The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-08-13

-a atssFa
I A CINcTNNATIAH S VIEW OF EVANS
YILLE--7A SKETCH OF THE Jews. AND
THEIR New TEMPIE.-The RevaI. NJ
WISE, of Cincinnati editor of the
Israeltte, gives in his last issue the
following view of Evansville, and
sketch ofIsraelites of the city:
Evansville, Ind, is a city on the
Ohio River of about p, 900 inhabit-
ants Like most, all the Western
cities, it is inhabited by a hearty,
thriving and Industrious classfof lpeo-
pie, who devote themselves to com
merce and the manufacturing of cast
iron ware, WOODEN goods, furniture,
agricultural implements, machinery,
and make rapid progress. 1t is
the county seat of Vanderburgh
Co. and has a fine court house By
rail it is accessible only on one side,
where it connects with the Ohio L
Mississippi Railroad at Vincennes.
The city has distinguished itself
greatly by the erection Of free schools,
both common and high, which are
fine palaces, the strongholds of pro
crossing civilization, and the
pride of the citizens of Evansville
An Orphan Asylum is just a
building, and it will be a nice one.
There arc some very fine private resi-
bdences, but few store buildings to cor
respond with the size of the city,
The mercantile Improvements do not
hold equal pace with the general
march of improvements. Evansville
is one of those w estern places which
happily unftes the pleasant features of
the country with those of city life, for
persons ofmoderate demand, of course.
There is neither Italian Operanor Cen
trail Park here, but plenty of pure air
Eand gas light at night. There is
something nice and pleasant about
the places which are the medium be-
tween country md city. Indiana has
the great blessing of having no large
city; therefore her towns are thriving,
her people are wealthy and moral.
| Our late war proved this sufficiently.
T. The Israelites of. this place, some
of whom belong to its Oldest settlers,
were too few IN number to form any
society. MIRA Gumberts and Others
presented a piece of land to them,
which was early used as a burial
ground A congregation, however.
was not formed before the year 1857.
when the present one named Beni0
Israel came into existence. A hall,
up stairs, was rented and fitted up for
a place of worship, where Mr.. Dink-
elspiel acted as Minister, and Mr..
Lewenthal as Parnass. Gradually
| the aggregation grew, "a Binai Berth
Lodge was estab lished, and the idea
of building a synagogue was conceiv-
ed in 1861 when Mr.. A. Anspacher
was President. A meeting was called,
and the members subscribed about
$4,000 for this purpose. But when
the war broke out the enterprise was
abandoned. astill, in 1862 it was
taken up again, and the cornerstone
was laid in 1864. s'i 81 & 'aa
The congregation counts now about
ssixty-fYe members, and has just nm
ished fine ediiffce, which cost over
$35, 900, although part of the lot was
presented. to the congregation. which
has no debt It's present minister Is
/ Rev. Mr. Hecht, who was preceded
by Rev. Messrs. Wechslen, Defiance,
Leopold and Fould Their present
officers are David Herman, Presl7
dent; Lud i. Frey, Vice President;
l.. We'll, Secretary; Simon Roser,
Treasurer; Alb. Gumberts, B. Heine
man. S. Kahn and S. Mayer, Trustees.
The new Temple, into which the
| Minhag America was Unanimously