Temple Israel (Leadville, Colorado)
 | This article possibly contains original research. (December 2013) |
| Temple Israel, Leadville, Colorado | |
|---|---|
 Temple Israel today | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Inactive, now a pioneer Jewish Museum |
| Location | |
| Location | 201 West 4th Street, Leadville, Colorado |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | George E. King, restoration by Long Hoeft Architects |
| Style | Carpenter Gothic |
| General contractor | Robert Murdoch, restoration by Pat Kelly Maintenance |
| Groundbreaking | August, 1884 |
| Completed | September, 1884. Restored 2008. |
| Construction cost | US$4,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | North |
| Capacity | 84, originally 156 est. |
| Length | 72 feet, interior |
| Width | 24 feet, interior |
| Height (max) | 32 feet |
| Materials | wood frame |
| Website | |
| Temple Israel Foundation | |
Temple Israel is possibly the oldest synagogue west of the Mississippi River,[1] it was erected at 201 West 4th Street in Leadville, Colorado, during the summer of 1884 in less than two months.[2] The Temple Israel building is a rare example of a frontier synagogue. The small, 25 ft × 72 ft (7.6 m × 21.9 m), Carpenter Gothic structure was designed by George E. King[3] and constructed by Robert Murdock[4] for $4,000 on land donated by the silver baron Horace A. W. Tabor.[5] Dedicated during services for Rosh Hashanah on September 19, 1884,[6] the Reform synagogue served an interesting group of Jewish pioneers. Typically downtown merchants, they were an active element in the larger community[7] as exemplified by David May, merchant and founder of the May department stores, County treasurer, vice president of the Congregation Israel, and chairman of its building committee.
The congregation splintered in 1892 when the more orthodox members created Knesseth Israel.[8] Regular services in Temple Israel ceased by 1908[9] and the building was entirely out of service by 1914. Steve Malin acquired the building in 1937, stripping it of the steeples and re-roofing it.[10] He lived with his wife and two daughters in rooms in the back whilst conducting his automobile radiator repair business in the front.[11] During the Second World War it functioned as a dormitory/boarding house for mine workers and was sold in 1955 to the St. George Episcopal Church across West 4th Street to be their parsonage. The building returned to private ownership in 1966 and was subsequently converted into a four unit apartment house.[12] The Temple Israel Foundation bought the building in 1992[13] and, after a fire in 2006, restored the synagogue to its original condition. The Temple Israel building now occasionally hosts services but mainly functions as a museum dedicated to the pioneer Jews of Leadville.
References
References
- ^ List of the oldest synagogues in the United States
- ^ Leadville Daily Herald, Friday, August 8, 1884. P. 4.
- ^ George Edward King was Leadville's leading commercial architect between 1878 and 1886. In addition to the Temple Israel building, he was responsible for the following structures: the Tabor Grand Hotel; the Delaware Hotel; the 9th Street School; the Central School; the U.S. Post Office; the Lake County Court House; the Clipper Building (Silver Dollar Saloon); and his own home at 212 West 9th Street. King's portfolio also included "Old Main" at Colorado State University, the Arnett-Fullen house in Boulder, and in Mexico: the Casino Club in Juarez; the Opera House in Zacatas; and the Opera House in Mexico City. The above information furnished by William R. Hinken, 212 West 9th Street, Leadville, July 2, 1995.
- ^ Robert M. Murdock was very active as a contractor in Leadville during its silver boom period. He was responsible for the construction of the Tabor Grand Hotel (1884-5), the Breene Block [SE corner, Harrison & 4th] (1887-8), the Armory building [140 E 5th] (1888), and residences for B.F. Follett [W 8th], J.H. Stotesbury [Pine & 8th], and Theodore Schults [Pine & 7th] (1887) amongst many other projects. History of Leadville and Lake County, Colorado, Don L. Griswold and Jean Harvey Griswold, Colorado Historical Society in cooperation with the University Press of Colorado, 1996. Pgs. 1369, 1371, 1897, 1912, 1916.
- ^ Quit-Claim Deed recorded in Lake County in Book 96, Page No. 171.
- ^ Leadville Daily Herald, Saturday, September 20, 1884. P. 4.
- ^ Exploring Jewish Colorado, Phil Goodstein, University of Denver, 1992. P. 123.
- ^ Exploring Jewish Colorado, Phil Goodstein, University of Denver, 1992. P. 125.
- ^ The Centennial History of the Jews of Colorado 1859-1959, Allen duPont Breck, The Hirschfeld Press, 1960. P. 133.
- ^ Joseph Jakopic, 429 Elm Street, Leadville, laborer for Steve J. Malin, interviewed June 6, 1994.
- ^ May Malin Crippen, Canon City, daughter of Steve J. Malin, interviewed by telephone, June 8, 1994.
- ^ Robert Gilgulin, 601 Harrison Avenue, Leadville, general partner for Harvey/Martin Construction, interviewed May 12, 1994
- ^ Warranty Deed recorded in Lake County in Book 502, Page No. 359.