OUR HERITAGE jewish fredericksburg

By nancy moore

remembered as "a substantial pillar in the business life of Fredericksburg." His store at 920 Caroline Street was the area's largest seller of gentlemen's clothing.

Goldsmith's daughter, Ida , granddaughter of Kaufman Hirsh, married Henry Ulman in 1889. A three-column description of the "Charming Matrimonial Event," at the Opera House appeared in the Fredericksburg Star. Attendees included many of the town's leading citizens.

Henry Ulman ran a store that sold beer and cigars-until Prohibition came along. He and Ida had eight children. Ulman's Jewelry, opened in 1928 by son Simon, is still family owned.

1931 to manage the family-owned Washington Woolen Mills store at 819 Caroline Street Julian and Rose Levy bought the E M Curtis Department Store in 1941 and renamed it Carley's The popular women's clothing store stayed in business for 40 years at 215 William Street merchandise. Isaac Hirsh became one of the city's leading citizens, running a dry goods store at 924 Caroline Street, and serving on the School Board and City Council-despite his Civil War record, which included desertion from the local Confederate infantry unit and collaboration with Union forces. His brother, David, and his son, Simon, ran the Fredericksburg Feed Store at 304 William Street. Simon, too, became a member of the City Council.

When he moved to Fredericksburg in 1947, Carl D Silver first sold used cars. He and his wife, Maxine, a local girl, were married at the temple. Subsequently, as a land developer, Silver, with his son, Larry, changed the local landscape, bringing needed commercial growth. Maxine was heavily involved in philanthropic efforts, including Loisann's Hope House, the oldest family homeless shelter serving Fredericksburg.

Isaac Hirsh's brother-in-law, Benjamin Goldsmith, had a store on Caroline Street and was an owner of the Opera House, an entertainment venue at the corner of Caroline and William streets. When Benjamin died in 1920, he was

Despite the prominence of these Jewish families, Beth Sholom Temple wasn't established until 1936. Among its first leaders were members of the Ulman, Goldsmith, and Hirsh families.

As the years went by, new Jewish families came to town. Reuben and Addie Miller opened Miller's, a women ' s specialty store Their son, Jerry, continued the family tradition at Miller's and T he Fashion Plate. Jerry Miller was a member of City Council.

Others opened larger businesses. Joseph Goldsmith helped bring G&H Manufacturing Co. here in the 1920s. He too was a member of City Council. Harold Morganstern ran Morganstern Pants Factory until foreign competition forced it to close in 1986. Frank Levinson arrived in

Debby and Albert Klein came in 1953, bringing a new level of cultural activity. He taught drama at Mary Washington College, and she promoted local theater and arts. Debby's wonderful interviews with local leaders, artists, writers, and historians are available on DVD through the library.

Sources for this article include Ruth Friedman's "A Portrait of Jewish Life, Fredericksburg, Virginia" and Josef Rokus' unpublished "Fredericksburg's German Heritage."

Nancy Moore is a member of the board of the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc.,

On September 10, HFFI will offer a walking tour of Jewish Fredericksburg

900 Barton St #111, Fredericksburg, VA www.crhcarchives.org contact@crhcarchives.org

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