Congregation Tifereth Israel Synagogue
Why it's listed
Congregation Tifereth Israel Synagogue, at 519 Fourth Street in Greenport, is a modest wood-frame house of worship built in 1903-1904 for a congregation formed in 1900. Stirling Corwin, a local carpenter, built the twenty-by-thirty foot sanctuary for $1,130 on a concrete foundation with locust support beams. Round-arched windows with Star of David motifs, white bead board and wainscoting, and a women's balcony define the plain Victorian vernacular design. Additions from the 1920s, 1964 and 2000-2001 added a social hall, kitchen and Hebrew School space while leaving the sanctuary's original form intact. A ritual bath found in the basement during construction has been preserved. The building is the only synagogue in Greenport and records the arrival of Jewish families, many of them shopkeepers and peddlers, on Long Island's North Fork from the late nineteenth century. It remains an active center for worship and public community events, and was also designated a local landmark in 2004.
Significance in brief: It is the only synagogue in the Village of Greenport and has served the North Fork Jewish community since 1903, reflecting the growth of Jewish settlement on eastern Long Island. It is also significant for architecture as a surviving example of vernacular design and construction by a local builder.
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 06000161, listed March 22, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 519 Fourth St., Greenport |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | March 22, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000161 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1903-1955 |
| Architect / builder | Stirling Corwin |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian (described as Victorian Vernacular) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Religion, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a synagogue, serving approximately 75 North Fork families; designated a local historic landmark in 2004. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.10082, -72.36484 (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 06000161.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5160686
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.