On October 15, a large crowd gathered in Statesville for the dedication of a Highway Historical Marker commemorating the “Jewish immigrants” Isaac and David Wallace, who operated the world’s largest herbarium at the site. Among the family and friends attending were descendants of Mordecai Hyams, the botanist who collected for the Wallace enterprise.
JoAnne Rosenblum, a Wallace descendant, led the effort to erect the monument, assisted by JHNC’s Jenifer Farley and Leonard Rogoff. Leslie Leonard, program director, directed her remarks to the significance of a Highway Historical Marker. Rosenblum presided at the ceremony with Wallace great-great-great grandchildren pulling the drawstrings to reveal the plaque. The crowd then removed for a celebration at nearby Temple Emanuel, the recently restored 1891 neo-Gothic synagogue, which the Wallace brothers had endowed and led.
Speaking at the event were Prof. Gary Freeze, who has published a widely cited article on the importance to the state’s economy of the Wallace brothers herb trade; Carol Ann McCormick, curator of UNC’s herbarium, brought Wallace samples from the university collection; and Leonard Rogoff spoke about the Wallace brothers’ Jewish heritage. It was noted that the family’s Jewish legacy continues today with Isaac’s descendants who include Rabbi Max Weiss of Oak Park, Illinois, and JoAnne Rosenblum, former president of Beth Ha-Tephilia in Asheville.
The Wallace Brothers Herbarium is the eleventh of Jewish provenance among over 1,600 highway historical markers.
