A portion of an east Wichita street will get a honorary naming to recognize the city’s first Jewish mayor and one of the city’s founders.
Sol Kohn was one of the signers of the city’s charter in 1868, and he served as city commissioner in 1871, becoming chairman of the commission the next year. In 1870, he opened the New York Store and in 1872 he established the Wichita Savings Bank. He served five months as the city’s first Jewish mayor in 1879 and he helped to recruit the railroad and cattle industries.
The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to over-name East Rockhill Road from Woodlawn to Bramblewood as “Sol Kohn Lane” and three sign blades will be installed. The street serves the Jewish Community Center, the Mid-Kansas Jewish Federation, and the Joan S. Beren Wichita Jewish Community School, which houses two congregations.
Rabbi Michael Davis of Congregation Emanu-El said Kohn is deserving of the honor, and he said Kohn “was committed to this city, to his faith, and to our common future.”
[ photo: City of Wichita ]
