Joseph, Beth, Synagogue
Why it's listed
Beth Joseph Synagogue is a wood-frame house of worship at Lake and Mill Streets in Tupper Lake, one block west of the village business district. Construction began in 1905 and finished in 1906, after the congregation bought the lot in 1903. The building has a false-front facade framed by engaged corner towers topped with Stars of David, a rose window, and clapboard siding. Inside, a pine-wainscoted worship hall holds simple pews, a women's gallery, and a carved wooden Ark with Corinthian columns. A rabbi's residence, built between 1906 and 1910, stands on the same lot. Funding came from Jewish and Christian local residents and from wealthy Jewish families who summered in the Tupper-Saranac region. The nomination calls it the oldest synagogue in the Adirondacks and notes that it blends traditional synagogue design with Adirondack wood-building practice. Both buildings retain a high degree of original design and materials.
Significance in brief: It is described as the oldest synagogue in the Adirondacks and a distinctive, intact early twentieth century Jewish house of worship, a rare type in the region. It combines traditional synagogue design features with local wood building traditions, and it was funded by both local residents and wealthy summering Jewish families. The surviving rabbi's house adds to its significance.
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 88001441, listed September 1, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Lake and Mill Sts., Tupper Lake |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | September 1, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001441 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1906) |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition, unaltered and on its original site; used for religious purposes. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | New York Central Railroad Adirondack Division Historic District |
| Coordinates | 44.22464, -74.46477 (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 88001441.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4897553
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.