Chevro Ahavath Zion Synagogue
Why it's listed
Set close to Cold Spring Road south of Monticello, this small brick synagogue sits between bungalow colonies on a parcel of less than one acre. Built in 1952, it replaced a wooden synagogue of 1933 that burned in 1951, and it follows the earlier building's foundation, size and form. Brick was chosen to reduce the risk of another fire. The sanctuary occupies the upper floor, with a recreation hall below. Windows carry Star of David motifs and colored glass, and the interior includes a Neoclassical ark topped by a pair of lions holding the Ten Commandments. The congregation was founded in 1922 by eastern European Jewish farm families who later ran boarding houses and bungalow colonies. Its listing rests on its role in that settlement story and on its design, which is the last in Sullivan County to follow the pre-World War II synagogue type. Summer residents now sustain an active congregation.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be an intact example of a mid-twentieth century synagogue and the last in Sullivan County built with the spatial layout and stylistic vocabulary of the pre-World War II type. It also reflects the settlement of eastern European Jewish farm families, later joined by boarding houses and bungalow colonies, and the congregation's choice to replicate its lost building.
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 98001621, listed January 28, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Cold Spring Rd., Monticello |
|---|---|
| County | Sullivan County |
| Listed | January 28, 1999 |
| Reference number | 98001621 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1952 |
| Architect / builder | Sam Greenburg |
| Architectural style | no style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a synagogue with an active summer congregation; the form reports a high level of integrity, with air conditioning units as the only significant change. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.61189, -74.67676 (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 98001621.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5094367
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.