Temple Israel
Exhibition for Frontier Jewish Leadville
Frontier Jewish Leadville

Frontier Jewish Leadville is a permanent exhibition within the Temple Israel building. The original exhibition was formed with artifacts and informational wall panels in 2012 and 2013. It was expanded and retooled in 2014 and 2015 and partially expanded again in 2017. The original text on the wall panels, which accompanied the exhibition and were upgraded to wall-mounted monitors.

Liquor Businesses
Jewish entrepreneurs dominated the wholesale liquor market and owned saloons and entertainment facilities, appealing to a market of thirsty miners. In addition, these businesses sold various tobacco products. Businesses such as Schloss Brothers, Schayer Mercantile Company, Baer Brothers Mercantile Company, S. F. Ballin and Company, and Goulder Janowitz and Sons enjoyed a thriving trade in Leadville’s boom economy.
Liquor Businesses

Tokens

Five trade tokens used in saloons as change.

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Receipt

Schloss Bottling Company’s prefabricated receipt completed by hand.

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Advertising Card

Advertising card for Ben Loeb "Hot Beef Tea".

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Advertising Card

Hyman’s Club Rooms advertising card.

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Cigar Box

Wolf & Schayer wooden cigar box.

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Trade Card

Ben Loeb’s Palace of Pleasure trade card

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Receipt

Baer Brothers prefabricated receipt completed by hand.

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Box Cutter

Schayer promotional cigar box opener.

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Corkscrew

Schloss Brothers wood handled corkscrew.

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Corkscrew

G. Janowitz corkscrew in wooden case.

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Serving Tray

Round Baer Brothers serving tray.

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Liquor Businesses

Whiskey bottle (1 quart)

G. Janowitz & Sons

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Whiskey jug (2 gallon)

Schloss Brothers

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Whiskey jug (1 gallon)

G. Janowitz & Sons

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Whiskey jug (½ gallon)

S.F. Ballin & Company

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Whiskey jug (1 gallon)

Schloss Brothers

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Whiskey jug (1 gallon)

Schayer Mercantile Company

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Whiskey jug (½ gallon)

Schloss Brothers

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Whiskey jug (1 gallon)

Baer Brothers Mercantile Company

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Siphon Bottle (Seltzer Bottle)

Baer Brothers Mercantile Company

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Jewish Merchants
The Jews who ventured to Leadville were primarily engaged as downtown merchants, integrating well into Leadville’s commercial fabric. Interspersed along central Harrison Avenue and some of the side streets, their enterprises contributed to a healthy local economy. Monheimer Brothers, May & Shoenberg, and the Golden Eagle (Guldman) were amongst the important participant in the dry goods business. Jews also worked in significant numbers as grocers, tailors, saloonkeepers, tobacconists, jewelers & pawnbrokers, and as clerks.
Jewish Merchants

Trade Tokens

Trade tokens for grocer Julius Raabe

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Photograph

Harrison Avenue during a parade, circa 1903-1907

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Advertisement

Carbonate National Bank (Moses Londoner)

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Photograph

Tabor Opera House, by William Henry Jackson, 1881-1882

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Photograph

View looking north from the 300 block of Harrison Avenue, 1885-1890

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Photograph

East Chestnut Street, possibly by George D. Wakeley, 1879

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Photograph

West Chestnut Street, by Joseph M. Collier, 1880

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Wood Hangers

By Ed Jackson, tailor

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Metal Buttons

By Ed Jackson, tailor

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Jewish Merchants

Check

Miner’s Exchange Bank to Sol. Levi, December 25, 1880

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Calendar

1927, Hyman Isaacs, clothier

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Jewelry Case

Benjamin Davies, jeweler

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Pocket watch (no case)

Daniel G. Golding, jeweler, 1881-1884

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Pants for Infant

Marx & Haas Clothing Company for M.B. Miller, clothier

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Receipt

Sands Brothers, clothiers, June 7, 1893

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Receipt

Monheimer Brothers, January 1, 1882

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Mining
Although gold originally attracted people to Leadville in 1860, it was the discovery of silver in the mid-1870s that caused the city to mushroom. By 1877, a massive influx of people sought to get rich quick through mining or mining-related enterprises. Similar to the 1850s California Gold Rush, most Leadville Jews ended up providing goods and services to miners, but many did have varying levels of involvement in mining and with mining claims.
Mining

Photograph

Alfred Brisbois photograph of Minnie mineshaft.

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Postcards

These postcards show California Gulch with the A.Y. and Minnie Mines.

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Cabinet Card

Cabinet card showing California Gulch with the A.Y. and Minnie Mines, by Alfred Brisbois

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Photograph

A.Y. and Minnie Mines

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Photo Book

Illustrated souvenir books by John Nowland & Company

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Cerussite

A.Y. and Minnie Cerussite, lead carbonate, mineral sample.

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Jewish Family Life
The objects and photographs in this case reflect family life and home based religious rituals. The candelabrum and wine decanter are items for home Shabbat rituals, while the photographs show Jews in Leadville.
Jewish Family Life

Photograph

Three ladies of the Harwitz family, by Theodore M. Jones, 1907

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Photographs

Photos of Minnette Miller.

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Photograph

Oliner family portrait.

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Kiddush Decanter

Clear glass kiddush bottle. Bottle reads: “L’chaim”, meaning “To life”.

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Candelabrum

A home use candelabrum for family Shabbat services.

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Photograph

Theodore (Ted) Phillippe as a baby, Payne & Stockdorf photo.

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Photograph

Theodore (Ted) Phillippe as a small boy, Wing's Gallery photo.

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Photograph

Samuel Phillippe as an adult in Leadville, Brisbois photo.

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Judaism in a Frontier Mining Town
The basic evidence of Jews in Leadville is with the synagogue building itself and the presence of a Jewish section of the broader Evergreen Cemetery.
Judaism

Grave Marker, Tombstone

Original grave marker for Feitleberg infant.

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Star of David

This original star was buried in the ground during the restoration of the building.

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Souvenir China
The word souvenir is French meaning “memory”, or specifically “to come to mind”, which can include any range of items that serves as a reminder of a person, place, or event. Souvenir china, spoons, and other decorative items were quite popular in the 1890s to WWI, creating a souvenir china industry that thrived. Jennie (J.S.) Sandusky decided to add souvenir china in 1897 to her store of furniture and second hand goods. She obtained customized plates, dishes, cups, creamers, and the like from the American company Wheelock China, which had the china manufactured in Germany or Austria. Wheelock was a large importer that solicited customized china products for merchants across the United States. Most of the china included in this case illustrates images depicting Leadville landmarks, many of which still stand.
Souvenir China

Plate

Porcelain souvenir plate, image of Arkansas Valley Smelter.

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Bowl

Porcelain souvenir bowl, image of the Arkansas Valley Smelter.

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Tea Tile

Porcelain souvenir tea tile (hot plate), image of Arkansas Valley Smelting Company.

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Decorative Plate

Porcelain plate with hand painted roses, Ben Cohn and Brother.

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Plate

Porcelain souvenir plate, image of Little Johnnie Mine.

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Cup

Porcelain souvenir tea cup, image of Leadville High School.

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Dish

Porcelain souvenir butter pat dish, image of Leadville High School.

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Creamer

Porcelain souvenir creamer, image of Leadville post office.

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Creamer

Porcelain souvenir creamer, image of Little Johnnie Mine.

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Dish

Porcelain souvenir folded corner dish, image of Little Johnnie Mine.

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Cup

Souvenir tea cup, image of Little Johnnie Mine.

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Vase

Porcelain souvenir bud vase, image of Lake County Court House.

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Souvenir China

Dish

Porcelain souvenir soap dish, image of Yak Mills.

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Plate

Porcelain souvenir plate, image of Elks' Opera House (Tabor Opera House).

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Bowl

Porcelain souvenir bowl, image of Church of the Annunciation.

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Dish

Porcelain souvenir shell & bow dish, image of Church of the Annunciation.

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Dish

Porcelain souvenir icecream dish, image of Lake County Court House.

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Spoons

Souvenir Spoons, “Leadville”, from Benjamin Davies, jeweler.

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Dish

Porcelain souvenir folded corner pin dish, image of Little Johnnie Mine.

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Cup

Souvenir tea cup, image of Little Johnnie Mine.

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Vase

Porcelain souvenir bud vase, image of Lake County Court House.

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Dish

Porcelain souvenir octagonal pointed pin dish, image of Leadville High School.

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Dish

Porcelain souvenir butter pat dish, image of Leadville High School.

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Creamer

Porcelain souvenir creamer, image of Leadville post office.

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Dish

Porcelain souvenir folded corner dish, image of Little Johnnie Mine.

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Temple Israel Foundation
208 West 8th Street
Leadville, Colorado 80461
303.709.7050

Temple Israel Museum
201 West 4th Street
Leadville, Colorado 80461
Wm.A.Korn@gmail.com

Hebrew Cemetery
SW Corner of Evergreen Cemetery
North end of James Street, Leadville
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