AS YOU DRIVE FROM PLACE TO PLACE
Noted Jewish citizens are recognized on Carolina highways and bridges. As you motor on I-77 near Columbia you see interchanges named for Hyman Rubin and Isadore Lurie. And as you enter Georgetown from the south, you cross a great bridge named for Sylvan Rosen. In Charleston Raoul Wallenberg Boulevard honors the Swedish diplomat who rescued more Jews than any other individual or institution in Nazi-occupied Europe.
BERNARD BARUCH'S HOME
Bernard Baruch, adviser to all American presidents from Woodrow Wilson to Franklin Roosevelt, owned the 17,500-acre Hobcaw Barony as his winter home from 1907 to 1965. Here he entertained President Franklin and Ms. Eleanor Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, General George Marshall, authors Jack London and H. G. Wells, LIFE publishers Henry and Clare Luce, and many other world-famous dignitaries. Visitor Center is 1 mile north of Georgetown, SC, on US 17. Museum open free Monday-Friday 10am-5pm. Children love saltwater touch tank and hands-on table of treasures. Three-hour $15 tours by reservation. Phone 843-546-3623.
SC NATURAL RESOURCES GET INCREDIBLE BOOST FROM BARUCH RESEARCH LEGACY
The 17,500 acre coastal estate left by Bernard Baruch and his daughter Belle is being put to priceless work by two SC universities — Clemson and USC. Hobcaw Barony is now an internationally recognized wildlife refuge used for research in forestry, marine biology, ocean environments, and propagation of wildlife, flora, and fauna. It's called the Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science. You can visit the field lab by phoning the Baruch Marine Lab at 843-546-5219 or the Belle Baruch Institute at 843-546-1013.
KAMINSKI HOUSE MUSEUM
The Kaminski House Museum is a gorgeous pre-revolutionary landmark at 1003 Front street in Historic Georgetown, SC. It was named for Harold Kaminski, former owner of the home and mayor who served in both world wars. It houses a collection of fine antiques dating from the 15th century. Tours Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm. Adult $5, children 2-6 $2, younger children free.
A LOVELY OLD CEMETERY
The second oldest Jewish cemetery in SC is Beth Elohim at the corner of Broad and Duke Streets in the Historic Georgetown section. Great old live oaks and palmetto trees soar over the graves of three of the town's six Jewish mayors: Louis Ehrlich, Harold Kaminsky and Sylvan Rosen.
THE HEART OF MYRTLE BEACH WAS OWNED
BY A JEWISH SPINSTER NAMED KLEIN
Hundreds of millions of dollars of today's oceanfront property in Myrtle Beach was once owned by a spinster Jewish woman named Margaret A. Klein. She was an author, teacher and New York World columnist, born in Walterboro, SC, in 1864 and died there in 1941. Cassandra Lane today runs through those 143 acres, called Hurl Rock Beach Development in the 1930s. Then Cassandra Lane was called Klein Street. The property joins Kings Highway with Ocean Drive from 19th to 23rd streets in the shape of a parallelogram.
MYRTLE BEACH THANKS LAMBO FOR ITS NEW CONVENTION CENTER
When Lambert Schwartz moved from Charlotte to Myrtle Beach, things got better at the beach. This plaque dedicating the huge city exhibition hall to him says it all:
THE J. LAMBERT SCHWARTZ EXHIBITION HALL
Dedicated to the Memory of J. Lambert "Lambo" Schwartz
“In grateful appreciation for his energy, for his dedication and love for family and community, for his steadfast belief in the character-building attributes of competitive sporting events, and for his leadership and vision in tirelessly advancing the cause for a new, larger, and finer Myrtle Beach Convention Center. October 22, 1994”
Situated at 2101 Oak Street. You can't miss it.
Right over the entry door to the meeting room is a large fresco painting of a Star of David framing two right hands in a Masonic grip.
You are in the famous St. John’s #3 lodge at 516 Hancock Street in the historic section of New Bern, NC. The upper walls of the room are filled with dramatic, hand-painted frescoes. They are used as illustrations for lectures in the first three degrees of Freemasonry—ceremonies other lodges perform with modest projected or printed images.
These frescoes were painted in 1857 and are now being restored to original beauty. This lodge was meeting even before 1755. Its most famous early Jewish member was Jacob Henry (see story of his house below). Others were Abraham Cutten, Samuel Hart and Jacob Sabiston.
Why this combined symbol of Masonry and Judaism, unseen anywhere else? Today’s brethren believe it was painted to honor God’s people of the Bible and their heritage that is closely woven into Masonic ritual.
Public welcome 8am to 4pm daily. Buildings owned and administered by Scottish Rite Valley of New Bern. Phone 252-638-4031.
JACOB HENRY, 1808 JEWISH HERO
Facing the ocean in Beaufort, NC, near Morehead City, the charming 1802 saltbox home of Jacob Henry still stands at 229 Front Street. Henry was North Carolina’s first Jewish legislator. He was elected to the general assembly in 1808. But the state constitution had a religious test for office. He was asked to take his oath on the New Testament or suffer expulsion from office. Henry refused. He then delivered a speech in defense of full religious liberty for all Americans. He was permitted to take his seat.
OLDEST SYNAGOGUE IN NORTH CAROLlNA
Historic Temple of Israel was established in 1872 as the state's first Jewish house of worship when Wilmington was its largest city. The structure was built in 1875, featuring Moorish style and twin towers painted gold. On Southeast corner of Market and 4th streets. Services 8pm Fridays.
Photo © UNC
JEWISH REFUGEE FARMERS IN VAN EEDEN
The incredible story is true: a Wilmington Episcopalian, Hugh MacRae, and a Nyack, NY, Jew, Dr. Alvin Johnson, partnered to save European Jews in 1939. They obligated themselves to give North Carolina farming jobs to all the Jews they could save. When visas were halted, the flow ended. But 50 to 60 adults and children made it safely. They attended Reform services faithfully in Wilmington. Most survive today. Winslow Wilkings and his son John farm the land now. They live in a new house to which two of the original Jewish houses have been appended. Van Eeden lies 4 miles north of Burgaw in Pender County, NC. From Burgaw take US 117 north, left on #1347, right on #1315. (Factual details may be found in the book “Van Eeden” by Susan Taylor Block.)
The pre-eminent Jewish name in Goldsboro, NC, was and is Weil (pronounced wheel). Two German brothers, Henry and Solomon Weil, were among the first Jews to settle in Goldsboro.
They lived to lead in business and civic affairs for several decades and generated a formidable family which continues today.
The twin Weil houses were built for them in 1875 at 200 and 204 West Chestnut Street. They were saved from demolition by a coalition of preservationists and are a nationally recognized treasure.
Gertrude Weil (1879-1971) gained fame for advocating extension of voting rights to women. She was an activist in labor, race, and Jewish causes. She lived in Henry’s blue-and-white corner house. Solomon's brown house next door is today an exquisite place for the public to dine amid hundreds of museum pieces.
In 1944 Lionel Weil proposed the cliffs area along the Neuse River be developed as a NC state park. Within a year Weil and others donated the first of 751 acres along spectacular cliffs rising 90 feet above the river’s south bank.
These were once Tuscarora and Saponi Indian ceremonial and hunting grounds.
Today the public enjoys great views, the lake, fishing, hiking trails, museum, ranger-guided exploration, plants and animals, swimming, camping, picnicking, amphitheater and boat rentals.
Drive 15 miles southeast of Goldsboro on US 70 and NC 111 near Seven Springs. Free admission. Open year-around at 8am. Closes anywhere from 6 to 9pm depending on season.
A simple plaque beside the cliffs-area parking lot honors Weil’s priceless contribution.
In the 1960s East Carolina University President Leo Jenkins asked the Brody family of Greenville to help create a new four-year medical school. They warmly agreed, giving $22 million over four decades.
Funds came from the NC legislature and from Sammy, Morris, Leo, Hyman and David Brody to make reality of Jenkins' dream. Those gifts killed Charlotte's hopes for a medical school in the state's largest city but brought excellence and importance to medical facilities, practice, research and education in Eastern NC. At 600 Moye Boulevard in Greenville.
SYMBOL OF FAITH IN GEORGETOWN
In the 1760s a handful of Jews in Georgetown established a thriving community second only to Charleston's. By 1800 the Jews of Georgetown were dominating the city's civic life. In 1904 they organized Congregation Beth Elohim. This sanctuary, situated at the corner of Screven and Highmarket Streets, was built in 1950.