Tour of Jewish Historical Sites, Brownsville, TX by Larry Holtzman
Masonic Lodge, 1131 E. Jefferson St, Brownsville, TX.
The location in the early 1900’s where the Jewish community of Brownsville and Matamoros conducted High Holiday services. The building was built as the first Cameron County Courthouse (1883) in the Second Empire style by architect Jasper N. Person. A new courthouse was built in 1914. The first Temple Beth-El synagogue was built in 1932.
First Temple Beth-El Building (built 1932), 825 W. St. Francis St., Brownsville, TX
Ben Fruedenstein donated the lot at the corner of West 8th St. and St. Charles and the women of the Temple Beth-El Sisterhood launched a building drive. In 1931, they hired a contractor to construct a white-stucco sanctuary for $4,265.00. They added a kitchen and a bathroom for an additional $40.00.
The little house of worship, completed in 1932, doubled as a religious school. On Sunday mornings, students and teachers gathered among the pews for classes, with the youngest children meeting in the back rows and the teenagers sitting up front. Sam Perl served as the lay-rabbi and his sister-in-law, Corine Perl, was the head of the Sunday School. There were ten students divided into three grades. By the spring of 1933, the religious school had graduated its first students – a confirmation class of four adolescents.
Present Temple Beth-El building (built 1989), 24 Coveway, Brownsville, TX
The construction in 1989 of the present Temple Beth-El building at 24 Coveway Dr. was a large project involving the members of the congregation as well as friends of the Temple. The person in charge of the building committee was Harry Holzman.
The funds came from many years of congregational contributions to a Building Fund and from fund-raising events. In 1983, Mae Rose Stein, a charter member of Temple Beth-El, left a legacy to build a Sunday School in honor of Lewis Albert Stein, her only child. Lewis, a former pupil and teacher of Temple Beth-El Sunday School, was killed in action during World War II.
Above the door to the school wing is a plaque that reads, “A legacy of Mae Rose and J. Morris Stein, in Remembrance of their son, Lewis Albert Stein – The Lewis Albert Stein Memorial Religious School. “Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children” – Deuteronomy VI, 7.”
The stained-glass windows in the sanctuary were designed and built by Cavallini Company of San Antonio. Their first design was rejected as looking too much like it belonged in a church. The committee asked for a Chagal-like design and after being tweaked a few times the design was accepted.
On a wall in the foyer hangs a marble wall sculpture of the Ten Commandments that originally was installed in 1932 above the Aron Kodesh (Holy Ark) of Brownsville’s first Temple. The tablet and frame weigh over 600 pounds. The wall had to be reinforced to hold it.
Hebrew Cemetery of Brownsville (1868), Opposite 218 E. Madison, Brownsville, TX
The land for the Hebrew Cemetery of Brownsville, Texas, was deeded in 1868 by the founder of Brownsville, Charles Stillman, to the Hebrew Benevolent Society for $1.00.
The beautifully landscaped cemetery is located at the corner of 2nd and E. Madison St. and is enclosed by a 100-year-old triple brick wall. Hebrew Cemetery is an active cemetery.
Jewish war veterans are buried here from the following wars: Mexican-American War, Civil War (2 Confederate: 2 Union Army), Spanish American War, World War I, twenty-two from World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War as well as survivors of the Holocaust.
The Hebrew Cemetery has a Texas Historical Marker and is designated as a Historic Texas Cemetery. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior. It was selected for the First Lady’s Treasures Award in 2011.
In 1925, Morris Edelstein and W.A. Leiberman (Snake King) donated two identical wrought iron gates to the Hebrew Cemetery. They commissioned them to be made of wrought iron in Matamoros and had them installed. Only the present gate is still in use. In 1996, the other entrance was sealed, and the iron gate was donated to the Historic Brownville Museum.
Historic Brownsville Museum, 641 E. Madison St., Brownsville, TX (956)548-1313
This museum is housed in the Old Southern Pacific Railroad Depot (1928). There are exhibits of early Brownsville. Installed here is one of the iron gates from the Hebrew Cemetery.
Stillman House Museum (1850), 1325 E. Washington St., Brownsville, TX (956)541-5560
The Stillman House was home to Charles Stillman, the founder of Brownsville. In 1868 he sold the land for the Hebrew Cemetery for a token $1.00. Visit the book store inside.
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, 7200 Paredes Line Rd., Brownsville, TX
(956)541-2785. The visitor center offers a 15-minute video: “War on the Rio Grande.”
In May of 1846, the Battle of Palo Alto was the first battle of the two-year long Mexican-American War that changed the map of North America. A founding member of the Brownsville Jewish community, Bernard Kowalski, born in Poland, was an officer in the Quartermaster Corp under General Zachary Taylor. Bernard was with Taylor all the way to Mexico City. When the Mexican-American War ended in 1848, Bernard, his wife Sophia and their three children moved to Matamoros where he established a mercantile business. Later they moved to Brownsville.
Kowalski-Fernandez Historic House (Circa 1890), 319 E. Elizabeth Street.
Benjamin Kowalski, Son of Bernard and Sophia Kowalski, was Mayor of Brownsville from 1910-1912. He and his wife, Corinne, built this 2-story Spanish Colonial Revival style house.
Kowalski-Dennett Historic House (1893), 507 E. Elizabeth Street.
Louis Kowalski, also son of Bernard and Sophia, was County Treasurer and District Clerk. He and his wife, Amalia, built this 2-story French Mansard house.
Bollack Department Store (1910), 1223 E. Elizabeth Street.
Henry Bollack established a downtown retail store in 1878. His widow, Pauline, continued the business and in 1911 built this 3-story building as the first department store in Brownsville.
