KHYROV L'vovskaya Oblast

KHYROV:     US Commission No. UA13280101
Alternate names: Chirow (German) and Chyrow (Hungarian). The town is located at 49º31 22º51, 108 km from L'vov and 17 km from S.Sambor. The cemetery is located at the west part of the town, near the road to Dobromyl'. Present town population is 5,001-25,000 with no Jews.
-- Town officials: Town Soviet of Chairman-Stepanuk A.U.
-- Regional officials: Regional Soviet [Phone: (03238) 21368]. Soviet of L'vovskaya Oblast of Chairman-Goryn'.
-- Jewish Community of L'vovskaya Oblast
-- Others: Museum History of Religion, L'vov and Local History Museum, S.Sambor.
     The earliest known Jewish community was 17th century. 1939 Jewish population was 1000. Effecting the Jewish community were 1648-54 revolt of Gaydamaky and the Holocaust. The last known Hasidic burial was in 1941. No other towns or villages used this unlandmarked cemetery. The isolated urban flat land has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all. No wall, fence, or gate surrounds site. The approximate size of cemetery before WWII was 1.50 and is now 0.80 hectares. No stones are visible. Removed common tombstones were incorporated into roads or structures. The cemetery contains no known mass graves. The municipality owns the site used for agriculture (crops or animal grazing). Adjacent properties are agricultural and residential. The cemetery boundaries are smaller now than 1939 because of housing development and agriculture. Rarely, local residents visit. The cemetery was vandalized during World War II. There is no maintenance. Within the limits of the cemetery are private houses. With no fence, agriculture encroaches. Very serious threat: uncontrolled access. Moderate threat: pollution, vegetation, vandalism and existing nearby development. Slight threat: weather erosion and vegetation (seasonal problems) and proposed nearby development.
     Aberman S.E. of Apt. 2, 4, Novakovskogo Street, L'vov [Phone: (0322) 724687] visited site on 28/05/96. He completed survey on 02/06/96. Interviewed was Irchuk Mariya of Khyrov on 28/05/96.
     UPDATE: http://www.polishjews.org/synag/chyrow.htm has synagogue photo. [August 2005]