Background
The immigrant Jewish community in Virginia, Minnesota laid the cornerstone for the construction of the B’nai Abraham Synagogue in 1909. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It was last used as a religious institution sometime in the 1990s as the Jewish community had mostly moved away.
Planned Community Reuse
The restored building will provide Virginia Minnesota and surrounding communities on the Iron Range with much needed space for cultural and educational programs and meetings. Our partner, the Virginia Area Historical Society, plans to use the building for additional exhibition and programming space. The Historical Society will provide volunteers to staff the building several days a week during the tourist season.
Restoration Progress
When the building was aquired by The Friends of B'nai Abraham, it was in a serious deteriorating condition and immediate action was undertaken to prevent further damage over the first winter including replacing the leaking roof and removal and containment of mold.
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Sketch of the planned exterior restoration |
Synagogue members, descendants of members, and others interested in historic preservation came together to form the Friends of B'nai Abraham in 2004. The Friends received its 501(c)3 status in 2005 and since then has commenced preservation to restore the building so it can be a safe and useable facility by the people of Virginia, the Iron Range, and beyond.
Thanks to the many grantors and individuals who have supported this project, ”The Friends” are well along in their goal to completely restore the building, have it meet current codes and be handicap accessible so it will function as a cultural center and museum for the community. The work now underway on the building will include new heating, electrical and plumbing systems, handicap access and handicap bathrooms as well as widening the stairway, adding a handicap lift and an emergency exit.
On the upper level we now have a new roof, ceiling, insulated walls, which have been sheet-rocked and painted, new electrical system with reinstalled fixtures, and a new sub floor. Storm windows for five of the stained glass windows should be installed in April. Two of the most badly damaged stain glass windows should be restored by June. The bema, the raised platform in the front of the assembly hall, has been rebuilt with a handicap ramp and will have a new millwork railing soon.
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Santuary during restoration |
The lower level/social hall has been gutted and restoration work is currently under way. A new electrical service and gas line have been installed. The basic plumbing for the two handicap bathrooms and the kitchen has been installed and a new slab concrete floor has been poured. The basement walls should be furred out and insulated and have new electric wiring by the end of March. The rest of the bathrooms and roughed in kitchen should be completed by June. A new forced air heat system should be completed by June as well.
The excavation and construction of the tower for the handicap lift is near completion with brickwork on the exterior currently underway. The lift has been ordered and should be installed in the next few months.
All of the work is being done by local and regional businesses, providers and artisans. We have received many positive comments from neighbors of this building who are pleased that it will be restored and used by the community rather than sit empty, continue to deteriorate and become blight in the neighborhood.
As we move forward, we are looking for funding for historic preservation of the exterior of the building as well as the restoration of the hardwood floor, in the main assembly hall, the balcony and the library all on the main level. Additionally, we are looking for funding for storm windows to protect the remaining stained glass windows, which will prevent damage and vandalism, as well as making the building more energy efficient. Many of the stained glass windows also need to be restored. We will also need funding to complete the kitchen, do the landscaping and ultimately have an endowment to maintain the building.
For more pictures go to Photographs & Documents |
