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Nomination for Beth Israel Synagogue

The case file that argued this property on to the National Register: 916 words across 9 pages, filed in 1982. Reproduced in full, word for word.

Source document Held by the National Archives in Record Group 79 as reference 82001921, where it exists only as a scan with no text layer. The words below were read off that scan by machine, so the occasional stray character is the recogniser's and the typewriter's. Nothing is summarised, corrected or written by this site. See the catalogue record, or return to the property.

The nomination, in full

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

- FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - - In Area no. C'port Form no. CPT IID2 1. Town Cambridge Address 238 Columbia Street Name Beth Israe1 Synagogue Present use vacant 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number || 00- 36 COLUMBIA Present owner_Cambridge Redevel.Author 3. Description: Date 1901 Source facade inscription StyleBrick Romanesque w. Panel Brick decoration Architect Nathan Douglass Exterior wall fabric red brick Outbuildings (describe) Other featuresforner pyramidal towers flank gabled main section. Syrian- arched entrance. No Altered Moved No Date Date - 5. Lot size: One acre or less X Over one acre Approximate frontage Approximate distance of building from street 151 6. Recorded by H. White Organization Camb. Hist. Comm.

June, 1980 Date UTM - BOSTON SOUTH 19/32736014692670 ASSESSOR 77-19 30M-5-77 10N 7. Original owner (if known) Congregation of Beth Israel Synagogue Original use Synagogue Subsequent uses (if any) and dates community center 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) X The city's first synagogue was built in Cambridgeport in 1901 on Columbia Street, nowin the heart of the Cambridge Model Cities area.

Built of brick by architect Nathan Douglass, Beth Israel Synagogue is organized with two front corner towers flanking a slightly projecting center gable section containing the main entrance. All windows are roundheaded, and the main entrance is surrounded by a low Romanesque arch. No longer used as a synagogue, the building is now owned by the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority. Beginning in 1900, the lambridge-Columbia Street area began attracting large numbers of Russian Jews, many of whom were moving fron the North and West Ends of Boston. Schools, social clubs and synagogues were established, with the first and main synagogue in the area. -END- 10.

Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) *Ascer valuate in teras of Cher bulg impo watiuarche ecnurel feaeures and (See Attached Sheet) HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Expiain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the commmity.) (See Attached Sheet) BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES (name of publication, author, date and publisher) (See Standard Bibliography) Specific Reference: Report Four: Old Cambridge, pp. 201-202. 1OM - 7/8: NPS Form 10-900-a (7-81) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number UND NU.1UC4-UU18 EXP.

12/31/84 For NPS use only received date entered Page 4 ah,7 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Cambridge Multiple Resource Area MA Nomination/Type of Review 31. Bottle House Block 32. 33. Building at 42 Edward J. Lopez Avenue East Cambridge Savings Bank Hoyt, Benjamin, House 35. Lechmere Point Corporation Houses 36. Sacred Heart Church, Rectory, School and Convent 137. Union Railway Car Barn *38. B and B Chemical Company so yu 3 Tuezlr Baker Notre Substantive Review DÕE/OWNER OBJECTION *40. Beth Israel Synagogue decow V Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Substantive Review /Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest Keeper Attest ubafantIva HevIew/Keeper Attest Petermined Attest Keeper Attest Date/Signature Wiliam H. Brackam 4.13.82 Wiliam H Bratham 4.1382 Weliam A. Aracham 4.13.82 Weliam H.Bracham 4.13.82 Welam H.

Bracham 4.13.82 WuiiamHBrocham 4.13.82 Wielam H. Bracham 4.13.82 WimionH Brashom 4.13.82 1/27/67 Willian H. Bracham 4.13.82 Substantive Reviow NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES United States Department of the Interior National Park Service EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET BeTH IsraEl Sunagogue Proporty:CAmbnidge Bueetipk Resounce Area Stato, County: MA-nudalesex Federal Agency: Working No. 11-14-80-2862 Fed. Reg. Date:. Date Due: 4-17-82 Action: ACCEPT- 4/13/52 resubmission RETURN. nomination by person or local government - REJECT- owner objection photosL appeal maps Substantive Review: - sample request-appeal NR decision Reviower's comments: Sligure as frst syna gog in city.- Sigmficant por asocriations with Recom. / Criteria area jeus Reviewer 124 Discipline. Date.

4.2.82 - see continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: _technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification hemarahio nubltc hcopetattion 4. Owner of Property Matus becocalale Prosam Uao 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys has llte property beon determined oligibte? - yac 7. Description endbtboo axceltent good fair _ dateriorated ruins unexposed Chack ono _ unsitered .altered Chack ono - original site _mored date No une procant and orteinel (1l known) ployaieel appaeranco summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8.

Significance erer Arees of 8 wotlfy belor deter i of Bigalfisane en peragrap summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data aage of nominsted property Quedrengie namo - UNT Raterencer Verbel boundery deecriptien and lestifieetien 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification Tha ovaluated eignificance of thie property within the etate le: nationat . Btate _ lecal cer eignatur 13. Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed - Date - Phone: 202 272-3504 Comments for any Item may be continued on an attached sheet 1100-36 086L 7 I 76 C Beth Fsrael Sth Synegoyue 238 Columbia St.

Caubrdse MRA 1100-36 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000275