As the immigrant populations poured into Manhattan in the 19th Century they brought there own unique needs with them. One of those needs was the need for cemetery headstones. Many of these headstones simply were not available anywhere else in the United States. For example the large immigrant Jewish population needed headstones in Hebrew. Or Russian immigrants need headstones in crylic. Buisnessmen saw the need and several headstone companies opened on the lower east side. The last of these buisnesses is Silver Monument Works at 125 Stanton at Essex. At one time there were several monument companies in the area. Silver is the only one that remains. Although there may have never been a official "Monument District" but the importance of such an industry cannot be underappreciated.