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D.C.'s Oldest Synagogue Is About To Move For The Third (And Last) Time
DEC 20, 2018, 4:42 PM
D.C.’s Oldest Synagogue Is About To Move For The Third (And Last) Time
Rachel Sadon
D.C.’s first and oldest synagogue is also almost certainly its most nomadic.
The original home of Adas Israel is about to make its second move in as many years, and its third over the course of its storied history. This final trek, slated for January 9, will put the building in position to be the cornerstone of a brand new museum slated to open in 2021—the Capital Jewish Museum. .... Over the ensuing years, the original synagogue building served a number of other purposes before being threatened with demolition to pave the way for Metro’s headquarters. ... The Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington fought to save it, and in 1969, they moved the building three blocks away over the course of a dramatic, three-hour trek.
But, in recent years, with redevelopment again threatening the building’s livelihood—this time in the form of the enormous Capitol Crossing project, which is constructing three new city blocks over I-395—the group’s leaders found themselves turning to the same playbook: Pick up the 273-ton structure and move it. In November of 2016, movers hoisted the structure onto a special truck bed and pulled it 60 feet away.
Now, they’re gearing up to move it to its last home. On a Wednesday morning next month, specialty movers will roll the building down 3rd Street NW to rest, finally, a block away. There, it will eventually a key part of a much larger new museum, which will feature gallery space, classrooms, archives, offices, and a green roof space.
....
The synagogue’s move will take place beginning at 9 a.m. on January 9, 2019.
D.C.’s Oldest Synagogue Is About To Move For The Third (And Last) Time
Rachel Sadon
D.C.’s first and oldest synagogue is also almost certainly its most nomadic.
The original home of Adas Israel is about to make its second move in as many years, and its third over the course of its storied history. This final trek, slated for January 9, will put the building in position to be the cornerstone of a brand new museum slated to open in 2021—the Capital Jewish Museum. .... Over the ensuing years, the original synagogue building served a number of other purposes before being threatened with demolition to pave the way for Metro’s headquarters. ... The Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington fought to save it, and in 1969, they moved the building three blocks away over the course of a dramatic, three-hour trek.
But, in recent years, with redevelopment again threatening the building’s livelihood—this time in the form of the enormous Capitol Crossing project, which is constructing three new city blocks over I-395—the group’s leaders found themselves turning to the same playbook: Pick up the 273-ton structure and move it. In November of 2016, movers hoisted the structure onto a special truck bed and pulled it 60 feet away.
Now, they’re gearing up to move it to its last home. On a Wednesday morning next month, specialty movers will roll the building down 3rd Street NW to rest, finally, a block away. There, it will eventually a key part of a much larger new museum, which will feature gallery space, classrooms, archives, offices, and a green roof space.
....
The synagogue’s move will take place beginning at 9 a.m. on January 9, 2019.
