Chesterfield, CT – A small stretch of nondescript land tucked away in Chesterfield at the intersection of routes 85 and 161 soon will be recognized nationally as one of the area’s most treasured historical sites.
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More than a century ago, the land was home to the state’s first rural synagogue and a community of Jewish farmers. The farmers, originally from Russia, immigrated in the 1880s to New York to escape the persecution and violence they faced abroad. By 1890, many had made their way to Chesterfield.
Earlier this month, the state’s historic preservation council voted unanimously to accept a nomination to list the Chesterfield site among the National Register of Historic Places. By the end of the year, it is expected the site will be accepted to the register, which features more than 80,000 historic buildings, sites, structures and more scattered throughout the country.
The New England Hebrew Farmers of the Emanuel Society, a nonprofit religious organization, has been at the forefront of the effort to preserve the Chesterfield site.
Many residents may not know the background story of the Jewish settlers, but the national recognition may play a part in changing that in the future, said Jon B. Chase, the town historian.
“It’s a part of the town’s history that has slipped from consciousness,” Chase said. “It’s a remarkable story … When (the immigrants) came here it was difficult under the circumstances. Farming provided a foothold to establish themselves economically and move their families forward.”
Before moving to Chesterfield, many of the Jewish immigrants experienced difficulty settling in New York, where a language barrier made life difficult. Nine families initially set out for Chesterfield, and they were helped greatly by the Baron de Hirsch Foundation.
Funded by a German philanthropist, Baron Maurice de Hirsch, the fund aimed to help Eastern-European Jews develop agricultural communities in the United States and South America by offering them loans for mortgages on depleted farms, according to a report by the American Jewish Historical Society. In Chesterfield, the farmers developed a creamery, a synagogue and a ritual bathhouse.
Although life was difficult, a staunch work ethic seemed to help the community thrive.
“We just had horses and carriages. There were no automobiles,” settler Bessie Savin told The Day’s editorial page in a 1984 interview. “Later, we had a Ford when I was 14 years old. My mother and father, both Russian people, did not know the language, but they tried hard. All the time they were learning, they taught us as well.”
The community swelled to about 50 Jewish families at one point, and the creamery was successful in selling butter and milk to neighboring restaurants and businesses. While the area’s population declined after World War I as residents left, many from the colony found success in neighboring towns.
The Savins are a good example. Moses Savin went on to become a three-term mayor in New London and a former state senator. His sister, Bessie Savin, married Abe Kirshenbaum and the couple opened the Juvenile Shoppe in New London at the onset of the Great Depression. They ran the business for more than 40 years.
Norwich resident Susan Friedland, the granddaughter of Abe and Bessie Kirshenbaum, said the role of the Baron de Hirsch Foundation in helping Jewish immigrants should not be overlooked.
“Very few people know about it,” Friedland said. “(These communities) were set up because millions of peoples’ lives were at risk and (de Hirsch) tried to save them.”
In 2007, the Chesterfield site became the state’s 24th archaeological preserve, according to the New England Hebrew Farmers of the Emanuel Society website. Behind the lead of president Nancy Savin, the society has worked to help connect the descendants of the Jewish settlers who called Chesterfield home.
Chase is hopeful that gaining national historic recognition for the Chesterfield site will be a way to celebrate its history – and keep its story alive.
“This national register listing I’m sure will be of benefit in years to come as the town grows and changes,” he said. “It’s really a recognition of the important history of the site.”
So when are we going to open a new yeshiva on this land? we need 10 families to move back there and build a Jewish community.
Wow, I think a few families would be interested, mine especially. Is there a serious and legitimate interest out there?
Former UCONN students will remember that the Hillel building at UCONN was marked as the Moses Savin Hillel Building. There is a long history of Jewish farmers in eastern communities in places such as Colchester, Moodus and Gilman.
The Baron de Hirsch did the same thing for Russian families who would settle in the Canadian prairies. Hirsch Colony was established in Saskatchewan and was an active community for many years. The unfortunate thing was that none of the settlers had ever farmed before and the learning curve was extremely steep. The families existed and eventually left the colony and prospered. It is now, I believe, a historical site. There was another colony in Manitoba that was inhabited by German Jews and was called Bender Hamlet. It was located near the community of Narcisse, Manitoba. The residents of Narcisse cleaned up and renovated the Jewish cemetery in Bender Hamlet and the cemetery was re-dedicated – about 20 years ago and a large plaque was erected with the names of all of the original settlers and the names of all who are buried there. The residents maintain the cemetery to this day. I am unsure if this community was assisted by the Hirsch Foundation. It would be interesting to hear about other communities such as these. I am quite sure there are several. I know that many of the Jews who came to Canada because the government was giving away property if you became a homesteader.
My great-grandparents were married in the shul there in 1895.
UCONN graduates may recognoze the name of Moses Savion in this story. The UCONN Hillel House building erected in the 1950s was named the Moses Savin Hillel House. There were many Jewish farmers in eastern Connecticut forming communities in Colchester, Moodus (home to many Jewish Catskill style small resorts) Hebron and Gilman.
Thank you for writing this article. About 7 years ago my Grandmother was talking about how she used to spend summers at. Chesterfield Farms and it was the best time, she had an argument with my Uncle that the farm was still there now all these years later and she insisted it was. He thought she was crazy and tried to explain to her that more than 80 years had passed and he was sure the land had been built on for either housing or industry but she was adamant. I decided to try and find out the truth and this article proved her right! Thank you for letting my then 93 year old Grandmother be proven correct and it looks like this place will remain as she remembered it. That is just awesome, she passed about 4 years ago and I would love to visit the site and see it for myself