9,487
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
→History
In [[1895]] the original wooden temple was burned by a fire of undetermined origin, sparing only a single scroll. A new two-story brick building was constructed on the same site and dedicated in April [[1896]]. That building remained home of the growing congregation, which by [[1929]] had 125 members, with 47 children enrolled in the Sabbath School. The Sisterhood of Temple Beth-El, which was organized in [[1919]] by [[Elsie Wagenheim]], had 106 members. On [[December 17]], 1929, another fire broke out. According to a newspaper account of the time, "The next morning saw the structure almost completely destroyed. The scrolls were ruined and had to be buried. From the Temple proper, the Ten Commandment Tablet above the Ark had been saved and the memorial table. The organ had been damaged but was salvageable."
The temple was rebuilt at its current site atop [[Gage Hill]] at 800 North [[Palafox Street]] in [[1931]]. The building committee included chairman [[Max L. Bear]], [[Joseph M. Levy]], [[Dan S. Oppenheimer]] and Dr. [[Mozart A. Lischkoff]]. The three-story building's design had a seating capacity of 350 in the sanctuary and reflected the Art Deco style popular at the time. The cornerstone was laid on [[June 1]] (the sixteenth day of [[Wikipedia:Sivan|Sivan]], [[Wikipedia:5691_(Hebrew_year)|5691]]), and the following statement was recorded:
<blockquote>All of the members of this congregation with the exception of two who were financially unale, have contributed to the building fund of the Temple. It is hoped that a mortgage will not become necessary in spite of the [[Great Depression|financial crisis]] from which the whole country (and the world at large) is suffering, as one of the disastrous after-effects of the [[World War I|World War]]. May future generations achieve the wisdom and the courage necessary to avoid this horrible crime: WAR. May they live in harmony and peace!</blockquote>
