Old Beth Israel Synagogue, Historic synagogue in Stone Avenue district, Greenville, United States.
The Old Beth Israel Synagogue is a single-story brick structure with classical design elements and stone accents located in the Stone Avenue district. The building's roof displays two brick-and-tile Stars of David as its most distinctive architectural feature.
Local architect Joseph G. Cunningham designed this building in 1930 for an Orthodox Jewish congregation that worshipped here. The congregation used the space for about 25 years before the building changed hands and its purpose shifted.
The structure displays the presence of an organized Jewish community that once gathered here for worship and religious observance. The Star of David symbols on the roof were visual markers that identified this building's original purpose to the neighborhood.
The building stands at 307 Townes Street and now serves as a private residence that can be viewed from the street. It earned National Register of Historic Places status in 2016, making it a documented part of the town's architectural record.
The building retained its two roof-mounted Stars of David through all its changes in use and ownership, making them the primary clue to its original purpose. Few visitors notice that these symbols remained visible even as the structure became a private home.
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