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By Rose Hooper
The man known as "Mr. Main Street " made his last journey
through downtown Sylva Tuesday, Nov. 11.
Former Sylva town board member Sol Schulman, 91, a downtown fixture
for 70 years, died Monday morning, Nov. 10, after a period of
declining health.
Schulman, who was only 19 when he opened his clothing store, remained
in business until October 2002 when health reasons, including
advanced Parkinson's disease, forced him to close. He held the
record for being in the same downtown Sylva spot longer than any
other merchant.
"Sol was a wealthy man but his wealth did not come from money,"
said Rabbi Dr. Michael Samuel during a Nov. 11 funeral service.
"He realized money was no good unless it was used for the
good of the community.
He was a great benefactor with a generosity of spirit," Samuel
said.
Downtown
merchants lined Main Street in tribute Tuesday as the hearse bearing
Sol Schulman's body passed his former department store around
11:30 a.m. A Main Street businessman for 70 years, Schulman held
the record for being in the same downtown Sylva spot longer than
any other merchant. ‚ Herald photo by Rose Hooper
When Schulman closed his department store, he donated
the inventory to WestCare Foundation for fund-raising.
Whenever a charitable organization needed funds, Schulman was
always the first to step forth.
"I earned what money I have; I also love to give it away,"
Schulman once said.
"Sol valued every person – every friend, every employee,"
said Samuel. "And everyone looked at him with respect. He
lived a life of dignity and taught his two sons to live their
lives with dignity."
Sons Herbert and David Schulman both described their father as
a man "with a good soul."
During his lifetime Schulman took leading roles in supporting
the Sylva Merchants Association, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce,
Harris Regional Hospital, Western Carolina University, Fontana
Regional Library, Dillsboro Masonic Lodge and Asheville's Beth
Israel Synagogue, as well as assisting hundreds of individuals
and churches in their time of need. He served on the Sylva town
board for five years.
Sol
Schulman was 17 in 1929 when he graduated from high school in
Reidsville.
Schulman Street, which connects West Main and Jackson
Streets, was renamed in his honor a decade ago.
Another local honor awarded Schulman was his selection as an honorary
fireman by members of the Sylva Fire Department. Schulman is one
one of only three to receive the honor in the department's 104-year
history.
Schulman came to Jackson County from Cherryville when his father
sent him up here to check on some real estate property he owned.
"Dad told me to go out west and I thought he meant the West
Coast; but he meant Western North Carolina," said Schulman
during a 90th birthday interview in March 2002.
His father had purchased a downtown Sylva lot for $2,500 at a
bank foreclosure, built a building on the lot for $4,000 and had
it on the market for two years but found no buyers.
"I liked the town and I liked the college. People here were
kind so I called up dad and told him I had a renter," Schulman
said.
"He told me, 'Good. Is he honest? Do you know him well? Will
he pay the bills?' I assured him the renter was a fine, dependable
person and told him I would tell him more about it when I got
home."
But when Schulman went back to Cherryville and told his dad he
was the renter, his family got a bit upset and told him he was
too young to go into business for himself.
Schulman's gutsy, no-fear attitude won out, and he headed to the
New York City Merchandise Mart. Using his father's excellent business
name and reputation, he ordered $5,000 worth of merchandise for
his Sylva venture.
"When they started calling me to pay back my bill, luck was
with me. Roosevelt had just gone in and closed the banks so I
told my creditors all my money was tied up in the banks. They
understood that; it was the truth. All $28 of it," said Schulman.
Bit by bit, he paid back his creditors.
"Everybody has trouble when they first go into business,
but it's better to not have the money and work for it," he
said during a 2002 interview. "Then when you do well, you
feel like you've really done something."
Schulman attributed his longtime success in the merchandizing
business to hard work, wise investments, always being honest with
his customers and "never knowing what the word 'no' meant."
Following the service at Moody Funeral Home Chapel, a procession
drove to Lou Pollock Cemetery in Asheville, where Schulman was
laid to rest next to his wife, Lillian.
He is survived by two sons, Herbert Schulman of Cullowhee and
David Schulman of Asheville; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
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