Documents

There are mainly speeches, programs, deeds, and newspaper articles here. You can read through these items in chronological order, or you can look at the collections I’ve assembled for the earliest community history; the building of the first synagogue and the fire that destroyed it; the second synagogue that stands to this day; the thirtieth, fortieth, and fiftieth anniversaries of the congregation; and the closing of the synagogue and its aftermath.

89 sets of documents so far... and much more to come!

Contract for Building the First Synagogue

The agreement between the congregation and the builder of the first synagogue, which cost $2,979.00.

Aug. 1901 Preface to History of Congregation at Laying of Cornerstone

The speech that was read prior to the congregation’s history at the laying of the corner of the first synagogue building.

1901 Cornerstone-Laying Newspaper Articles

The Homestead paper reported on the cornerstone-laying for the first shul on Ammon St.

Preparing for the New Shul, Aug. 1901-Dec. 1901

After the cornerstone laying and before the dedication, many preparations took place that caught the attention of the local paper.

Jews in the News, 1902

A year of newspaper clippings from Homestead’s paper related to members of the Jewish community.

Program from the 1902 Synagogue Dedication

Amazingly, the program from the dedication of the first synagogue survives!

Newspaper Articles about the Dedication of the First Synagogue

A few local papers described the first synagogue dedication, reprinting Lasdusky’s speech and summarizing Bernhardt’s.

1902 Synagogue Dedication Speech from Homestead Newspaper

A newspaper article covering the dedication of the 1902 synagogue includes the speech by President Lasdusky.

Chanukah 1902 Speech

The address the shul’s president, B. Glueck, made at the congregation’s first Chanukah in their own synagogue building.

Jews in the News, 1903

A year of newspaper clippings from Homestead’s paper related to members of the Jewish community.

Paying off the Mortgage on the First Synagogue

A little over a year after the building was dedicated, the congregation paid off its $1,500 mortgage!

Jews in the News, 1904

A year of newspaper clippings from Homestead’s paper related to members of the Jewish community.

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