Ulster Heights Synagogue
Also known as: Congregation Knesset Israel of Ulster Heights
Why it's listed
Ulster Heights Synagogue is a small, three-bay wood-frame house of worship at the corner of County Route 52 and Beaver Dam Road in western Ulster County. A cornerstone marks its completion in 1924. Ten Jewish farming families raised money, bought the land in 1922, and hired local carpenters, plasterers and painters, some of them congregation members, to build it after early setbacks with rotted lumber. The building is plain, with a gable roof hidden behind a tall stepped parapet on the front. A 1940s portico with fieldstone walls and a double stair, plus a member-carved ark and wrought-iron railings, were later additions. A mid-1950s wing added a community room and kitchen, and vinyl siding now covers the original clapboard. It is listed as a representative example of the modest vernacular synagogues of the western Catskills and for its link to a Jewish farming settlement that remained agricultural through the twentieth century. It continues to serve its congregation.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a representative example of the small vernacular synagogues of the western Catskills, with a simple rectangular form and an overscaled stepped parapet. It also reflects the Jewish agricultural community that settled the Beer Kill Valley in the early twentieth century and remained a farming community. The building has been a religious, social and cultural center for that community.
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 01000045, listed February 19, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Ulter Heights Rd and Beaver Dam Rd., Ulster Heights |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | February 19, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000045 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924 |
| Architect / builder | various (see item 8); local carpenters included George Moshier, his son John, and Floyd Gorten |
| Architectural style | no style (vernacular synagogue) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a synagogue; altered by a 1940s portico, mid-1950s community room addition, replaced doors, and recent vinyl siding. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.77998, -74.51740 (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 01000045.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7879964
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.