Trinidad,Colorado , 1883-1993

In 1867, Jewish businessman Abraham Jacobs purchased the Denver-Pueblo stagecoach line and extended it to Trinidad. Maurice Wise, Trinidad's first Jewish resident, ran a store on Main Street by 1867. Mostly German Jewish immigrants folowed to operate dry goods and mercantile stores. Henry Jaffa, Samuel Jaffa, David Gottlieb, and the Rosenwald brothers were also in te mercantile trade in Trinidad. In 1874, two of six physicians were Jewish. Many Trinidad Jews had ties with the New Mexico Jewish community. The first minyan was in 1871. Jews were among Trinidad's early civic leaders. In 1878, a B'nai B'rith lodge was chartered. Temple Aaron was organized in 1883 and built an ornate structure in 1889. Now a historic landmark and the oldest continuously use orthodox synagogue in Colorado, it was donated to the Colorado Historical Society. The Jewish community peaked at 500 in the early 20h century. Prominent Trinidad Jews included Sam Jaffe, Rabbi Leopold Freudenthal, and Beatrice Sanders.