Congregation Bnai Israel Synagogue
Why it's listed
Congregation Bnai Israel Synagogue is a small wood-frame house of worship on Wagner Avenue in Fleischmanns, a Catskills resort village in Delaware County, New York. Built in 1920 by the builders Crosby and Kelly, it is a one and one-half story clapboard building with a broad bracketed gable roof, Doric-style pilasters, lancet-arched windows and colored glass with central Stars of David. Inside are a vestibule, a community room created by the early 1940s, and a sanctuary with exposed wooden trusses and an elaborately carved wooden ark topped by carved lions. The congregation was incorporated in 1918 by a group of farmers and merchants who had met in homes. A local fundraising gala drew over a thousand people and raised more than $3,500 toward construction. Eighty-five members had joined by October 1920. The building is described as a typical regional vernacular synagogue, with unusual classical and Gothic details, that retains outstanding integrity and still serves an active congregation.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a distinctive example of an early twentieth-century vernacular synagogue in the Catskill region. It is also tied to the Jewish community of Fleischmanns and vicinity, a congregation founded in 1918 by farmers and merchants. Its mix of classical and Gothic motifs with colored-glass Star of David windows is noted, as is its outstanding 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 02001396, listed November 21, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Wagner Ave., Fleischmanns |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | November 21, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001396 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1920 |
| Architect / builder | Crosby and Kelly, builders |
| Architectural style | no style (vernacular synagogue type) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Retains outstanding integrity and continues to serve an active congregation. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.15542, -74.53272 (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 02001396.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5160593
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.