I’m concerned about the long term condition of the former Temple Israel at the northwest corner of Holy Corners, Kingshighway and Washington Boulevard. Its roof was almost completely ripped off by the tornado of May 16, 2025, and I haven’t seen any attempts to cover the hole since then. There was an article in the…
Tag: Synagogues
Around the Former Plaza Theater, West End
It’s hard to believe it, but I first photographed the former Plaza Theater way back in April of 2009, when we were first starting to explore the West End and points to the north, such as Hamilton Heights and Wells-Goodfellow by heading up Clara Avenue. Today, it’s the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, which has occupied…
After the Tornado: Skinker-DeBaliviere
The Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood, which is bounded by Forest Park on the south, the city limits on the west, Delmar Boulevard on the north and DeBaliviere Avenue on the east, also saw damage from the tornado. The tornado and high winds primarily struck the southeast corner of the neighborhood, and the wreckage ranged from the collapse…
Museum Hill, Part Three, St. Joseph
The Wyeth-Tootle Mansion Museum sits at what is probably the highest point in the neighborhood, and is a sight to behold. The mansion takes up an entire block, but arranged on the streets around it are a bevy of other interesting historic houses, many of which have been renovated, as well. There is even a…
Woodward Avenue, Churches and Other Buildings, Detroit
We’ll leave Brush Park behind and turn on to Woodward Avenue at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary and head north. Woodward Avenue is perhaps one of the most iconic streets in Detroit, and stretches all the way from the Detroit River all the way past Eight Mile Road, the city limits, all the way to the…
New Development in McRee Town
I clearly had not been paying attention to what has been happening in McRee Town, which has been experiencing a huge amount of development over the last twenty years. For example, the old synagogue above, which was only active for a short amount of time as the Southside Hebrew Congregation from 1928 to 1944, is…
Moses Montefiore Synagogue, Revisited
I knew in my short visit to Bloomington-Normal that there was one place that I had to check up on, and I was pleasantly surprised! The former Moses Montefiore Synagogue has been purchased and renovated into what I believe, according to newspaper reports, a new community space. If the article proved true, it was renovated…
Page Boulevard, South Side, Lewis Place
Page Boulevard is unique among the major arteries in the city in that it is lined with houses and apartments for its entire length, with the exception of corner stores. I caught the south side of the street on an early Saturday morning bathed in sunlight, and the houses were looking good. There’s a lot…
Holy Corners Revisited, West Side of Kingshighway
I looked at Holy Corners way back in January of 2009, and I figured it was long overdue for an update. First up is the beautiful Tuscan Temple, which is an example of the Doric Order of classical architecture. But I have to chuckle, as it is Roman in form, as it only has columns…
Two Synagogues, West County
United Hebrew Congregation has a rich history going back to 1837, when the City of St. Louis was still a relatively small town, and before the influx of German and Irish immigrants had dramatically changed the makeup of the population. Like many of the prominent congregations of any religion or denomination in St. Louis, it…