Property Record
1223 EMERY ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Wesleyan Methodist Church |
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| Other Name: | TEMPLE SHOLOM SYNAGOGUE |
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| Reference Number: | 41087 |
| Location (Address): | 1223 EMERY ST |
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| County: | Eau Claire |
| City: | Eau Claire |
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| Year Built: | 1916 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2009 |
| Historic Use: | church |
| Architectural Style: | Early Gothic Revival |
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| Wall Material: | Stucco |
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| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | A small church distinguished by stucco walls, a corner entrance tower, and large pointed arch window. "Antecedents of Temple Sholom in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, date back to 1885 when the Jewish residents of the area first conducted services. Although the congregation has existed since then, it was not until the 1940's that the Temple became active in providing for the religious needs of Jewish families in the Eau Claire area. Due to its relatively small size - approximately thirty families - the Temple acts as the shelter organization of all Jewish institutional life in the Chippewa Valley. Consisting of Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Jews, the congregation decided in 1969 to affiliate with the United Synagogue of America, the National Organization of Conservative Judaism. The Temple and its member organizations, which include men and women's B'nai B'rith Chapters, Hadassah, and United Synagogue Youth, provide the congregation with educational programs such as speakers, Hebrew lessons, a Sunday school, and study groups. Most of the services are lay-run with rabbis from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area coming to celebrate the High Holy Days. The small size of the congregation has brought about changes in several of the organizations. In 1972 the Chippewa Valley B'nai B'rith lodge, Temple Sholom's B'nai B'rith affiliate, received national attention when it voted to drop the "male only" clause of its membership rules" (B). Previous to its location in the former Wesleyan Methodist Church (this occurred in 1959 or 1960), the congregation gathered in people's homes or in one of the city's hotels (C). THIS CHURCH WAS OCCUPIED BY THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH FROM 1931 TO 1945, ACCORDING TO SANBORN MAPS, BUT IT IS OLDER THEN THAT. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) 1897 (corrected to 1916) Sanborn Perris Map. (B) Temple Sholom, Eau Claire, Wis., records 1962-1977 (microfilm at UW-Eau Claire, Area Research Center)-this short history is taken from reel 1. (C) Interview with Mort Sipress, member of Temple Sholom. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |