Below you will find some of the history of TEMPLE B'NAI ISRAEL in Parkersburg, WV. If you have other information to add, please email the webmaster:
During the Spanish-American War, Maurice Rauch and Joseph Keller were in the 150th Infantry. They trained at Chickamauga but did not reach the war zone.
Members of the Parkersburg Jewish community were very active in the community. Henry Keller's famous "Clothing House Band" often played on Ft. Boreman Hill. Louis Mansbach was a member of the old Gun Club, from which the Parkersburg Country Club evolved.
In 1899 when Wood County celebrated a three-day centennial of the founding of Wood County, Virginia in 1799, Leon Epstein served as a marshal and was on the Decorating Committee.
Around 1900, Joseph Keller was the founder of the Wood County Bank. In 1903, Joseph Stern was one of the founders of the Business Men’s League of Parkersburg.
Jewish life changed in Parkersburg around the beginning of the 20th century. Up until then a small group of German Jews formed the nucleus of the Jewish community. Then Jews from Eastern Europe, Russia, Poland, Austria and Hungry came in great numbers, fleeing discrimination and lack of opportunity. Parkersburg received a number of these immigrants who saw the USA as the land of opportunity.
On October 25, 2009, we can look forward to the centennial of Temple B’nai Israel. A meeting was called on October 25, 1909 at Hersch’s United Woolen Mills building to form a Jewish congregation. Some of the members who were present were the Hersch, Lasky, Berens, Goldstein, Salinger, Engleman, Kirstein, Kahn, Stern, Epstein, Barrett, Cohen, Setron, Reitzenberg, Oppenheimer, Levison, and Broida families. W.A. Hersch was elected the first president of Temple B’nai Isarel. Rabbi Morris Lesserauz was employed full time.
A month after Temple B’nai Israel was founded by the existing Jewish community on October 25, 1909, the Hebrew Ladies Auxiliary Ladies Association was formed with 28 members. In 1920, the Auxiliary became associated with the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods.
In 1912, Temple B’nai Israel moved to a suite of rooms at 13th and Market Streets. B’nai Brith Lodge 767 was formed on February 28, 1915 with 35 members. This
men’s organization met in a room over the old Wood County Bank on Market Street for the next 25 years.
During World War II, Joseph Stern and J.S. Broida were cited by the Treasury Department for their work on Liberty Bond drives. B’nai Brith was active working for Jews who had suffered adversity during the war. This included aid to the B’nai Brith orphanage in Erie, PA, the Morgantown, WV Hillel Foundation, and the National Anti-Defamation League. The Sisterhood contributed to the Hebrew Union College and the House of Living Judaism in New York City.
From World War I, for the next 37 years, Temple B'nai Israel, like nomads, moved from suites of rooms and building to building in order to be able to continue Sabbath Services and the Sunday School. At the time the Leo and Lillian Levey moved to Parkersburg in 1942 they said "they found a lively and spirited 35 or 40 member Jewish Community." Religious services were held in rented space over the Smoot Theater and on the second floor of the old Blennerhasset Hotel. A student rabbi from H.U.C. was hired on a bi-weekly basis.
A few of the old families are still in town. Morris and Toba Goldenberg came to town in 1913 and the Goldenbergs and the recently moved Gersmans are their family. The Cremers came about that time also . Stephanie Frank and Mark Cremer are their direct descendants. Beau Ellison, and Charles Carroll are also descended from early 20th century families. Please let Al Ross know if he left anyone out from the early 1900's, and it will be added to our history.
Corrections: I have been told the Temple did not meet at the Old Blennerhasset Hotel in the early forties but did meet on the third floor of the Old Wood County Bank. In addition to the businesses listed in the as those here prior to 1950 in the February bulletin please add:
Beren Oil and Gas Supply owned by Max Beren.
Cremer Iron and Metal on Garfield started by Samuel Cremer and developed by his four sons Martin, Louis, David and Manuel. Eldon Frank and Mark Cremer managed the business in more recent years.
Gateman Industries started by Ted Gateman in 1948 with dynamic growth since.
Dave Goldenberg's Men's Store in the Chancellor Hotel at 7th and Market.
Gray's Pharmacy operated by Leonard Gottlieb on 3rd Street
Wood County Bank on Market Street started by Lee Stern.
Bringing the list up to date of Jewish-Owned businesses follows:
Behrman Jewelry Store on Market Street.
Bernheimer's Wholesale Supply started by Bernie Bernheimer.
Dave's Auto Glass on 7th Street owned by David Reich
Kaybees Store on Market Street owned by Herb Shapiro.
Goldsmith-Black owned by Bernie Bernheimer
Ideal Furniture and Gersman's Galleries on Market Street started by Manuel Gersman and developed and changed to Ethan Allen Home Interiors on Emerson Avenue by Allan and Don Gersman.
Kreinik Manufacturing Co. in South Parkersburg started by Jerry and Estelle Kreinik and managed now by Doug Kreinik.
Medical Center Pharmacy on upper Market Street owned by Herb and Betty Gottlieb.
Sid' Furniture, The Big Store started by Sid Ardman and later managed by Leo Levey and later by Jimmy Applebaum.
Salsitz Auto Supply started by Murray Salsitz followed by Dick Salsitz.
WMOA Radio owned by Ray Rosenblum.
Wunder Shoe Store on Market Street started by Henry Greenberg and later managed by Dan Glass.
The Working Man's Store on Market Street owned by Ray Blocker
Also of special note is that Howard Irvin was a key member of management who brought Marbon Chemical Co.(later namedBorg Warner Chemicals and then General Electric) from Gary, Indiana to Washington, W.Va.
Please email the webmaster or let Allen Ross know if any other additions or corrections are in order. This is a work in progress.
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Continuing on the Archives:
We were up to World War II. Temple Bnai Israel participated, as the entire country did, in the war effort contributing time and effort. We are proud to recognize some of our own who served on active duty including:
Arnold Engelmann who was an Army Officer.
Ted Gateman who was a combat fighter pilot in the Army Air Corps in the Pacific.
Bob Goldenberg who served as a naval officer in the Pacific.
Jerry Kreinik who served in the Army Medical Corps.
Herman Marshall who served in the Army Air Corps in Greenland and Iceland.
Many civilians worked in Defense Industries including Eloise Carroll who worked on military items at Corning Glass.
