men got along very well. They both had a lot in common. Both men grew up on the mean streets of New York. They both had parents die at an early age and both guys didn’t trust a lot of people. If you cheated these men, my grandfather would cut you off.  Arthur Flegenheimer would cut your throat.