SALONTA : Bihor County, Transylvania

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US Commission No. ROCE-0108 - Bihor County, Transylvania

The Neolog cemetery is located in Salonta at Drumul Sarcadului Street no. 20, 3650, judet Bihor, Romania at 4648 2139, 269.9 miles NW of Bucharest and 40 km from Oradea. Alternate name: Nagyszalonta (Hungarian). Present town population is 5,000-25,000 with six Jews.

The 1880 Jewish population by census was 298; by 1900 census was 683, and in 1930 was 740. In 1867, the Jewish elementary school began. In 1886, the synagogue was built and demolished in Ceausescu's rule. In May 1944, approximately 400 Jews from Salonta were gathered in the Oradea ghetto and on May 23, 25, 28-30, and June 1-5, 27 were deported to Auschwitz. Noteworthy Jewish residents of the community were Rabbi Nebel Abraham Izsak (1887-1967), rabbi of the community between 1925-1944. The cemetery was established in second half of the 19th century. Noteworthy individuals buried in the unlandmarked Neolog cemetery: Cohanim: Markovits Simion Stefan (Shimon Ben Avraham Hacohen), Markovits Andor (Avraham Ben Baruch Hacohen 1885-1984), and Theilhaber Karoly (Chaim Ben Reuben Natan Hacohen). Last known burial was 1996.

The urban flat land, separate but near other cemeteries, has no sign or marker. Reached via private property, access is open with permission. A masonry wall and fence with a gate that locks surround the site. Approximate pre-WWII size is unknown. Approximate post-WWII size is 20000 m2. 100-500 stones are visible. 1-20 stones are not in original location. Less than 25% of the stones are toppled or broken. Location of stones removed from the cemetery is unknown. Vegetation overgrowth in the cemetery is a seasonal problem preventing access. Water drainage is good all year.

The cemetery has special sections for Cohanim. The oldest known gravestone dates from second half of the19th century. The 19th and 20th century marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, slate, iron, concrete, wood, and local stone flat shaped, smoothed and inscribed, and carved relief-decorated, double tombstones, and sculpted monuments and multi-stone monuments have metallic elements other than bronze or iron. Have Hebrew and Hungarian inscriptions. The cemetery has Holocaust memorial. The cemetery contains marked mass graves.

The local Jewish community owns the property used for Jewish cemetery and orchard. Adjacent properties are residential. Rarely, private Jewish or non-Jewish visitors stop at the never vandalized cemetery. Maintenance has been re-erection of stones, cleaning stones, and clearing vegetation. Current care is regular unpaid caretaker. No structures.

Ursutiu Claudia, Pietroasa Street no. 21, 3400 Cluj-Napoca, tel: 0040-64-151073 visited the site and completed the survey on 7 July 2000 using the following documentation:

Claudia and Adrian Ursutiu interviewed Semes Iuliu and Elena, 07. 07 2000, Salonta [January 2003]
SALONTA II: US Commission No. ROCE-0109

See SALTONA I for town information.
The Orthodox cemetery is located in Salonta at Drumul Sarcadului Street no. 20, 3650, judet Bihor,

The 1880 Jewish population by census was 298, by 1900 census was 683 and in 1930 was 740.
In may 1944 approximately 400 Jews from Salonta were gathered in the Oradea ghetto and on May 23, 25, 28-30, and June 1-5, 27 were deported to Auschwitz. The unlandmarked Orthodox cemetery was established in second half of the 19th century. Last known burial was first half of the 20th century.

The isolated urban flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by a public road,
access is open to all via a non-locking gate. Approximate pre-WWII size is unknown. Approximate post-WWII size is 9 x 6 m. 1-20 stones are visible. All gravestones are in original location. Location of stones removed from the cemetery is unknown. Vegetation overgrowth in the cemetery is a constant problem damaging and/or disturbing stones. Water drainage is good all year. The oldest known gravestone dates from second half of the 19th century. The 19th and 20th century marble and limestone flat shaped and smoothed and inscribed common gravestones have Hebrew and Hungarian inscriptions. No known mass graves.

The local Jewish community owns the property used for Jewish cemetery only. Adjacent properties are agricultural. Rarely, private Jewish or non-Jewish visitors stop. The never vandalized cemetery has no maintenance. No care now. No structures. Security is a serious threat: no fence, no gate and outside the town near to the main road.) Vegetation is a serious threat. The cemetery is almost covered by vegetation.

Ursutiu Claudia, Pietroasa Street no. 21, 3400 Cluj-Napoca, tel: 0040-64-151073 visited the site and completed the survey on 7 July 2000 using the following documentation:

Claudia and Adrian Ursutiu interviewed Semes Iuliu, Salonta. [January 2003]

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Parent Category: EASTERN EUROPE