Eleanor Goodman

Eleanor Goodman

Eleanor Goodman speaks at a dedication honoring her grandmother, Olga Bernstein Kohlberg, with an Official Texas Historical Commission Marker. The event was held on January 21, 2015 at the Woman's Club of El Paso, 1400 N. Mesa El Paso TX. Looking on is Elizabeth Goodman, great granddaughter of Olga Bernstein Kohlberg. Mrs. Kohlberg (Olga Berstein Kohlberg) was one of the pioneer women of El Paso. In 1884 she left her home, the Rhineland country of Germany, to follow her husband Ernst to El Paso. He was a successful businessman there. Since then, Mrs. Kohlberg was a civic leader and, together with other women, brought into being many projects essential for the growing city at the Rio Grande. Serving on many boards and being active in various groups, Mrs. Kohlberg promoted educational and health issues. In the following, a few of her projects will be named to point out the diversity and intensity of her work: Together with The Ladies' Benevolent Association she established the city's first hospital in 1892 and also supported other charitable projects throughout the years. She supported the education of very young children and students; Mrs. Kohlberg was one of the thriving forces behind the establishment of the first free public kindergarten in Texas and supported the first public library, becoming president of its board in 1903. She served twice as president of the El Paso Women's Club, established in 1898, and was an honorary board member for the rest of her live. She also guided the restoration of the three parks of the city. The Kohlberg family was also active in the Jewish community, supporting the Mount Sinai Jewish congregation in 1898, and the building of Temple Mount Sinai in 1903. In a tribute to Olga Bernstein Kohlberg, Mrs. Charles A. Goetting wrote: “[T]hose of us who knew her, whose lives she touched, can vouch for her indomitable spirit, her dignity, her tolerance, her integrity, her calm, courageous manner and her persistence in working for the best for the community.” (Source: Website of the El Paso County Historical Society) Mr. and Mrs. Kohlberg had four children, three boys and one girl. Ernst Kohlberg died early, in 1910, his wife followed in 1935.

Area: Central / El Paso High

Source: EPMH

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

Comments

Add a comment
Thank you for your comment

Report this entry

Choose the most important reason for this report

Your name

Your email address

Optional detail

Thank you for your report

More from the same community-collection

Mrs. Watkins' Group

The image is titled "Mrs. Watkins's group". It ...

William Ewing Thomason and Isabelle Thomason

The portrait shows the two children of Robert Ewing Thomason, ...

Luisa Lujan - El Paso, Texas - 1928

The portrait shows Luisa Lujan dressed in pageant regalia. Apart ...

Luisa Lujan

The portrait shows Luisa Lujan dressed in pageant regalia. Her ...

El Paso High School students

This image was printed on the back of a postcard belonging to ...

El Paso High School Students

Photograph of El Paso High students printed on the back of a ...

El Paso High Students.

Wallace Casad Lane is seated in the center on the lowest step. ...

El Paso High School Students

Image shows eight young female basketball players, high school ...

El Paso High Students

1911 must have been a banner year, as both the boys and girls ...

Hotel Dieu Hospital

In 1892 Sister Stella had bought the site and with $60,000 ...

Distant View of El Paso

This photograph was probably taken from the Rim Road area, ...

International Museum of Art

Following the long tradition of museums located in the Turney ...

El Paso High School Football Game

El Paso High School against Austin - 2014. One of El Paso High's ...

El Paso High School Football Game - 2014

Girls aren’t the only ones that get in on the action. Guys ...

Homecoming At El Paso High

Like other forms of clothing worn in honor of a social ritual ...

El Paso High School Homecoming - 2014

Alexander Appelzoller a senior at El Paso High School is posed ...

Tiger Mascot For El Paso High - 2014

Tiger Mascot at El Paso High School homecoming. El Paso High ...

Tiger Mascot - 2014

Tiger Mascot at El Paso High School homecoming. El Paso High ...

El Paso High School Cheerleaders- 2014

El Paso High School Cheerleaders during the game between Austin ...

Mums Worn At El Paso High School - 2014

High school students in Texas have developed a tradition of ...

Mums - Homecoming 2014

The mum is to the corsage kind of as the Baz Luhrman Romeo + ...

Mums - El Paso High School Homecoming - 2014

High school students in Texas have developed a tradition of ...

Austin High School Band - 2014

Austin High School ---Cheerleaders and band. During the game ...

home.search_collection