The Jewish people in medieval Europe were widely scorned and ostracized by Christians and became scattered throughout northern Europe and Russia, many becoming gypsies and peddlers. Since Christians were forbidden to lend money at interest, the Jews filled the gap and became money lenders with some lucrative results.
In Imperial Russia in about 1720, Peter the Great denounced the Jews as rogues and cheats. In sharp contrast, the United States, with its declaration of equality in the First Amendment in 1791, became a haven for a great wave of immigration for all nationalities and sects, including Jews.
In 1885, Aaron Grinspan was the first of 30 to 40 Jewish families to come from Russia to Centerville. Some of the emigrants established themselves in businesses such as clothing stores. They organized a congregation in 1892. Jacob Friedlander was the first president of the congregation of B’nai Israel.
A frame synagogue was erected on the northeast corner of Terry and 15th in 1894 at a cost of $3,000. The first Rabbi was Rabbi Kertzok, succeeded by Rabbi Israel. In 1905 the Ladies Hebrew Aid Society was organized and built the parsonage. In 1912, the congregation was re-organized and the building remodeled with L. Salinger as president.
The Jewish people acquired one acre for their cemetery in 1892. It is on steep slope near the extreme north end of North 18th Street and seems to be only about 75 feet square now. It has a fine entrance with an overhead wrought iron sign reading “Hebrew Cemetery in Memorium to Rose Ritchell, 1861-1919.
Through the years, the Jewish population dwindled, with many of them going to Chicago. With the dwindling of the Jewish population, the synagogue was closed and eventually sold to the Church of the Epiphany in the 1980s. The appearance of the church was then altered by the addition of a large cross. The cemetery has gradually become quite deserted.
Meanwhile, there was a large proliferation of the number of churches of other protestant denominations established in America. As an English colony, the people had witnessed the frequent abuse of power of the Church of England, which was an integral part of colonial government. One prime example was the burning of witches in the New England states.
The framers of the United States Constitution wisely provided in its First Amendment that religion would be separated from Government. Such religious freedom allowed any group to form their own Church, based on whim, social cohesion or fundamental differences in beliefs. Methodists and Baptists Churches had large followings and generated many off-shoots. Other new churches were soon established at an astoundingly rapid pace in pioneer America, as they continue to do so to this day.
Many of these other new churches were organized long after Centerville was originally settled. The Church of the Nazarene was organized in 1921. At first they met in the home of Bill Bryant and later in a church building on the corner of South 18th and Terry. In 1928 they moved into a wood frame church on the corner of East Bank and South 15th. In 1963, the Rev. Charles Keyes was sent to build a new stone church at 415 East Bank, just north of the previous church. It was dedicated in 1966. Membership was 56.
The Seventh Day Adventists who hold Saturday as their Holy Day, were organized in Mystic in 1926. Elmer Fish held tent meetings on the school grounds there. Meetings were also held in Exline and in Darby. The Simmons family and others of the Adventist faith began meeting in the IOOF Hall in Centerville, where they organized a church. A building was erected on the corner of Haynes and Franklin in 1940. In the early 1990s they built a new church building just east of Golfview.
The Church of God was a group of 10 women who met in the home of Belle Ervin for cottage prayer meetings. They were formally organized in 1941. They met in a number of places and built a basement church at 718 East Wilson. A school building was rebuilt on top of the basement for a church and the basement used for Sunday school. The Rev. L.J. Stone came as pastor in 1950 and instituted a radio broadcast. A new church building was built on Rock Valley Road, just east of Highway No. 5 in 1980.
The Apostolic Pentecostal Church was organized in 1958. The congregation worshipped for a time in stores and houses but were able to build a church building at 1401 S. 20th. There was an addition in 1974 and the building was redecorated and given new siding in 1985. It is now located at 1307 W. Washington.
Some other churches through the years were: Church of the Open Bible at 5th and Van Buren, Church of Christ at 311 E. Franklin, Christian Science at 118 N. 10th, Jehovah’s Witnesses at 1626 S. Main and Assembly of God on Highway No. 2 at the east end of Centerville. This concludes my series of articles on Centerville churches.
Correspondents
Jewish Synagogue and other churches
- Correspondents
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- History of ‘Taps’ and other fun facts
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Planning under way for July 4
I hope everyone is enjoying the nice weather we have been having lately. You can see as you travel around that the farmers are sure busy working in their fields, getting their crops in.
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Exline city-wide cleanup May 4-5
- History of telephone service in Appanoose County; Easter eggs still available to purchase
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Spring clean up days coming in May
I hope everyone survived the pranks that some people play on April Fool’s Day. Isn’t it something how earlier in the week we had more summer like weather, so early in the springtime?
The recipe for this week, I thought was appropriate for this time of the year. -
May fundraiser, dance has a change of date
April is here and the flowers are blooming. We are enjoying the nice weather. Friday, April 6 will be our Easter lunch with games.
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History of telephone service in Appanoose County; Easter eggs still available to purchase
The early springtime weather sure has been enjoyable. Some people say we may have a cold snap to interrupt this stretch of good weather. We just have to hope we do not get any late spring snow storms like we have experienced in the past.
- Easter Egg fundraiser to be March 25
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Still time to buy brick for bell pedestal
Has everyone gotten adjusted to Daylight Savings Time yet? It is kind of strange at first because it stays darker in the morning now and is lighter later into the evening. We will eventually get used to it. Hasn’t the weather been fantastic for the most part, with temperatures in the 70s? The spring flowers will be in bloom before you know it.
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Royal Neighbors to hold dinner
The weather continues to be different. One day it is snowing and another day it is sunny and mild. With this continued mild weather, the spring flowers plants and shrubs will soon be coming into flower, which will be earlier than usual. At least we are not experiencing those severe tornadoes like a lot of other places have been having.
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A history and childhood memories of the Moravia Methodist Church
When I was about six or seven, I was delegated to walk with my grandma, Christianna Kaster, to church on Sunday because grandma was a little lightheaded.
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Plans for summer trips under way
As we start another new month we look forward to spring with the trees budding and the flowers blooming.
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Some interesting facts about Leap Year
Are you aware that in less than three weeks, it will be the first day of spring? That will occur on Tuesday, March 20 at 1:14 a.m.
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President’s Day: Where it came from and how it has become what it is today
It continues to be an unbelievable winter with the unseasonable weather that we continue to have. I do not know how well that will be for the farmers because of the lack of moisture but from a shoveling standpoint, it is good news!
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Exline soup supper tomorrow; still time to buy bricks for bell
Well, I hope everyone had a nice Valentine’s Day and enjoyed having some decadent chocolate sweets. Did you know that in 1537, England's King Henry VII officially declared Feb. 14 the holiday of St. Valentine's Day. It is nice to have a day devoted to enjoying chocolate.
- More Correspondents Headlines
