Beth David Synagogue (Amenia, New York)

Infobox_nrhp | name =Beth David Synagogue
nrhp_type =


caption =
nearest_city= Poughkeepsie, New York
lat_degrees = 41
lat_minutes = 50
lat_seconds = 49
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 73
long_minutes = 33
long_seconds = 17
long_direction = W
locmapin = New York
area =
built = 1929cite web|url=http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/NY/Dutchess/state.html|title=National Register Information System|accessdate=2008-06-22|work=National Register of Historic Places - Dutchess County|publisher=National Park Service]
architect=
architecture= Religious Structure
added = April 8, 2002cite web|url=http://www.bethdavid.info/Beth_David-Web_Studio/About_Us.html|title=About Us|accessdate=2008-06-22|publisher=Beth David Synagogue]
governing_body = Private
mpsub=
refnum=02000308cite web|url=http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/NY/Dutchess/state.html|title=National Register Information System|accessdate=2008-06-22|work=National Register of Historic Places - Dutchess County|publisher=National Park Service]

Beth David Synagogue is a historic synagogue in the census-designated place of Amenia, New York. The synagogue, built in 1929, is a European-style building on East Main Street (New York State Route 343) in downtown Amenia. The synagogue was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 8, 2002 and is privately-owned.

On May 14, 2004, the congregation observed its 75th anniversary and still exists to this date.

History

At or around 1920, the Jewish population in the area of Sharon, Connecticut had grown significantly and they were beginning to struggle with the New England weather, making the commute a bit hard. The Jews, who had mainly come from Ellsworth, Connecticut, moved to the towns of Amenia and nearby Millerton. People there became shopkeepers, with a few of the stores they ran still existing to this date. With nearby Lake Amenia helping the area prosper as a resort community, a large group of Jews in the later years of the decade decided to open their own congregation. When the place opened in 1929, there were twelve founding members.cite web|url=http://www.bethdavid.info/Beth_David-Web_Studio/History/beth%20david%20history.pdf|title=A Brief History of Beth David Synagogue|accessdate=2008-06-22|publisher=Beth David Synagogue]

On Sunday, May 14, 1929, a cornerstone was laid at the site of the congregation, with funds for the construction coming from town residents. At the ceremony, there was $240 given to the congregation as donations from the nine residents who showed up. Seventy-three years later, on April 8, 2002, the historic synagogue was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The place today

The congregation today has jumped from 12 members to at least 60 families, with management of the building waning over time. The congregation has switched types of religion as well over that time. They went from Orthodox to Conservative, and are currently a Reform congregation. The building celebrated its 75th anniversary on May 14, 2004 and hopes for good in the future.

See also

*List of Registered Historic Places in Dutchess County, New York
*Beekman Park – a local attraction

References