Jewish Center of Lake Huntington
Why it's listed
Originally an auto showroom and tire garage built in 1896 by German immigrant William Henry, this two-story building in Lake Huntington, Sullivan County, became a synagogue in 1936. Jewish families had begun arriving in the hamlet in the late 1910s, and many local farmhouses turned into boarding houses and hotels serving Jewish vacationers. A fledgling congregation bought the former garage parcel, and the Jewish Society of Lake Huntington was incorporated in 1938. Changes were minimal: the gambrel-roofed building kept its brick and stucco walls, and round-arched windows with colored glass and Star of David motifs now mark its religious use. Inside, a vestibule, sanctuary with ark and bimah, separate seating for women, a kitchen, and a second-floor rabbi's apartment follow the pattern of Catskills synagogues. It is one of about twenty surviving synagogues of its era in the region, and it is listed for its architecture and its role in the community's social history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an intact, representative example of the vernacular synagogues built by Orthodox Jewish congregations in the Catskills in the early twentieth century. It is also tied to the growth of the Jewish community in the Lake Huntington resort hamlet. It served as the center of religious and social life for its congregation for several decades.
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 09001087, listed December 11, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 13 Co. Rd. 116, Lake Huntington |
|---|---|
| County | Sullivan County |
| Listed | December 11, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09001087 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1936 |
| Architect / builder | unknown (built by William Henry as an auto shop and garage) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals (described as Dutch Colonial style garage) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | By the 1960s the synagogue no longer had a full-time congregation and held services only in summer; the form describes the building as retaining a high level of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.68388, -74.99466 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 09001087.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6189750
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.