Temple Israel (Leadville, Colorado) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Temple Israel |
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The former Temple Israel, in 2011
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism (former) |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status |
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| Ownership | Temple Israel Foundation |
| Year consecrated | 2009 (reconsecration) |
| Location | |
| Location | 201 West 4th Street, Leadville, Colorado 80461 |
| Country | United States |
 Location in Colorado
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| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) |
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| Architectural type | Synagogue architecture |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| General contractor |
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| Groundbreaking | August, 1884 |
| Completed |
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| Construction cost | US$4,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | North |
| Capacity | 84, originally 156 est. |
| Length | interior: 72 feet (22 m) |
| Width | interior: 24 feet (7.3 m) |
| Height (max) | 32 feet (9.8 m) |
| Materials | Wood frame |
| Website | |
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Temple Israel is a building in Leadville, Colorado. It used to be a synagogue, which is a Jewish house of worship. Today, it is a museum that teaches about Jewish history. The building is located at 201 West 4th Street. It was built very quickly in the summer of 1884. Temple Israel is special because it is a rare example of a synagogue built on the American frontier.
History of Temple Israel
This small building is about 25 feet wide and 72 feet long. It was designed by George E. King. Robert Murdock built it for $4,000. The land for the synagogue was given by Horace Tabor, a rich silver miner.
The synagogue opened on September 19, 1884. This was during the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. It served a unique group of Jewish pioneers. Many of them were merchants who owned shops downtown. They were very active in the Leadville community. For example, David May was a merchant who started the May department stores. He was also a leader in the synagogue.
In 1892, the Jewish community in Leadville split. Some members started a new synagogue called Knesseth Israel. Regular services at Temple Israel stopped around 1908. By 1914, the building was no longer used as a synagogue at all.
In 1937, a man named Steve Malin bought the building. He removed the tall steeples and put on a new roof. He lived in the back rooms with his family. He also ran his car radiator repair business in the front. During World War II, the building was used as a place for mine workers to live.
In 1955, a church bought the building to use as a parsonage. A parsonage is a home for a minister. In 1966, it was sold again to private owners. It was then changed into a building with four apartments.
Temple Israel: Restored and a Museum
The Temple Israel Foundation bought the building in 1992. In 2006, there was a fire. After the fire, the foundation worked to restore the synagogue. They made it look like it did when it was first built.
Today, the Temple Israel building is mostly a museum. It tells the story of the Jewish pioneers who lived in Leadville. Sometimes, special services are still held there.
Leadville Hebrew Cemetery
The Temple Israel Foundation also takes care of the Leadville Hebrew Cemetery. They gained ownership of the cemetery in 1993. The cemetery is located outside of Leadville, about three-quarters of a mile from the synagogue.
Records show that 132 people were buried in this cemetery. This was between 1880 and 1981. However, only 5 of those burials happened after 1930. There are still 59 of the original gravestones. The Foundation has added markers for the missing ones.
In 2001, the Foundation opened a new part of the cemetery for burials. It has space for 51 graves. As of 2015, 8 of these spaces were used. Volunteers mostly help to maintain the cemetery. This effort is led by a group from Denver called B'nai B'rith.
