Manhattan
In the mid 1840s, like a great many others in the German states of Europe, several members of his family decided to emigrate across the Atlantic, and Johann was one of them. He faced the change of country and culture as he had faced his earlier change of career, not permitting himself to recklessly rush ahead. Once in New York, he realized the importance of learning about the new milieu, and of learning the English language, before making any crucial decisions. Rather than immediately becoming a watchmaker, Heitz chose to first be a common day laborer, so that he could learn English more quickly by being among the people, and also so that he could learn about New York and the opportunities it offered.
Only when he learned enough did he set himself up as a watchmaker. He is first listed in New York's city directory in 1848, both doing business at and residing on Manhattan's Rector Street.
Listing for Johann - now John - F. Heitz in 1848-1849 NYC Directory
New York Public Library Digital Images
Heitz lived first at 22 Rector Street, and later at 20 Rector. The
buildings shown above, now consolidated, survive as 14 Rector.
20 Rector was either where the left-most upper windows can be
seen, or just to the left of them, where a new building rises.Like
Pomodoro's, John Heitz's shop would have been at streetlevel.
Google Street View
Years later, Heitz, wrote that from the beginning of his stay in Manhattan, he chose to create only good quality timepieces, even if that meant he would make fewer sales. Sales would not have been a problem at this location, however, for Wall Street is only two blocks away. His early explorations of the city had paid off - he chose a location that was frequently seen by many of those who traded at the Stock Exchange.
The 1850 U.S. Census gives us further insight about Heitz's choice of location. On the whole, the neighborhood's inhabitants were neither poor nor affluent. They worked at a variety of occupations: sailor, waiter, merchant, sail-maker, tasselmaker (?), boatman, junk shop owner, barber, watchmaker, "segar" maker, shoemaker, etc.
John and his sister Louisa on the 1850 U.S. Census
Ancestry.com
Living quarters in the area were probably less lavish than those of the watchmaker's clientele, but they would have been both convenient and affordable. That suited John Heitz, for he was industrious, thrifty, and patient. He kept his eye on the future, and he lived inexpensively, in order to retain more profits to invest in real estate. Almost from the start, he began acquiring properties in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The census also reveals another thing. A second German watchmaker, younger than Heitz, lived in the same residence. He may have worked independently and simply shared the shop space with Heitz, but I think it more likely that he was doing what John had done in Europe - gaining knowledge, and deepening his skill set, by working for someone who was more experienced. If so, Heitz benefited from having an assistant, but the arrangement also provided him with a way to "pay it forward" by helping a young craftsman get a good start in life.
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