The culmination of more than 10 years of painstaking and sometimes frustrating work will be celebrated on Nov. 14, when Temple Aaron of Trinidad and the Colorado State Historical Fund mark the completion of the restoration of Colorados oldest operating synagogue.
According to longtime member and unofficial congregational leader Kathryn Rubin of Raton, NM, the project was financed with more than $500,000 in grants from the Historical Fund and began in 1997.
The need for repair and renovation was dire, Rubin told the Intermountain Jewish News this week, the result of more than a centurys wear and tear on the striking 1889 Victorian-Moorish structure, which sits high on a hill above the central business district of this southern Colorado town.
Most of the restoration project was to stabilize the main structure by firming up or replacing the masonry and stonework of the buildings exterior. Roof repairs, new steps and assorted other repairs were also done.
Much of the finished work was performed by master stone mason John Hofmann, who spent years on the project with his son Rudi by his side.
The elder Hofmann worked on the buildings unique brick and stone exterior, lifting tons of material with a hydromobile scaffolding system and working some 30 to 50 feet above the ground, despite the fact that he was fighting non-hodgkins lymphoma for much of the time.
Hoffmans disease is currently in remission, and his son finished up the most recent work at Temple Aaron.
The elder Hofmanns illness delayed work on the building on several occasions, as did a July, 2007 forklift accident in which floors and walls were damaged.
The accident caused no injuries, but forced a closure of the synagogue for several months during which repairs were made.
One of the most interesting challenges of the restoration was finding a suitable stone to match the original sills and lintels, many of which had deteriorated beyond repair.
Historians have speculated that Temple Aarons original stonework probably came from a quarry in the Trinidad area that is now situated at the bottom of a lake.
Hoffman found a source in Longmont, which had a supply of stone from Utah that closely matched the buildings original materials.
A handful of southern Colorado Jews still attend High Holiday services at Temple Aaron, usually officiated by a guest rabbi.
The buildings unique architectural style and venerable history, however, are its main claim to fame today, and visitors on tours are considerably more common than worshippers.
Built in 1889 by 12 Jewish immigrant families in this once-booming coal center, Temple Aarons original construction cost was just over $8,000.
It has long been admired for its graceful architectural style. An early article in the Trinidad Daily Citizen called the synagogue a thing of beauty, a perfect gem.
The celebration on Nov. 14 scheduled to commence at the synagogue at 1 p.m. will mark a completion, but only of sorts, Rubin said this week.
Although the restoration work to date has stabilized the structure and the building is safe and good for some more years, more restoration, particularly in the synagogues interior, will likely have to be done in the future.
Information on the event at Temple Aaron, 407 S. Maple in ?Trinidad, is available at ?(303) 893-4260 or email: jdaniels@?coloradopreservation.org.
