http://www.rootsweb.com/~mtlewisa/ has general Lewis and Clark County information. [August 2005]
"In Helena, no clergyman could be found to lead the congregation of Temple Emanu-El after the departure of its first rabbi, Samuel Schulman, and regular services there were suspended in 1898, just seven years after the building's dedication. Nonetheless, the community found a new rabbi in 1901 and retained someone in that post until 1917. Only in the 1930s did the remaining few members of Temple Emanu-El finally deed their building to the state of Montana. The community's cemetery association did not disband until 1943." Source:American Jewish Archives. Dean, "Jewish Community of Helena," 53, 66 67.
Home of Peace Cemetery: Fifty to one hundred Jews lived in Helena in 1999 according to Philip Grossberg, 1615 Stuart, Helena; phone: 406-442-Y1215. Sources: Hundel Cohen, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Carol Adler Zsolnay, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Directions: Go north on Montana Ave. to the intersection of Montana and Custer. Turn left on Custer and continue to Henderson St. Turn south (left) on Henderson to Brady. Turn east (left) and take the first turn north (left).
Montana Historical Society information sent by Carol Zsolnay: This cemetery is adjacent to Capital High School and across Custer Ave from the Lewis & Clark Fairgrounds. The front of the cemetery faces west with a back gate on the east. The front entrance has three stone arches, with the center arch being the largest. On the center arch is inscribed "Home of Peace 1908". The smaller south arch says, "Erected by Morris Sands as a memorial to the sacred memory of his beloved wife, Lizzie who departed this life Jan 9, 1907." The small north arch says "Erected to the memory of Morris Sands who departed this life Dec 14, 1910." A black ornate fence surrounds the cemetery. The grounds are very well kept, watered, mowed, and trimmed with many trees and bushes. A water tower and two sheds are on the north side as you enter. The back gate on the eastern side of the cemetery has two pillars. The south pillar says "Erected by Alice M Gans as a memorial to the sacred memory of her beloved husband, Herman, who departed this life 3 Sep 1901." The north pillar says "Erected by Sadie and Dorothea in memory of their beloved father, Herman Gans." From lot 102 marked "Zimmerman and Schwab" going in a northwesterly direction approximately twelve feet, where twelve graves are on the other side of the fence, All markers have been removed; and some are stacked by the water tower. This land is now leased to Capital High School.
Seven stones in a stack are buried in the SW corner. Various lot numbers. Mr. P W Singer has cared for all lot sales, burials, and record keeping for the past 25 years. Prior to Mr. Singer's tenure, George Grossberg, owner of Globe Clothing, took care of all records. For the past five years, Mr. Beri Nelson maintained the grounds.
The cemetery dates from 1867 according to Postal & Koppman Jewish Tourist's Guide to U.S. Phila., PA: Jewish Publ. Soc., 1954, p.287. Documents exist in AJA. American Jewish Archives, 3101 Clifton Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45220-2488. 513-221-1875 (tel); 513-221-7812 (fax). E-mail: AJA contact form: Home of Peace Cemetery Association; Minutes of the Hebrew Benevolent Society, Dec. 12, 1872- Apr. 12, 1929; and articles of incorporation of the Home of Peace Cemetery Association, Helena, Mont. Sept. 22, 1931. Microfilm No. 1848
Author: Hebrew Benevolent Association of Helena. Title: HEBREW BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION OF HELENA RECORDS, 1865-1943. Notes: Helena, Montana, Jewish fraternal and charitable organization. The original Hebrew Benevolent Association of Helena was organized in December 1866 as a charitable order. Among its members were many of the most prominent and influential merchants and professional men of Helena. The association also went by the name of the United Hebrew Benevolent Association, the First Jewish Benevolent and Cemetery Association, and the Home of Peace Cemetery Association. Organizational and financial records of Hebrew Benevolent Association. Records include two minute books (1865-1943), one including a "Record of Persons Buried in the Jewish Cemetery, Helena, M.T." In addition, there is a monthly dues ledger and cashbook (1868-1869). Finding aid published in: National Inventory of Documentary Sources in the United States, microfiche 3.14.30. This record replaces NUCMC entry MS 79-407. Location: Montana Historical Society, Library and Archives Dept. (Helena) (MC 38). Control No.: DCLV99-A900 [December 2000]