Celebrating the Restoration of a National Landmark on West 11th Street
The New School was pleased to host its community neighbor Congregation Shearith Israel for the West 11th Street Cemetery Rededication Ceremony. Located across the street from the university’s building at 65 West 11th Street, the West 11th Cemetery is a national landmark with historic and cultural significance. It was consecrated in 1805 and is the site of more than 60 burials, including War of Independence veteran Ephraim Hart, Issac Harby, often considered a founder of Reform Judaism in America, and painter Joshua A. Canter.
Congregation Shearith Israel embarked on a restoration process for the cemetery in 2022, which over the course of two centuries has experienced the natural effects of aging including erosion and weathering, and the challenges of urban life including threats of eminent domain and having a car crash into it. The restoration efforts have included constructing a new brick wall on the existing stone foundation that includes bricks from the original early 1800s wall, repairs to the internal walls and wrought iron fencing, and reinstalling the original commemorative bronze plaque.
Among those in attendance at the rededication ceremony were Manhattan Borough President, Mark Levine; New York City Council Members Erik Bottcher and Gale Brewer; Mayor Eric Adams’ liaison Moshe Davis; several Community Board and West 11th Street Block Association representatives; poet, Grace Shulman; The New School’s Eugene Lang College Dean, Christoph Cox, and Chief of Staff to the Provost, Daniel Napolitano; and the talented professionals who restored the cemetery.