Montville Baptist Church
Also known as: Sons of Abraham Synagogue; Beth Abraham Congregation
Why it's listed
Built in 1839 as a Baptist meetinghouse, this wood-frame building on Hammertown Road in Montville, Sandisfield, shows vernacular Greek Revival design. Its front has engaged pilasters under a triangular pediment, with a two-stage square belfry above. Tall 25-over-25 windows light the sanctuary, which keeps its original fixed pews. A granite foundation encloses a full lower level added in the early 1920s, when the building was converted to an Orthodox Jewish synagogue. The Jewish congregation, led for many years by Rabbi Max Cohen, added a women's gallery and a Torah ark, and it declined during the Depression and later decades. The synagogue closed in the late 1940s, and the building became an arts center in 1996. It was listed for its architecture and for its role in the religious, ethnic and social history of the town. Volunteers are currently repairing and repainting the structure.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is Sandisfield's most distinctive public building in the Greek Revival style (Criterion C). It also reflects changing community life through its use as a Baptist church, a synagogue from 1921 and an arts center from 1996 (Criterion A). It is tied to the town's Jewish history and retains a high degree of integrity.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 06000936, listed October 12, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5 Hammertown Rd., Sandisfield |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire County |
| Listed | October 12, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000936 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1839-1956 |
| Architect / builder | C. Barker & M. Crittenden (Otis, MA); L. Barker & J.P. Bentley (South Sandisfield, MA) |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, European, Religion, Social History, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as a community arts center; rehabilitation by the Sandisfield Arts & Restoration Committee is under way, including roof and belfry repairs and interior plaster work. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.11866, -73.11284 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 06000936.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6906651
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.