Historical Chronology

1849    Mt. Wood Cemetery purchased to bury an itinerate rabbi who died while in Wheeling

1849     15 families, mostly from south Germany formed a congregation in Wheeling, VA.

1850     Agudas Achim, an Orthodox congregation, formed in Bellaire, OH

1849-1856   A small community of Jews held services during the High Holy Days in a small room on the 3rd floor of a house at 14th and Main Street

1856     Rabbi Faulk -1st Rabbi in Wheeling

1861      Congregation moved to Meledeon Hall on East Side of Main Street near 13th Street

1865      Rabbi Rullenauer succeeds Rabbi Faulk

1865      Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Society formed–dues were $0.25

1869      Reform prayer book supplanted Orthodox

1872      Congregation moved to the Hub Building; Rabbi Meyer was engaged–monthly sermons were instituted

1875       1st money to build Temple; Congregation moved to Beck’s block 1517 Market Street

1877       Congregation moved to Odd Fellow Temple at 12th and Chapline

1888       Mt. Wood, which had been held in trust since 1849 by the city of Wheeling, was transferred to the Temple.

1897       Rabbi Yogelsdorf was engaged and delivered the weekly sermon in English

1882       Congregation moved to erect building of its own

1897       The Union Prayerbook  was introduced.

1891        Eoff Street Temple construction began.  The congregation join the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC)

1892        Eoff Street Temple was formally dedicated; joined Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC) founded in 1873; now URJ (Union for Reform Judaism)

1897-1899   The Reform congregation, Sons of Israel was organized in Bellaire, OH.

1914-1915    Rabbi Morris S. Lazaron elected to serve

1915-1917     Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver