First Hebrew Cemetery..... Eighteen Jewish citizens of Peekskill formally organized the First Hebrew Congregation in 1906 meeting above a laundry on Main Street. They had been meeting for many years prior to their formal organization. On Nov 14, 1899 Robert and Lucy E. McCord donated a piece of land across from St Peters Church yard to the congregation with the stipulation that the said premises (should) always be used as a cemetery for the Hebrew People of Peekskill and vicinity. Today the cemetery is accessed by a lane leading from Cortlandt (Locust) Ave to Oregon Rd. The cemeterys original gate which is now closed remains in place on Oregon Road across from St Peters churchyard. The William Stern Post #70 of the Jewish War Veterans established a plot with 2 WWI cannon which contains the grave of private Saul Gerlich (1911-1944) 60Th Infantry regt who was killed in action during World war II as well as a monument listing the names of the four Jewish men from Peekskill who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of their country during that conflict.
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 21:22:32 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015