Temple Beth Israel, Hartford

Temple Beth Israel, also known as the Charter Oak Temple, is a landmark of Jewish and architectural heritage located on Charter Oak Avenue in Hartford. Built in 1875–76 and designed by prominent architect George Keller in the Romanesque Revival style, it holds the distinction of being the oldest purpose-built synagogue in the state. The red brick structure with a brownstone foundation features round-arched windows and doorways, a gabled roof, and twin front towers topped with octagonal domes—making it a striking example of High Victorian eclecticism, and Keller’s only known work in this style.

The building was constructed for a Jewish congregation founded in 1843, one of the oldest in Connecticut. That same year, in part due to efforts from the congregation’s leaders, the state passed legislation allowing Jewish communities to legally erect synagogues. The temple served the Reform Jewish community until 1935 when the congregation moved to West Hartford. It was then sold to Calvary Temple, a Baptist church, which used the space until 1974.

By the late 1970s, the building had fallen into disuse and faced the threat of demolition. Thanks to the advocacy of Jewish organizations across Connecticut, it was saved and eventually transformed into the Charter Oak Cultural Center, a vibrant community arts hub. The building was first listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, and again in the mid-1990s as part of a broader recognition of Connecticut’s historic synagogues.

Today, Temple Beth Israel stands as a testament not only to 19th-century architectural innovation but also to the resilience and continuity of Jewish cultural life in Hartford.