First Romanian-American Congregation Synagogue
Also known as: Allen Street Memorial Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Located on Rivington Street on Manhattan's Lower East Side, this synagogue began as a building of the 1860s and has been remodeled several times. It first served a Jewish congregation, then became a Methodist mission church, Allen Street Memorial, for which J.C. Cady & Co. designed a new Romanesque Revival facade of reddish-orange brick with round arches and molded brickwork, opened in 1890. In 1902 the First Roumanian-American Congregation bought the building and converted it back to a synagogue, adding an ornate wooden ark, stained glass and a skylight in 1902-03. Further changes followed in 1948-50, including a rebuilt entrance portico. The congregation has owned it since 1902. The building is significant as the main surviving landmark of Roumanian Jewish immigration to New York, and as a representative example of religious architecture of its period. Although altered and in need of restoration, it retains a high level of integrity to its 1902-03 remodeling.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be the major surviving building representing Roumanian Jewish immigration to New York City in the early twentieth century, and the center of that community's life. It is also a representative example of late nineteenth and early twentieth century religious architecture in Manhattan, with a distinctive Romanesque facade and richly decorated interior. Its history reflects shifting worship on the Lower East Side, moving between synagogue and Protestant mission church use.
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 98000239, listed March 12, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 89-93 Rivington St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | March 12, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000239 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1889-1950 |
| Architect / builder | Cady, J.C. & Co.; Reid, Charles E.; Schuman & Lichtenstein |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Romanesque Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, European |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a synagogue by a small congregation; the form says it is in need of restoration, and the attic level is abandoned. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Lower East Side Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.72006, -73.98884 (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 98000239.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q3123498
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.