Rev. J. M. Giraud is supposed to have assisted in the moving of the church.
In 1870 the Catholic Sisters of Charity from Maryland had a Catholic school at the corner of Henderson and Market streets. In 1875 the Hebrew congregation appointed a committee to consider buying the Catholic school building, the committee being composed of H. Goldberg, L. Goldberg, J. Weinstein, P. Eldridge, Joe Ney, A. Rosenthal, and I. Lewis. This committee appointed a committee to represent the Hebrew Sinai Congregation consisting of E. Mark, L. Goldberg, A. Rosenthal, and E. Eberstadt, to purchase the property, which they did, including lots, buildings, and furniture.
The sisters of Charity of Maryland was represented by R. Ballauf. The property is still owned by the Hebrew Sinai Congregation and is in excellent condition.
The Catholics later built a two story frame building on Vale Street adjoining the church.
The building is now used as an apartment house, the school having been discontinued many years ago.
EXCELSIOR’S HISTORY
The northern end of the hotel, of frame construction, was built in the late fifties by Captain William Perry, from New Hampshire.
Captain Perry was killed, through mistaken identity, by a Yankee soldier as Captain Perry was standing on the corner near his home.
Captain Perry’s daughter, Lucy, is said to have been the first child born in Jefferson, and was the first native Jeffersonian to be married there. She was married to Captain Claiborne, and to them were born four children, Perry, Howard, Fannie, and Lucylee. Captain and Mrs. Claiborne spent all of their married life in Jefferson, and the home place is still in excellent condition.
The Excelsior Hotel was originally known as the Irvine House and in 1871 was operated by Mr. A. Britton. Mrs. Kate Wood acquired it about 1877, and at her death the property was left jointly to Mr. George Niedermeier and her daughter, Mrs. Neeley. The present proprietors are Mr. and Mrs. Walter Neidermeier.