BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B -'3UILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLS TON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 35 JAN N 2 1990 AREA IVEVIUiD IrINE iF FORM NO. NO-064 Photo (3"x3" or 3"x5", black and hite) Indicate address of property on back of photo. Staple to left side of form. Town Newton (Nonantum) Address 168 Adams Street Historic Name Agudas Achim Anshei Sfard Synagogue svnagogue same Sketch Map: Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and/or geographical features. Indicate all buildings between inventoried property and nearest intersection(s). Indicate north Use: Present Original DESCRIPTION Date _1912 Source water & building dept. records Style Classical Revival Architect unknown Exterior Wall Fabric_brick Outbuildings none Major Alterations (with dates) none Condition good see attached map Moved no Daten/a Acreage 6,000 sq.ft.
c.14A Setting _denselr developed, modest resi- dential neighberheed soutb ef village commercial area. UTM REFERENCE 19318700/4691780 USGS QUADRANGLE NEIVTON SCALE 1:25000 Recorded by _Candace Jenkins/Susan Abele Organization Newton Historical Comm. Date 12/1986: rev, 12/1987 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) Cungregation Agudas Achim Anshei Sfard Synagogue possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, and workmanship. As the oldest extant Jewish congregation in Newton, Massachusetts, it is signiticant under criterion A for its association with their early immigration to the city. It is also significant under criterion C as an in tact ezample of a small scale early synagogue evocative of the size and means of a congregation in the early twentieth century.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community. The Agudas Achim Synagogue is located on the east side of Adams Street in a modest densely developed residential neighborhood just south of Nonantum's commercial district. It is a small, one story brick structure of rectangular plan set on a high concrete toundation and trimmed with cast stone; the facade is faced with pressed red brick while the other elevations display a reddish-brown brick of lesser quality. The three bay lacade is articulated by corner quoins and is centered around an entry with double-leai paneied doors, neaded by a semi-circular tan. Above the entry is an oculus containing the Star of David, and ilanking it are two elongated round arched windows containing 6/6 sash.
All of these elements are highlighted by alternating red and white voussouirs. A (see continuation sheet) HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and.how the : building relates to the development of the community. Jewish immigrants began settling in Newton, and particularly in Nonantum (along with the Irish, Italian and French Canadians) in the 1890s. However, there were no local congregations until a group known as Knesses Israel was incorporated in 1909. Knesses Israel worshiped in a house at 97 Daiby Street in Nonantum, but eventually disbanded, eelling the Dalby Street house in 1914. The remaining members joined the congregation ef Agudas Achim Anshei Sfard, which was chartered in October 1911, making Agudas Achim the oldest extant congregation in Newton.
Although small and far from wealthy, the congregants of Agudas Achim embarked on a campaign to build their own synagogue on Adams Street. Members gave "according to their means" and additional contributions came from outside the community - from Jacob Schiff of New York, and non-Jews such as the former Mayor of Newton, the Honorable John wingate Weeks and local doctors Thomas Gallagher and Joseph Flanagan.
The corner stone was laid in August 1912 at a ceremony attended by Mayor Hatfield and other local (see continuation sheet) BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES City Atlases and Directories, Oral Histories Agudas Achim: The ddams Straet Synagogue Newton Massachusttts The Jackson Homestead, 1986., 8/85 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity: Newton Form No: (Nonantum) NO-064 Property Name: Agudas Achim Anshei Sfard Svnagogue Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (cont.) parapet containing the Star of David rises above the molded cornice. The side elevations are tive bays long with the bays separated by shallow buttresses.
The first bay on each side contains two 6/6 sash windows, one above the other; the three central bays contain round arched windows, a leature continued in the last bay of the north elevation, but replaced by an entry on the south. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICNACE (cont.) ofticials as well as leading Boston area Rabbis and Cantors. This tiny early synagogue remained the only local jewish house of worship until the incorporation of Temple Emanuel in 1935 (NC- E) and construction of that synagogue on Ward Street in Newton Centre in 1937. There are no architectural plans and the architect and bullder are unknown. Much of the work was done by the congregants themselves, some of whom were skilled artisans. The front steps wete added in 1919, a gift from a member in gratitude for the safe returt of his son from World War I.
The interior was not completed until 1924 with the addition of the Holy Ark and bimah, which was designed by Samuel Katz, a Ukrainian cabinet maker from Chelsea, Massachusetts. Apart irom the installation of plumbing, the building remains virtually unchanged. The congregation of Agudas Achim remains small. It has never been able to retain a full-time rabbi, cantor of Hebrew teacher, but continues to function for Holidays. Untii recently it also had no written record of its history. Several years ago, volunteers working under the direction ol the lackson Homestead, Newton's City Museum, began collecting oral nistories irom second generation members of the congregation. This effort culminated in an exhibit and a publication documenting the history of Agudas Achim.
While there may be older congregations in the Greater Boston area, with very few exceptions, they no longer worship in their original synagogues. At Agudas Achim, children and grandchildren of the original members continue to worship in the synagogue and now support a revitalized congregation. Staple to Inventory form at bottom (NPS Form 109000 United States Department of the Interlor National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number Page - OMB Approvel No. 1024-0018 Multiple Resource Area Themat ic Group Name State Newton MRA Middlesex County, MA Nomination/Type of Review Date/Signature gf131. eosstend Heráad Old Chestnut Hill Historic District (Boundary Increase) Slotopor 30tf7 Sauoge 02-16-8 132. Pine Ridge Road--Plainfield Streeh the Historic District Entered National Register fKeeper XelouByun 2/1/50 133.
Saco-Lowell Shope Housingahtsteris the District National Registes 134. West Newton Village Centen Hed 95'Ehe District National Register 135. Windsor Road Historic District Eatered in the Nationad Regiater 136. Agudas Achim Anshei Sfarstó*B#gp848he National Register 137. Beston Edison Power Station Entered in the National Register 138. Bruner Mayall, House Entered in the Hational Register 139. Childs, Mayor Edwin O.Houred in the National Register 140.
City Stable and Garage Attest beeepex AelorByan 3/14/80 Attest Geeper AluBgin 2/10/50 Attest Akeeper AeluraByen 3/10150 Attest Seeper AulmmRyun 2114150 Attest Gkeeper AlomSgued slo/ic Attest Keeper AelurenByen 2/16250 Attest Fseeper Klureßgun sie90 Attest Hkeeper AelreDgen 20190 Attest Entered in tbe Natioral Register UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Agudas Achim Anshei Sfard Synagogue NAME: MULTIPLE Newton MRA NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Middlesex DATE RECEIVED: 1/02/90 DATE OF 16TH DAY: 2/02/90 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 1/18/90 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 2/16/90 DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: REFERENCE NUMBER: 90000035 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: N PDIL: REQUEST: N SAMPLE: COMMENT WAIVER: N LACCEPT _RETURN ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: N N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: N REJECT 2/16/40 DATE anucrou 2n the Natlonal Registes RECOM./CRITERIA REVIEWER DISCIPLINE DATE_ DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N CLASSIFICATION count _resource type STATE/FEDERAL AGENCY CERTIFICATION FUNCTION historic current DESCRIPTION architectural classification materials descriptive text SIGNIFICANCE Period Areas of Significance--Check and justify below Specific dates Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) _summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other BIBLIOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHICAL DATA acreage verbal boundary description _UTMS boundary justification ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION/PRESENTATION sketch maps _USGS maps _photographs OTHER COMMENTS Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date _presentation Agudas AchimAnshei Sfard nlewton, MA-MRA 168 adams St Ma c.gankins 1486 neg & fackson Homeslead new 87/1 WATERTOWN 33 SECTION BLOCK 1 23 22 SE CT 1 ON OCK Page: 18 Scale: 1"'=1000" Reduced Engineering Map - 1979 SBL: 14-14-26 168 Adams Street 74% SE C TI ON BL OCK 32 COURT COTTAGE ADAMS ADAMS COURT Newton, MA-MRA 29 29A TETTON 28 IN AVENUE EASENNI 31 WEST 30 25 45 2 22 35 85 39 MURPHY COURT KOCK SECTION BL 2