Temple Israel (Leadville, Colorado) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Temple Israel |
|
|---|---|
The former Temple Israel, in 2011
|
|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism (former) |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status |
|
| Ownership | Temple Israel Foundation |
| Year consecrated | 2009 (reconsecration) |
| Location | |
| Location | 201 West 4th Street, Leadville, Colorado 80461 |
| Country | United States |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 416: Malformed coordinates value. | |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) |
|
| Architectural type | Synagogue architecture |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| General contractor |
|
| Groundbreaking | August, 1884 |
| Completed |
|
| 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 | |
|
|
Temple Israel is a very special building in Leadville, Colorado. It used to be a synagogue, which is a place of worship for Jewish people. Today, it is a Jewish museum that teaches visitors about the history of Jewish people in Leadville. The building is located at 201 West 4th Street. It was built super fast in the summer of 1884, taking less than two months! Temple Israel is a rare example of an old synagogue from the American frontier.
Contents
A Look Back: Temple Israel's Story
This small building is about 25 feet wide and 72 feet long. It was designed by an architect named George E. King. The building has a unique style called Carpenter Gothic. This means it looks like a fancy stone Gothic building, but it's made from wood. Robert Murdock built it for $4,000. The land for the synagogue was given by a rich silver miner named Horace Tabor.
Building a Community
Temple Israel was officially opened on September 19, 1884. This was during Rosh Hashanah, an important Jewish holiday. It served a group of Jewish pioneers who lived in Leadville. Many of these pioneers were merchants who owned stores downtown. They were very active in the community. For example, David May was a well-known merchant who started the May department stores. He was also a county treasurer and helped with the synagogue's building committee.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, the Jewish community in Leadville changed. In 1892, some members started a different congregation called Knesseth Israel. Regular services at Temple Israel stopped around 1908. By 1914, the building was no longer used as a synagogue.
In 1937, a man named Steve Malin bought the building. He removed the tall steeples and put on a new roof. He lived there with his family and 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, it was sold to a church across the street and became a home for their minister. The building was sold again in 1966 and was turned into apartments.
Bringing it Back: The Museum Today
The Temple Israel Foundation bought the building in 1992. After a fire in 2006, they worked hard to restore the synagogue. They wanted it to look just like it did when it was first built. The restoration was completed in 2008.
Today, Temple Israel sometimes hosts special services. But its main purpose is to be a museum. It tells the stories of the brave Jewish pioneers who lived in Leadville. The museum helps people learn about their history and contributions to the town.
The Leadville Hebrew Cemetery
The Temple Israel Foundation also takes care of the Leadville Hebrew Cemetery. They became responsible for it 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 there between 1880 and 1981. Many of the original gravestones are still there, and the Foundation has added markers for those that were missing. In 2001, a new section of the cemetery was opened for more burials. Volunteers, especially from the Denver chapter of B'nai B'rith, help maintain the cemetery.
