According to information provided to the WPA in 1939, the congregation was organized in 1888. However, Plaut (The Jews in Minnesota, p. 116) notes that it was not formed until about a decade later, just prior to 1900. The congregation, along with the other Orthodox congregations in Saint Paul, formed the Orthodox Congregation Union and engaged a chief rabbi, Abraham Eliezer Alperstein. Plaut also notes that the congregation worshipped on Kentucky Street (ibid., fn 9, p. 117), although according to the WPA record the congregants initially met at 284 Texas and in 1905 moved to 202 E. Fairfield Ave. In addition, the WPA record notes the congregation did not have a rabbi from 1888-to 1905 when Rabbi Herman Simon was hired. Rabbi Simon also served the following congregations: Beth David, Chevra Askinas, Sons of Israel, and Sons of Zion. Plaut, in contrast, claims the congregation’s religious leader in 1900 was Rabbi Hyam Mickler. [ibid.] The congregation had 115 members in 1939, a cemetery located at Maryland and Dennison Streets, a Hebrew Free School serving 300 people, and a Ladies Auxiliary with 200 members. A copy of a notarized legal document that records the sale of a “seat” in the synagogue for $75.00 to a member is dated December 10, 1909, and has a photograph of the synagogue.