| Serial Number |
NRS82-10549 |
| County |
Galveston |
| City/Rural |
Galveston |
| Name |
Masonic Temple; originally B'nai Israel Congregation |
| Address |
816 Twenty-Second Street |
| Owner |
Masonic Temple Association |
| Owner Address |
P.O. Box 479, Galveston, TX 77553 |
| Block/Lot |
261/12-14 |
| USGS Quad Number |
2994-231 |
| Site Number |
13 |
| UTM |
326/3242 |
| Date: Factual |
1870; 1886 |
| Date: Estimated |
|
| Architect/Builder |
M.S. >> cont . |
| Contractor |
Unknown |
| Style/Type |
Gothic Revival |
| Original Use |
Synagogue |
| Present Use |
Masonic Temple; offices |
| Description |
Two-story Gothic Revival religious building; modified T-shape with hip roof; symmetrical front facade with center projection, with row of connecting rounded arches on lower level; decorative gable on projection; original tracery window in center has been enclosed and replaced with two rows of three small rectangular windows; original windows and openings usually have pointed arch and some tracery; details include moldings, dentiling, bandings and carving (and originally would have displayed color variations); single entrance on either side of center projection; buttresses give horizontal emphasis to side walls. Later >> cont . |
| Present Condition |
Good; >> cont . |
| Significance |
The Jewish congregation of B'nai Israel was organized in 1868 and within two years had begun construction on a Synagogue building. A masonic cornerstone laying ceremony was held June 9, 1870 and the building was dedicated May 25, 1981. Cost of the work floor used as an auditorium that seated 700 persons. M.S. Steward is credited as the original architect. In 1886, Nicholas Clayton, Galveston's outstanding architect, was responsible for a thorough remodeling job costing $8,196. Temple is second oldest in Texas. In 1928, congregation built Henry Cohen Community House, named in honor of Dr. Henry Cohen, >> cont . |
| Relationship to Site: Moved |
No |
| Relationship to Site: Moving Date |
|
| Relationship to Site: Original Location |
Yes |
| Relationship to Site: Describe |
Fills quarter of block; on >> cont . |
| Bibliography |
HABS Inventory Form (1966); Galveston City Directory; Rosenberg Library Archival Files. |
| Informant |
|
| Recorder |
Ellen Beasley |
| Date |
November 1982 |
| Designations: TNRIS No. |
|
| Designations: THC Code Number |
>> cont . |
| Designations: RTHL |
No |
| Designations: HABS |
Yes |
| Designations: HABS Number |
|
| Designations: NR Individual |
No |
| Designations: NR Historic District |
No |
| Designations: NR Thematic |
No |
| Designations: NR Multiple Resource |
No |
| Designations: NR Filename |
|
| Designations: Other |
|
| Photo Data: B&W 4x5's |
2 |
| Photo Data: Slides |
No |
| Photo Data: 35mm Negatives |
No |
| Continuation |
>>ARCH_BUILD>> Steward, first architect; N.J. Clayton, Architect in 1886
>>DESCRIPT>> structure to north is rectangular; flat roof with center pediment; cornice with arch motif; recessed entrance with carved stone and arched facing; triple arched window on second level has Masonic emblem.
>>PRESCOND>> has undergone alterations but are reversible.
>>SIGNIFICNS>> rabbi of the Temple for almost sixty-four years. Masonic Temple Association, organized in Galveston in 1882, purchased Temple B'nai Israel in 1953. Given immediate use of Community House; final services of congregation held February 1955.
>>RELATDESCR>> visible corner; surrounded by mixed uses.
>>THCODENUM>> 261/11, 12, 13 |
