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2001
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stained glass windows depicting King
n our way to visit Amish
David, David and Jonathan, and King
country in Indiana, we
Solomon. The wooden ark remains,
passed an old, faded sign
built into the wall facing Jerusalem,
bearing a Star of David and
but it is empty. A small rack of sid-
the words: "The Chamber of
durim (prayer books) sits silently by.
Commerce Welcomes You To Ligoner,
A Historic Jewish Community."
We stopped the car, intrigued to
Dwindling Community
find such a sign in this small town of
Lepird reports that as the younger
3,800 people located literally between
Jews completed their college
cornfields.
education, few chose to
A local business pointed
return to Ligonier. Soon the
us toward the town's visitor
Jewish population was gone.
center, which, in turn,
The temple's last service was
pointed us toward the
held in 1954. The last Jewish
Ligonier Historical Museum
resident died in 1981.
housed in the former
Lepird laments the loss of
Ahavath Scholom Temple.
the Jewish population. Of
The museum's director,
retirement age herself, she
Mary Jane Lepird, made
recalls the days when Jewish
special arrangements to open
HYMAN
businesses still flourished
the museum early in order
downtown and well-kept
SHEN KMAN
to meet and talk with us.
Jewish homes lined the main
Special to the
Ligonier was platted in
street.
Jewish News
1835. Growth was slow until
"They took real pride in
it was announced in 1852
their property and took
that the Northern Indiana Railroad
excellent care of it," she said. Today,
would be passing through the town.
visitors can still take a walking tour
The new growth spurt brought Jewish
that includes the homes of Jacob
immigrants Solomon Meir and Jacob
Strauss and Solomon Meir. The Meir
Straus. The competitors soon had
home operates as a bed and breakfast,
thriving businesses and were able to
offering everything from an antique
bring their families to Ligonier. Other
shop in the basement to afternoon
Jewish settlers followed.
tea.
The 1852 Ligonier population of
A final stop in our visit was at the
50 swelled to 1,100 by 1866. By
Jewish cemetery. Lepird explained
1900, 10 percent of the population
that as the Jewish population moved
and "much of the business district"
away and their descendents became
was Jewish. Ligonier became known
more distant, the city took over the
as "Little Jerusalem."
care of this cemetery. Land nearby
Lepird reports that a small building
was eventually purchased for the
used as a Jewish school as well as for
town's general cemetery and the two
worship gave way to the larger
are now parted only by a narrow path
Ahavath Scholom Temple, which was
originally designed for horse and
dedicated in September 1889. The
buggy traffic. "This," Ms. Lepird
old building was moved to the rear of
noted sadly, "remains the only Jewish
the new temple and remained in use
part of Ligonier to be used as it was
for some time. At present, the former
intended to be used." ❑
temple, which is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places,
houses the history of both Jewish and
non-Jewish Ligonier. It was rededicat-
ed for this purpose on the 100th
The Ligonier Museum is open on
anniversary of the temple's original
Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday
dedication date.
from
1-4 p.m. Admission is free.
Ahavath Scholom features beautiful
CO
Hyman Shenkman resides in Waterford.
For information, call (888)
417-3562.
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