Jefferson Playhouse
Also known as: Sinai Hebrew Synagogue; St Mary's Catholic School
Why it's listed
Two linked buildings on a corner in Jefferson, Texas, form what is now used as a playhouse. The older part, St. Mary's Catholic School, dates to about 1860 and is a two-story Greek Revival structure with a central hall plan and a tetra-style portico with square two-story columns. Attached to it is the Senai Hebrew Synagogue, built around 1876, a tall gabled building that blends late Greek Revival and Victorian features. Its interior includes a balcony on columns and finely crafted altar woodwork. Both are clad in clapboard. When Jefferson was a hub of river traffic, Jewish and Catholic residents, many from the New Orleans area, were well represented in town. After the port population declined, the two buildings were sold and for a time used as a residence. A local garden club now owns and maintains them as a playhouse that often stages scenes from Jefferson's past. The Texas State Historical Survey Committee designated the property a landmark in 1965.
Significance in brief: The building represents the Jewish and Catholic communities that were strongly represented in Jefferson when it was a major center of river passenger and commercial traffic. It is also noted for its Greek Revival architecture and a synagogue that falls between late Greek Revival and Victorian styles. It was designated a Texas historic landmark in 1965.
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 69000374, listed October 28, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NW corner of Market and Henderson Sts., Jefferson |
|---|---|
| County | Marion County |
| Listed | October 28, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000374 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (school); transitional late Greek Revival/Victorian (synagogue) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair and altered; owned by a garden club and maintained as a playhouse whose programs often depict scenes from Jefferson's history. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Jefferson Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.75722, -94.34770 (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 69000374.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321558
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.