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| Rodef Shalom Cemetery, Bellefonte |
There are three “hidden” cemeteries within the imaginary borders of what we call Bellefonte. Though none of the three are actually within the defined borders of the Bellefonte town limits, the cemeteries exist within the area that locals refer to as Bellefonte. The three “hidden” cemeteries are Sunnyside Cemetery, Friends Burial Ground, and Rodef Shalom (Hebrew) Cemetery. All three are located in Spring Township, just outside the town limits.
I've already mentioned the Sunnyside Cemetery and the Friends Burial Ground, but for some reason failed to reveal the third cemetery that is most often overlooked by the residents of Bellefonte. Located along Route 550, also known as Buffalo Run Road, the Rodef Shalom Cemetery sits silently on the hillside between two houses, easily missed by those passing by.
Rodef Shalom, which translates roughly as "Pursuers of Peace," is a small cemetery founded by Abraham Sussman is 1872. Two years later, he deeded the land to the Hebrew Cemetery Association of Rodef Shalom with Sussman being a member of the board. Abraham Sussman died May 20, 1878, but interestingly is not buried here; he's buried near Lewistown.
The cemetery, though left with a trust fund, fell into disrepair and was forgotten by many. After World War Two, Nathan Krauss discovered the existence of the cemetery and saw to its clean-up and arranged for the use of the trust fund to maintain the cemetery grounds. Though the cemetery is considered an active one, the last burial was in 1957.
This is the last cemetery of the three that I had taken the time to visit. The other two "lost" cemeteries had seen my presence a number of times, but it wasn't until this past year that I finally stopped and explored this cemetery. Strangely enough, this was the one cemetery that I knew about for the longest time.
Arriving at the cemetery, I found the small cemetery in great condition. The quarter acre is on a hillside, with most of it open field; a rough count revealed about fifty stones, most of which were still in great condition despite their age. There is an iron fence at the front of the cemetery, but most of the fencing has disappeared from around the cemetery. At one time there obviously was a gate at the top of the steps in the front, but the gate too has disappeared into history.
I walked the cemetery (it took about ten minutes) but I failed to recognize any of the names of those buried there. I found the Hebrew inscriptions interesting and I wish that I could have read them while I was there (I did find the translations in a local cemetery book since then). I did find in this small cemetery two Civil War veterans and a veteran of the Spanish-American War.
Walking the cemetery for the second time, nothing really jumped out to me so I paid my respects and left the cemetery in silence.
The Rodef Shalom Cemetery is located along Route 550 (West Water Street) in Bellefonte. At the red light (junction of Routes 150 and 550) turn south onto West Water Street. The cemetery is located about a half mile on the left hand side of the road. It is the same size as the residential lots that surround it and can easily be missed if you aren't paying attention.
I wish that you could link old posts when you mention them in newer posts, such at the one about the other cemeteries that you mention. It would make it easier to reference the other posts. Anyway, I enjoy reading these.
ReplyDeleteJeff - Sorry about that, I thought I had labeled it so it was connected. Missed adding the label to connect it - Sorry
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post. I live a few houses away from this cemetery and have been wondering about it.
ReplyDeleteTara - You're quite welcome for the info - Glad I was able to provide a little bit of information about it for you.
ReplyDeleteHey Norman,
ReplyDeleteGreat to see this post about Rodef Shalom. I really appreciate your work in the wilds of PA and love reading about it. All very near and dear to me.
Some time ago I photographed the stones in this cemetery and had the Hebrew on them translated. They're posted at JewishGen.com. I think you need to register to see them but the registration is free. One of the Hebrew inscriptions is of a rabbi named Isaac Loeb. As far as I know, however, there was never a formal synagogue connected with this congregation.
I started collecting information (obits, census records, etc.) about the folks buried there but have not found time to complete that project. I do have photos of the Fauble family who are buried there. I did note that almost everyone there was of German extraction and came to Bellefonte in the mid-19th century. After about 1900 almost all their families went to Philly. Some of the people buried there came from as far away as Houtzdale (Mayer) and even two from Tylersville (Weil). One was a young PSU student at the turn of the century who fell down a flight of stairs to his death, I believe (Henry Tarkoff, in the back row).
A lot of them were prominent business owners in Bellefonte. Jewish law requires a gravestone to be erected one year after death, but some of the graves are not marked. One of these is Adolph Fauble, whose wife was a Catholic. There was another entire family buried there whose markers are gone. My suspicion (not yet proven) is that a relative moved their graves and stones to New York later in time.
The later generation of Jewish residents in Bellefonte (20th century) were almost all from Lithuania and they didn't seem to use this cemetery much. They used the cemetery in Lock Haven and, later, the Jewish section of Centre County Memorial Park.
As you said, the inhabitants of this cemetery are very obscure, but some research has shown that there is a lot of forgotten history here. I read about Bernard Lyon, buried there, who was conversant in three or four different languages. Hopefully I'll be able to finish the project and some point and share my findings.
Justin - Thanks for sharing the information. Of all of the cemeteries in Bellefonte (and possibly Centre County) this one was the hardest to find information about. Glad you could also help with information about it.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in at the Pennsylvania Room the other day I came across an article about the original Jewish Cemetery in Bellefonte, which was located at the western end of Logan Street. I knew that the Catholic Church had a cemetery on Logan Street, but had never heard about the Jewish Cemetery there before. Though it too was available for the Jewish Community, it doesn't seem like it was used a lot by anybody other than the founder of it to buried his family.
Isn't this cemetery in Benner Township?
ReplyDeleteIt's in Spring Township, though barely - one could throw a rock and probably hit Benner Township.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know how to go about buying a plot in this forgotten Jewish cemetery? If so, please advise. You mentioned that it was still "active". Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI will see if I can come up with a contact person for you.
ReplyDelete