Hunter Synagogue
Why it's listed
Hunter Synagogue is a wood-frame house of worship on Main Street in the Village of Hunter, Greene County, New York. Built between 1909 and 1914 with local donations, it is a two and one-half story, Queen Anne inspired building with a steep gable roof, patterned shingles in the gables, paired pedimented entrances and a stained glass oculus showing a Star of David. A single-story hall was added in 1939 using materials salvaged from the congregation's earlier synagogue of 1905. Inside, varnished matchstick oak wainscoting covers the walls and vaulted ceiling, and a carved oak Ark is topped with lions holding the Ten Commandments. A women's gallery sits above the vestibule. The property was recognized as a rare and intact Jewish house of worship in the northern Catskills, where traditional synagogue motifs were expressed through the region's abundant wood building traditions. It remains in religious use, and a ca. 1910 shed also contributes.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a distinctive, intact early twentieth century Jewish house of worship, a rare type in the northern Catskills. Its design combines traditional synagogue features such as the Star of David and the facade's emphasis on pilasters and a central oculus with local wood construction and rustic resort-region detailing. It retains high integrity of design and materials, including its wainscoted interior.
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 99001484, listed December 9, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Hunter |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | December 9, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001484 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1909-1939 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a religious facility; the form lists the historic and current function as religious facility and describes the building as remarkably intact apart from routine maintenance. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.21066, -74.21553 (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 99001484.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5944563
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.