Hebrew Benevolence Society Cemetery
Columbus, Colorado County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Comprising one acre of land, this cemetery was begun in 1879 with the burial of M. A. Levy. Although its name suggests an affiliation with a Hebrew Benevolent Society, there was never a specific organization associated with the cemetery. Several of the city's Jewish citizens are buried here, including two infants who died in the 1880s and merchant Louis Rosenstein. The last burial was that of Pauline Lewin Nussbaum in 1938. Abandoned for many years, the cemetery was restored in 1988 by a Boy Scout troop from congregation Beth Israel in Houston.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
This one-acre burial ground opened in 1879 with the interment of M. A. Levy and became a resting place for members of Columbus's Jewish community, including the merchant Louis Rosenstein and two infants who died in the 1880s. Despite its name, no formal benevolent society was ever tied to it. After decades of neglect, it was restored in 1988 by a Houston Boy Scout troop from Congregation Beth Israel.
Why it matters
It marks the presence and endurance of a small-town Jewish community in 19th-century Texas, a thread of the broader immigrant story.
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Related people
- · M. A. Levy
- · Louis Rosenstein
- · Pauline Lewin Nussbaum
Themes & tags
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