Interview with Herman Glickman, September 8, 1958, La Crosse, Wisconsin

Partial Transcript: Herman first game to La Crosse in 1914, while he was selling junk to communities between Chicago and La Crosse. He decided to settle in La Crosse because he thought it would be a good area to make a living.

Partial Transcript: Herman thinks there were around fifty or sixty Jewish families in La Crosse when he first arrived in 1914. There were also Jewish families living in the areas surrounding La Crosse who would come to the city to peddle.

Partial Transcript: There were still a few German reform Jews in La Crosse when Herman arrived. He is not sure if the German reformed congregation was still holding services in 1914.

Partial Transcript: Herman does not think that the German Jews often had to help or welcome the new Russian orthodox Jews moving to the community because many of the new immigrants had family members who were already established that could help them. Herman discusses a drive held by the Joint Distribution Committee of New York to raise money. A prominent German Jew in the community matched every donation.

Partial Transcript: Many of the Russian Jewish immigrants were poor. Most worked as peddlers and some had a horse and wagons, while others had to carry their wares on their back.

Partial Transcript: The orthodox Jewish immigrants liked to live together in the same neighborhood near the synagogue.

Partial Transcript: Not many orthodox Jews married non-Jews. However, they did have social relationships with members of the gentile community.

Partial Transcript: Herman thinks that the Sons of Abraham congregation was established around 1883. The congregation originally gathered for services in a man's home.

Partial Transcript: There was a man named Mayor Raymond who occasionally held services in his home.

Partial Transcript: Many of the Jews coming to La Crosse were from Lithuania.

Partial Transcript: When the Orthodox Jews first started to arrive in La Crosse, they had to buy a grave in the Jewish cemetery from the reformed Jews. Eventually, the reformed Jews sold half of the cemetery to the orthodox community.

Partial Transcript: Herman says that there was some antisemitism during World War II in La Crosse.

Partial Transcript: Herman thinks the La Crosse Jewish community has a bright future.

Partial Transcript: The Sons of Abraham congregation has services every Saturday, occasionally has Friday night services, and has Sunday services once a month. The congregation has a Sunday school and a daily Hebrew school.

Partial Transcript: Herman discusses the members of the Jewish community.

Partial Transcript: The minimum dues are $60 a year.

Partial Transcript: Herman says the La Crosse Jewish community probably started raising money for Zionism in the 1940s, but they were not very successful. There is no La Crosse Zionist fund.

Partial Transcript: In 1958, Herman estimates that there were thirty-five Jewish families in La Crosse, including the surrounding areas.