THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA
423
Leonard Lcvvisolin, Lcopuld (Jcrshel, nud Dr. F. dc Sola Mciulcs at its lii-ad. pinvliascd about SOO acres of laud, iiichidiiii; the tract upon which the colonists worlcd, aiid(livi(hMl it into small farms ot lift ccn acres each. On these farms the society erecli'cl small houses and dufr wells. It supplied household furniture and utensils, as well as stoves, to each family, and during the followiiif; winter and sjirin}: (1HS-2-S3) paid the colonists from eight to twelve dollars per month for livini; expenses, accordinj; to the size of the family. In addition to this help, tools, seeds, plants, and farndni; implements were furnished during the sprintr. Most cd' the settlers i)lanted fruittrees, grapevines, small fruit, and garden-truck for the use of their faudlies. During the summer and early fall of 188;$ the colonists supported Ihemselves by working out for the Christian farmers. In the fall the Manufac- maniifaclure of cigars and shirts was taringundertaken in a part of one of the Industries large liuildini,'s formerly occupied liy colonists, and these industries tinalTorded employment for the settlers during the winter of 1H8:5-S4; aboil forty families occupied themselves with sewing, while twenty-si.x engaged in the manufacture of cigars. The idea of employing the colonists in the manufacture of cigars originated with Moses W. Menilel. of N'ew York, who at a later period erected for this purpose the large brick building now used asa lailoringeslal>lishment. In the spring of 18.S4 the fa<tory building was burned down, and this mishap abruiitly terminated these industries. At this juncture the more prosperous of the farmers purchased horses anil such farming implements as were necessary for the more systematic working of their own holdings, tinding time also to assist their fellow farmers in this direcFurlJK'r funds were forwarded to the colony ti(m. ony at this time by tlie Emigrant Aid Society, which were expended in planting additional vines and
Introduced,
berries.
When
the winter of 188-1-85 set
in.
some of the
New
to Fhiladelpliia and York, and secured tailoring work for their own and other families, which they took out to their homes. Notwithstanding the help thus alTorded. there was still great distress among a number of the settlers. On their behalf an appeal was made to the Associa-
settlers
went
Emigrants id' the City of I'hiladelwhich .sent its president, Alfred T. .Jones, and treasurer. Simon Muhr. to investigate. These ofHcers made frequent visits to the colony ami brought sub tion of .lewish l)hia.
stantial aid to the distressed, furnish
External Assistance,
ing
foo<l.
tools,
clothing, household goods.
and agricultural
Through seph Heckendorfir. of
the
implemi'iits.
genirosily of
New York
city,
.Mrs.
.In
w ho dona
for the purjiose, the cigar factory was ted reeslatilished and run for sonii; time by S. .lacobson. who. however, li'fl Alliance. About this time Sir Samuel Montagu. Dr. .sher. ami Mr. Uiiijamin L. .SI, (Mid
Cohen, of London, visilc-d the colony, at' on belialf of the Mansion House Knnil of London con tribiited $7,0110 to pav otT pressing mortgages, thus conslituling the Fund mortgagee, with the Alliance Lanil Trust (formeil for the purpose) to reprisenl it H S lliiuy was president of the Trust until his <leath in IMIKI. and wassiicceeded by Isjuic Kppinger. In the spring of IMS.") the farmers, who had naped some measure of prolil from the labor of previous years, were stimulated by this incenlivi- to apply Ihemselves with c'liergy to the workiiiL' of Iheir lands. TIk' conditions that pri'vailed during the fall and winter were identical withthose of previous 1
Alliance Israelite tTniverselle Alliance, New Jersey
years, but a fresh impetus was given to farming in the spring and sunmier of lS8(i by the fact that some of the farmers had nii.sed on their lands prodluts to the value of S20t) to S400. natural pride in Ibis achievement led them to improve their farms further. They erected new dwelling hou.ses (those that they occupied were not adapted for a family of average size), barns, and other outbuildings. When fall and winter set in the farmers fidlowed their former iiractise<d' hiring their labor to the neighboring Christian farmers, or engaged in tailoring and such work as was needed on Iheir own farms. From IMST the affairs of the Alliance colony flourished. The success of the old settlers atlRicted other .Jews who had settled in the cities and inunigrants who had recently arrived. These were employeil as tailors during the winter, and as farmlaborers in the summer. In this way many of the immigrants, who subst'cjuently .settled as farmers at lioseiihayn and Carmcl, gained their expiTience while working on the farms of the .Vlliance colony. I'rospcrity again rewarded the efforts of the farmers in the sunuuer of 1SS8. According to a contemporary record ("Philadelphia Mercury," Oct. 20, 27, 188!)), as soon as possible the settlers applied for naturalization pajx-rs and took active interest in local i)olitics, in which their views were as varied as on religious topics. They determined to keep a record book in which they gave a concise history of the reasons which caused them to leave their native land, and the course of events which had led to their settlement in the colony. list of the benefactors who had a.s,sisted them was given, and of the main streets of the village ' that were named after them. The}' also recorded in the book their determination to build a synagogue to be called Tiphereth Israel. This was erected in 18!)(); and the religious instruclion of the young was cared for. by private teachers hind by the colonists as well as by public clas.ses maintained by the Land Trust. In 1890 and the years that followed, most of the farmers were compelled to borrow Financial money or mortgage their farms to Troubles, various loan associations. With this money they paid the debts previou.sly contracted and also made such improvements as were necessary on their farmsteads. As longasthey were able, the farmers paid the interest on the loans they had negotiated, but a lieriod of depression .set in, and the prices obtained for farm products fell so low during the nineties that the farmers were unable to meet Threats of foreclosure and ejecttheir obligations. ment were made by the second mortgagees (the Land holds the lirst mortgages), but through the Trust limely intervention of thi' ollicers of the B.MtoN DE lllltscil Ft Nl> thesi' wire averled. The Baron de Hirsch Fund raised the mortgages on the farms and made arrangements with Iheir teiumts to rejiay the amonnts expended for this jnirpose on a gradnaled payment basis, ruder the auspices of the Fund, tailoring is again being encountged in the On colony, and improved conditions now prevail. Oct. ;{(). lltOO, the Land Trust resolved, with the n]^ proval of he IJu.sso .Jewish Ciunmitlee, to Ir.msfer all inliiest in the colony and its fuiun' nmnagement to the IJaroii lie llirsch'Ftind of New York The following .Jewish organizations existed in .Mliance in liHKI: Ebeii ha 'Ezer and Tijilierelh Norma llroiherhoiHl. Alliance Israel synagogues: Israelite Libnirv. Youni: People's lienevolenl SoAgmlat ciety. Alliance Lodge No. 4,'<4. 1. O. H. B. Zion. In addition to fanners and tailors, there are a few
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