When the war broke out, father Gerrit Leefsma was already older, had done well, and decided it was time to retire.
The store is sold or he is bought out by an associate. The place where he was a shopkeeper is the address where the Tof family had a shop during and after the war.
Lindegracht 13
We find an entry in the Address Book for Heerenveen Oranjewoud 't Meer en Terband (1938-1939).
Het adresboek voor Heerenveen Oranjewoud 't Meer en Terband (1938-1939). Bron: Museum Heerenveen
The Leefsma family was still listed as shopkeepers in 1938, but because the Tof family took over the shop, other accommodation had to be found at some point. So the family moves into a fairly new 1930 home in what is then seen as the better neighborhoods of Heerenveen. Typically the house you expect from a successful middle class. That Gerrit's father still had money during the war, this is evident from the fact that in 1941 he simply placed an advertisement in which he asked for a daytime employee.
Advertentie Dagmeisje gevraag voor de zaak. Bron: Museum Heerenveen
We also find Heiman Phillip Leefsma, the young man was busy collecting stamps in 1939. In 1939 he places an advertisement because he would like to exchange stamps.
Advertentie van H.P.H. Leefsma om Postzegels ruilen. Bron: Museum Heerenveen
Something about the ownership history of Lindegracht 13.
The Leefsma family owned the building in 1938. (see address book photo above). The Leefsma family can be linked to the in-laws of Abraham TOF, Sara Josina Wolf-Leefsma (joodsmonument.nl) from the Wolf family.
The father of the Leefsma Gerrit family was born in Opsterland, probably in Gorredijk. During the war, Gerrit's brother named Jozef Leefsma (joodsmonument.nl) also had a manufacturing business. That business was located on the Langewal in Gorredijk. To you that is just a street name, but the Langewal, together with the Brouwerswal, Kerkewal and the Hoofdstraat, are (still) considered the shopping areas of Gorredijk. All those districts are located on what we now know as the Turf Route and have therefore traditionally been a center of converging (water)ways and the activity that arises from them. So Jozef Leefsma had a clothing store in Gorredijk at what we would now call an A location. Brother Gerrit had a similar business on the Lindegracht in Heerenveen, also at an A location. Both good customers, business doing well, then we can conclude that the Leefsma family had serious money, even in the crisis years. Gerrit Leefsma retires and buys a house for himself at Asterstraat 17, Heerenveen (joodsmonument.nl).
Then there is a business at Lindegracht 13. What are they doing with it? The Jewish commercial spirit asserts itself here; anyone who has money tries to keep it in the family. So Samuel Wolf (joodsmonument.nl) buys the building.
What should this relatively old Jewish man do with a large store and the staff that goes with it? After all, he is at an age where he can almost stop working. The answer is even as simple as it seems obvious. Samuel has a daughter Johanna Magdalene Tof-Wolf (joodsmonument.nl) and a son-in-law, but Samuel has money! A buinessman who tries to help his daughter and son-in-law by buying the business, which they will later continue. Then disaster strikes and Samuel suddenly dies, inadvertently hastening takeover of the business.
We are in the war now.
In the meantime, the couple ‘Tof’ run the business at Lindegracht 13. Then the occupier arrives. Mr. Tof, you are no longer allowed to have the store and you have to fire your staff. It cannot be ruled out that this staff includes members of the family ‘Leefsma’ at Asterstraat 17 in Heerenveen. We do not know what the gentlemen businessmen have negotiated among themselves.
Gerrit Leefsma may have said to Samuel Wolf “You can buy my business, but then I want my employees to keep their jobs.” Samuel would have been happy to do that, because the Leefsma’s were skilled clothing sellers and if you have good staff, you don't have to look for them.
If that is the case, the closing of the store by order of the occupier has led to a family tragedy, because Mr. Tof had to fire people he had known for years and who were family.
The connection with the province of Groningen
Gerrit Leefsma's wife, Reina Leefsma-van Dam (joodsmonument.nl) was from Groningen, born in Noordhorn. The son Heiman Philip Leefsma (joodsmonument.nl) was born in Zuidhorn. The family then lives near Reina's parents. Samuel Wolf (joodsmonument.nl) was born in Noordbroek and later had a business in Zuidbroek.
Noordbroek, Zuidbroek, Nordhorn and Zuidhorn are all places within a radius of 40-50 km around Groningen.
Conclusion; The Tof, Leefsma and Wolf families knew each other through their origins or through marriage. Those families also did quite good business among themselves.
Source: Museum Heerenveen