How Historic Paintwork was Saved at the Eldridge Street Synagogue

After more than thirty years of neglect, the once majestic sanctuary of the Eldridge Street Synagogue sat empty and covered in dust. Paint was peeling from the walls and once sparkling stained glass windows were cracked. It took an extensive twenty-year restoration project to bring the 1887 synagogue back to its original splendor. In a new virtual series, Restoring Stories, hosted by the Museum at Eldridge Street, you can discover how talented craftspeople and community members made the synagogue shine once again. The first virtual talk, on Thursday, will explore the restoration of the synagogue’s decorative paintwork.

Courtesy of the Eldridge Street Museum

Restoring the decorative paint inside the synagogue was a multi-step process. To start, EverGreene Architectural Arts, the nation’s largest specialty contractor, conducted a thorough historic plaster and finishes survey to analyze the current state of the plaster and paintwork. This survey helped determine exactly what type of work needed to be done. They discovered areas where previous restoration work had been conducted and what decided how much original material could be saved. The goal was to maintain as much of the original ornamentation as possible.

Courtesy of the Eldridge Street Museum

As you can see in the photograph below, a lot of cleaning was necessary to reveal the original paintwork. Once the original paintwork was visible, stencils were made so the patterns could be replicated in areas where new paint was necessary. Any new paint, which was meticulously hand-painted, was given an aged patina to blend in with the historical paintwork. Besides the decorative patterns found inside the synagogue, the team also restored faux-wood graining, marbleizing, gilding, and wood finishing.

Courtesy of the Eldridge Street Museum

In the Museum at Eldridge Street’s upcoming talk, Restoring Stories: Decorative Paint, Jeff Greene, Executive Chairman and Founder, and Emily Sottile, Director of the Sacred Space Studio, at EverGreene will discuss their restoration efforts of the historic landmark and the stories they uncovered along the way. The program will be moderated by historic preservation specialist Chelsea Dowell, Director of Public Engagement, Museum at Eldridge Street.

Courtesy of the Eldridge Street Museum

Eldridge Street Synagogue was built in 1887 and served the Lower East Side’s Jewish immigrant communities for decades. By the 1940s, the ornate main sanctuary had become too expensive for the dwindling congregation to maintain. The congregation moved to a smaller, lower-level chapel and shut the main sanctuary for more than thirty years. Restoration work began in 1986, and the Museum at Eldridge Street opened in 2007.

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Next, check out  Top 10 Secrets of the Museum at Eldridge Street