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THE ASTORIAN • SATuRdAy, FEbRuARy 12, 2022
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The Memorial English Lutheran Church building in 1917, which later became a synagogue in Astoria.
HIDDEN HISTORIES
Astoria once had its own synagogue
Their assets included a building, 569 Grand Ave., which sits across
the street from the synagogue site, and $400. The document was signed
by Max Weinstein, president; Carrie See, vice-president; Jerome A.
istorical records explain that due to an overlap dispute between
Greenberg, secretary; and Ida Weinstein, treasurer. The board of trust-
ees consisted of Maxwell J. Greenberg, Louis Friedman and Samuel
two donation land claim surveys, 13th Street didn’t get written
S. Shaman. Future members included Mary Steinbock, and her hus-
in, but if you look at a map of the neighborhood behind down-
town Astoria, you will see a distinct bend where 13th Street
band, Harry Steinbock, who was mayor of Astoria from 1959 to 1973,
exists, but does not exist.
Ann and Milton Berenson, Henry and Sylvia Kramer, Lester and Sybil
Historical records and the artifacts can only tell us so much about
Crohn, among others. Polk City Directories later show the Astoria
a time and place. Without proper evidence, stories are sometimes
Jewish Council and Beth Israel Congregation at 596 Grand Ave. (later
just forgotten.
1285 Grand), the site of the synagogue.
Older maps of Astoria show that at the bend on
There was never a designated rabbi, but the syn-
VERY FEW
agogue still became a popular meeting spot, espe-
Grand Avenue, where 13th is but isn’t, there was
cially for Jewish servicemen stationed at nearby
once a synagogue.
PHOTOGRAPHS
military bases.
Sometime around 1904, the simple, sin-
gle-story building was originally constructed as a
Upstairs, you would have found the sanctuary.
ARE AVAILABLE
church for Astoria’s German Lutherans.
Downstairs was a meeting room for social gather-
AND STORIES
ings. In the summer of 1949, the synagogue, “dec-
In 1908, a new English-speaking congregation,
orated with tall baskets of white gladioli, five-point
the Memorial English Lutheran Church, formed
ABOUT IT ARE
candelabra and white satin pew bows was filled to
and two years later, the church was rebuilt to give
over-flowing” for a wedding ceremony between
it “a more attractive and home-like appearance.”
DIFFICULT TO
Leo Siegel and Elizabeth Solonsky, daughter of
Specifically, it was moved back 16 feet and raised
FIND. EVEN SO,
Reuben Solonsky, who served as Beth Israel Tem-
9 feet to make room for a Sunday School, with a
ple president in the ‘50s. The wedding, with over
10-foot addition. The edifice was dedicated with
PRESERVING
200 guests, “was performed by Rabbi Kleinman…
“several musical selections rendered by some of
WHAT IS KNOWN
in accordance to the Jewish rites.”
Astoria’s best talent.” Invitation was extended to
Despite its popularity, the synagogue eventually
the general public. Sitting on the building coun-
IS ESSENTIAL
cil for these structural changes was one of Asto-
began to see a decline in membership, which could
ria’s well-known architects, John Wicks, who later
have been partly due to the disbanding of mili-
TO HELPING
tary bases, Jewish Astorians moving away or loss
went on to design Trinity Lutheran Church at 16th
US BETTER
of enthusiasm from a general assimilation of Jew-
and Franklin to where the Memorial Lutheran con-
ish culture. After 1963, the Beth Israel Congrega-
gregation eventually moved in the early 1930s as
UNDERSTAND
tion is no longer listed in the Polk City Directories
part of a merger with the Swedish First Lutheran
and its address, 1285 Grand Ave., remained vacant
Church that once stood at 35th and Franklin.
ASTORIA’S
until 1973, a probable year that the synagogue was
The former Memorial English Lutheran Church did
HISTORY AND
demolished.
not sit empty for long. In 1934, the building became
Since then, Jewish Astorians have congregated
the temporary home to the Astoria Labor Temple,
HERITAGE.
here and there. Occasional Passover events took
then for about two years, it housed the Assembly of
place at the First Presbyterian Church in the ‘80s.
God Church with Reverend Orin D. Channer.
For a short time, a new congregation, Beit Salmon, which was founded
What is so exceptional about this church, that was demolished
by Ann Goldeen in 2014, was meeting at Peace Lutheran Church’s
about 50 years ago and practically forgotten, however, is that it was
Fellowship Hall, but did not endure after her untimely death only two
the site of Astoria’s only synagogue.
years later. Many continue to get together and celebrate in their homes.
Despite the scarce records of local Jewish history, there is evi-
dence that Astoria has been home to Jewish residents since as far
Today, the site of the synagogue is an overgrown lot with a drive-
way that leads up to a duplex built sometime in the 1990s.
back as the 1840s. In fact, throughout the years, there were multiple
Looking at it, where the road bends in the place 13th Street is
businesses owned by Jewish families and Astorians had elected three
but isn’t, how would anyone ever know this church, this synagogue,
prominent and popular Jewish mayors.
existed.
One important document exists within a slim manila folder in files
Very few photographs are available and stories about it are diffi-
found in the Clatsop County Heritage Museum archives.
cult to find.
It provides a record of a group called the Astoria Jewish Council
Even so, preserving what is known is essential to helping us better
who signed Articles of Incorporation on June 4, 1942. Their objec-
tive was to develop a means and ways for members and their fami-
understand Astoria’s history and heritage.
lies to have a social advantage and clear relationship to one another
Jaime Lump is the administrative assistant for Lower Columbia
in order to improve connections within the community.
Preservation Society in Astoria.
By JAIME LUMP
For The Astorian
H