For years it has been a matter of conjecture as to when KKBE’s wrought iron and brick fence was first erected. The best calculation had placed it as somewhere between 1812 and 1825.

The early date was selected because a recently discovered sketch of KKBE’s 1794 synagogue done by John Ruben Smith in 1812, now in the Library of Congress, shows a wooden fence between the synagogue and Hasell Street. The later date was chosen because Charleston architect Robert Mills mentioned the fence in his description of the synagogue in 1825. The well-know print of the 1794 synagogue by Solomon Carvalho shows the wrought iron fence.

 Recently, in doing research on the 1794 synagogue in the Jewish Heritage Collection at the College of Charleston, which houses KKBE’s archives, Daniel Ackerman, a student at William and Mary College, found in an old financial record book an entry by Marks Lazarus, Gaboy (treasurer) of the congregation, date January 1, 1819- “The expenses for erecting the a Fence...” He records payment to Jacob R. Mayer (Blacksmith) of $1050.00 and to Rowe and White (Masons) of $450.00. So it seems the fence was erected in 1818.

Text courtesy of Solomon Breibart.