The 1870′s
Timeline of Jewish History in Los Angeles
Originally published by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles, 2002.
Information from:
Newmark, Harris. Sixty Years in Southern California 1853-1913. NY. 1926.
Vorspan, Max and Gartner, Lloyd. History of the Jews of Los Angeles. Huntington Library. 1970.
Thanks to Wendy Elliott Scheinberg: Timeline of Boyle Heights 1900-1939; to Harriet Rochlin for her insight, her many additions and corrections; to Bob Hattem, JGSLA Archivist.
- 1870
- Federal Census lists Los Angeles total population of 5,728 of which there were 330 Jewish individuals in the city or 5.76% of the total population.
- It had taken seven years to form a congregation out of the Hebrew Benevolent Society. The construction of a synagogue took many more years. However, money for a building fund was solicited much earlier. On July 12, 1870, the retiring president of the Congregation, Henry Wartenberg, gave a report of the accomplishments of his tenure to the Los Angeles Star for publication. Published in book form, authored by Norton Stern.
- Ladies’ Hebrew Benevolent Society was the first women’s philanthropic organization (led by Rosa Newmark) in Los Angeles.
- Banking and the railroad came to Los Angeles.
- Forerunner of all social clubs was the Los Angeles Social Club. Social clubs were rapidly expanded in the 1880′s.
- 1871
- Chinese Massacre, during which patrolman Emil Harris tried to protect the Chinese, earning their friendship in the future.
- 1872
- L.A.’s first synagogue. Congregation B’nai B’rith stood from 1872-1895 on Fort St. (now Broadway) between 2nd and 3rd. The congregation’s Wilshire Blvd. Temple was built about 1925, where it remains today.
- 1873
- Depression / “Panic of 1873”
- 1874
- Independent Order of B’nai B’rith began in Los Angeles
- 1875
- Ephrain Greenbaum and his wife established the White House Hotel
- 1876
- David d’Ancona made a brief trip to Los Angeles. He wrote in his diary, “Los Angeles is the Damascus of America.” There is a book written about him by the late Dr. Norton Stern and Rabbi William Kramer.
- 1877 and 1878.
- Emil Harris, born in Prussia, organized the Los Angeles Turnverein, a German social and athletic club. He served as Los Angeles Police Chief.
- 1878
- Bernard Cohn, Jewish politician, served briefly as mayor pro-tem, and was nominated for mayor by the People’s Party. Cohn lost the election but was reelected to the council.
Recent Blog Comments