Aiken in Aiken County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Aiken's Jewish Merchants
Photographed by Brian Metras
1. Aiken's Jewish Merchants Marker (side 1)
Sustained Jewish settlement in Aiken dates to the 1890s. By 1920, a concentration of Jewish-owned businesses had opened along this section of Laurens Street and other streets nearby. The first known Jewish merchant in Aiken was Harris L. Polier, a Russian immigrant who opened a department store south of here in 1888. Other prominent merchant families later in this area included the Suraskys, Poliakoffs, Wolfs, Efrons, and Rudnicks.
As Aiken's Jewish population grew with the rest of the city, merchants and their families played important roles in their community and in broader civic life. Several helped found Aiken's first Jewish cemetery (1913) and incorporate its first Jewish congregation (1921). By the 1950s, Aiken had more than twenty Jewish-owned businesses. This site (116-120 Laurens St.) was the location of three stores owned by the Surasky family.
Erected 2021 by Aiken County Historical Society. (Marker Number 2-66.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the South Carolina Historical Markers
this page online
Location. 33° 33.652′ N, 81° 43.358′ W. Marker is in Aiken, South Carolina, in Aiken County. It is on Laurens Street Southwest south of Augusta Aiken Road (U.S. 78), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 118 Laurens St SW, Aiken SC 29801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Augusta and in the Midlands. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: An Early Aiken Park (within shouting distance of this marker); 1953 Gas Explosion (within shouting distance of this marker); The Augusta And Aiken Railway (within shouting distance of
Photographed by Brian Metras
2. Aiken's Jewish Merchants Marker (side 2)
Photographed by Brian Metras, June 8, 2023
3. Aiken's Jewish Merchants Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2023, by Brian Metras of Cicero, New York. This page has been viewed 460 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 8, 2023, by Brian Metras of Cicero, New York. 2, 3. submitted on June 9, 2023, by Brian Metras of Cicero, New York. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
