Historic District in Wilmington in New Hanover County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Temple of Israel

1875-1876

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 23, 2024

1. Temple of Israel Marker

Inscription.
Samuel Sloan of Philadelphia, architect
James Walker, supervising architect
Cape Fear Building Company, builders Moorish Revival style synagogue built for German Jewish reform congregation that was organized in 1872. It is the oldest synagogue in North Carolina and one of the few in the United States still housed in its original nineteenth century building.

Erected by Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and the North Carolina, Historic Wilmington Foundation series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.

Location. 34° 14.128′ N, 77° 56.67′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is in the Historic District. It is at the intersection of South 4th Street and Market Street (Business U.S. 17), on the left when traveling south on South 4th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 S 4th St, Wilmington NC 28401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain and on the Cape Fear Coast.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Temple of Israel (a few steps from this marker); Baldwin House

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(a few steps from this marker); Mary Jane Langdon House (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas Godfrey (within shouting distance of this marker); Cornelius Harnett (within shouting distance of this marker); Huggins House (within shouting distance of this marker); St. James Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Leora Hiatt McEachern (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Also see . . .
1. History. Forty families organized the congregation in 1872 and the Ladies Concordia Society, our sisterhood, was also organized that same year. (Temple of Israel congregation) (Submitted on January 11, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Temple of Israel. The Temple of Israel traces its history to an earlier Orthodox congregation organized in 1867. This first attempt at bringing the local Jewish community together for religious fellowship, however, lasted only one year. Through the encouragement of Philadelphia rabbi Maurice Jastrow, roughly forty Wilmington Jewish

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 24, 2024

2. Temple of Israel Marker

Marker is to the left of the door on the second story.

families tried organizing again in the mid-1870s, this time successfully. (Nicholas Serrano, SAH Archipedia, Society of Architectural Historians) (Submitted on January 11, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. Wilmington Historic District (PDF). National Register of Historic Places nomination for the district, which includes this property and was listed in 1974. (Prepared by Survey and Planning Unit, North Carolina Division of Archives and History; via North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office) (Submitted on January 11, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

4. Wilmington Historic District Boundary Expansion and Additional Documentation (PDF). National Register nomination that expanded the district in 2003. (Prepared by Sherry Joines Wyatt and L. Robbie King; via North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office) (Submitted on January 11, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 11, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 136 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 11, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.