1325 N Grand Ave, Pueblo, CO 81003, US
Our History
Temple Emanuel's Beginnings
Like most Jewish communities In the United States, Temple Emanuel's beginnings were very humble. Their efforts to build a synagogue were very challenging for various reasons. Nevertheless, the synagogue is the center of Jewish life so very often a small group of individuals initiated the effort to build a house of worship in their community. The Jews of Pueblo were no different, as the reader will see as the history of this wonderful community begins to unfold.
One family that had a role in the development of Pueblo was the Goldsmith Brothers, Henry & Abraham, who were born in Bavaria. The brothers brought their wives Clara & Rosa (sisters) to America in 1857 to escape the pogroms in Europe.
After living in different cities, they finally settled in Denver, Colorado in 1859. They had traveled from Leavenworth, Kansas in a covered wagon. The brothers opened a store in town and started a farm on Cherry Creek. In 1860 Henry’s wife Clara had a baby daughter who was the first Jewish baby born in Colorado. However, Clara passed away giving birth. The child was named Clara after her mother. Abraham and his wife Rosa took Clara into their home to raise as their own. Henry’s wife Clara was buried in the first Jewish cemetery in Colorado. Records show that the families came together to purchase land to create the Jewish cemetery so they could bury Clara there.
In 1864, a flood destroyed the family’s farm, so the families moved to Pueblo the same year. Once again, they opened a store in town that Abraham managed, and Henry ran the ranch along Fountain Creek where it meets the Arkansas River. The family also had land south of the river.
As stated, the Goldsmiths came to Pueblo in 1864, and by 1870 Pueblo was home to 50 Jewish individuals, according to the 1870 census which showed that Pueblo’s population was 650. This accounts for about 10% of the overall population in Pueblo at the time. Also, these numbers were six years prior to Colorado Statehood in August 1876 and fifteen years before the city of Pueblo was officially incorporated in November 1885. One can ascertain that Jews had a significant role in developing Pueblo, and the Goldsmith family led the way. Finally, Abe & Rosa Goldsmith moved to Las Vegas, New Mexico and were instrumental in founding Temple Montefiore in that community in 1884. Who would have known that because of the Goldsmith family that there would be a connection between Pueblo, Colorado and Las Vegas, New Mexico?
Another early pioneer was Simon Nathan, who established a farm and cattle ranch near the site of the Old Fort Pueblo. In 1867, he opened the first clothing store in the little town behind the stockade. Much of Pueblo's life grew around the Nathans. Where they first camped, the city’s leading department store, owned by another Jewish firm, was founded. It was the Nathan family who brought the first bathtub into the area, a tin affair which was a delight of the community which came first to admire it, then waited for an invitation to use it. The Nathans were founders of Temple Emanuel in Pueblo, but this in no way prevented Simon Nathan from making a generous gift to his friend Henry Plonsky, for the founding of a traditional synagogue in Denver. As far as Nathan was concerned, “a Jew was a Jew.”
Turning to the history of Temple Emanuel, newspaper articles documented that Jewish religious services were occurring. These gatherings were happening at various locations in the city and at times in the homes of individual members. In fact, prior to the establishment of Temple Emanuel, Jewish families worshipped at a building on South Union Avenue. In later years it was a furniture store called Mad Sam Nelson and was owned by a Jewish Family.
The first article found that the community was starting to meet to create an organized congregation, was in 1891, at which time they identified the name as Temple Montefiore. In fact, in the Colorado Daily Chieftain, September 7, 1891, part of the article stated that “Congregation Temple Montefiore is composed of the leading Jewish residents of the city, and they will spare no efforts during the coming year to erect a place of worship in our city”. This statement indicates the dedication the members had towards the goal of building a synagogue in Pueblo. Several more articles appeared in the same paper detailing the activities of the newly formed congregation. The next article found was dated September 30, 1895 in the Colorado Daily Chieftain with the headline “Jewish Temple Organized”. According to this article a temporary society was formed and would be made permanent. The article read “Several of the most prominent Jews of the city met yesterday afternoon in the home of Hyman Levin, twentieth and court streets and organized the Temple Montefiore or new Jewish synagogue. I.W. Bach was selected as temporary chairman and Nathan Weil as temporary secretary. Another meeting will be held at the home of Joseph Isaacs, 719 Court street, at which time the organization will be made permanent. The committee consisting of H. Levin and I. Freund was appointed to solicit membership”. It seems that the meeting that occurred in 1891 did not produce results until 1895 when they confirmed the congregation with the name being Temple Montefiore.
Then there is The Ladies Temple Montefiore Association, which was formed in 1898, which was actively raising funds to build a synagogue, as indicated in the Colorado Daily Chieftain dated November 10, 1897, “The Ladies Temple Montefiore Association desire to return thanks to the public in general for the generous patronage accorded during the recent fair held by them. Also, to all who assisted in any way to make the fair a success”. Based on this article it is obvious that the name of the Temple was going to be Temple Montefiore, and the lady’s association was actively involved. The Ladies Temple Montefiore Association would later become The Ladies Temple Emanuel association with Mrs. Aaron Dollie Sonneborn, President, Mrs. Millie Walker, Treasurer, and Mrs. Harriet Lehman, Secretary.
Several more references were found to Temple Montefiore; however, between November 10, 1897 and November 7, 1899 something happened whereby the name Temple Montefiore disappears from the records. To make matters more confusing the name Temple Emanuel appears in the Colorado Daily Chieftain November 7, 1899. “The Temple Emanuel was incorporated yesterday by filing articles with the county clerk. The Trustees are Sam Baer, M. Kohn, Hyman Levin, A. Cantor, and Sam Schon”. This filing in 1899 confirmed that the name of the Temple was going to be Temple Emanuel and not Temple Montefiore.
The Temple is the oldest Jewish house of worship in the Pueblo community. Many of the Temple families are descendants of immigrants from Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Russia who came to Pueblo between 1880 and 1913. These early Jewish immigrants resided on Pueblo's east side along 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Streets. The Pueblo 1870 census listed twelve Jewish families in the larger Pueblo community of 700 people. High Holy Day services were held on Union Avenue until 1895, when the Jewish population of about 40 to 50 families was large enough to organize its first Orthodox congregation, calling itself B'nai Jacob. The Jewish population met as a united group for religious services until a portion of the community organized a Reform group. The Reform Judaism movement had been active in the United States since 1873. The Ladies Temple Association, a Reform group, was organized by 1898 and became known as the Temple Emanuel congregation.
The Temple is the oldest Jewish house of worship in the Pueblo community. Many of the Temple families are descendants of immigrants from Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Russia who came to Pueblo between 1864 through 1913. These early Jewish immigrants tended to reside on Pueblo's east side along 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Streets. Records show that services were held in the homes of families. However, High Holy Day services were held on Union Avenue until 1895, when the Jewish population of about 40 to 50 families was large enough to organize its first Orthodox congregation, calling itself B'nai Jacob and building a synagogue in 1907. The Jewish population met as a united group for religious services until a portion of the community organized a Reform group. The Reform Judaism movement had been active in the United States since 1873. The Ladies Temple Association, a Reform group, was organized as Temple Montefiore and later as the Ladies Temple Emanuel Association. They would be instrumental in forming Temple Emanuel Congregation.
Construction History
The Ladies Temple Association purchased the north half of the Temple lots from George Harpster for $2000 on April 18, 1898. The Association assumed a $1500 mortgage and held a bazaar which raised $1000 in one week to apply to the mortgage. The women's organization conveyed the deed for the land to the Temple Association on March 16, 1900. The Temple Board of Trustees had hired George Reynolds to build the Temple for $5200. The Temple was completed and dedicated in ceremonies conducted September 7, 1900. The Temple was referred to as "The little Jewelbox" in the Pueblo papers of the time period and this name characterizes the feelings of the Pueblo community towards this small, but exquisite building. The Pueblo Chieftain reported that the opera chairs and stained, leaded glass windows in Temple Emanuel were the first in a house of worship in Pueblo. The vaulted ceiling, decorative molding, wooden theater seats, brass lighting fixtures, and surrounding stained glass windows enhance the expansive theatre-style interior space dedicated to the area of worship.
Architectural Style
Temple Emanuel, a Reform Jewish house of worship, is located in an area rich in Victorian architecture in one of the oldest neighborhoods in Pueblo. Temple Emanuel is an interesting example of Queen Anne style architecture employing both classical and Richardsonian Romanesque detailing. The building has had no exterior alteration since its construction in 1900. The Queen Anne style is perhaps the most varied and richly decorative style of the Victorian period and Temple Emanuel employs a variety of forms, textures and colors in the use of rock-faced tan sandstone, red brick and patterned wood shingles. The Syrian arch and decorative arch surround at the entrance are elements of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. This unusual sculpted shape provides great individuality to the dominant Queen Anne style.