Temple B'nai Sholom, located in the historic Twickenham District of downtown Huntsville is the oldest synagogue in Alabama in continuous use. The reform Congregation B'nai Sholom (Son's of Peace) was founded in Huntsville July 30, 1876 by 32 area families.
The building was erected at a cost of about $12,000 and was dedicated Nov. 26, 1899. Designed by Chattanooga architect R. H. Hunt construction of the Romanesque revival style building began in 1898 after the purchase of a lot on the corner of Clinton and Lincoln streets. R.H. Hunt also designed many other religious structures throughout the southeast including the original First Baptist Church at the corner of Clinton and Church St. in Huntsville.
According to deceased Huntsville architect and historian Harvie Jones, "the interior space of Temple B'nai Sholom is unusual, unexpected and beautiful. It is a sophisticated exercise in the use of geometry for symbolism and vitality."
The worship space is a perfect square with the four corners of the square beveled to create an octagonal shape. The high timber covered ceiling is a truncated pyramid consisting of 24 folded planes. The flat square at the center of the ceiling is ringed with 48 bare light bulbs, twelve on each side which would have been very modern for 1899.
The floor slopes to the bima, a raised platform with a reading desk from which the Torah and Haftorah (a reading from the prophets) are read each Sabbath and during festivals. The Ark containing the Torah is at the center of the platform. The pews are arranged in a radial fan pattern and the inclined floor improves the sight line.
There are two large 25 foot wide stained glass windows at the back where the light from the windows falls on the bima, not in the eyes of the worshipers.
Some of the Romanesque elements of the exterior include the octagonal tower above the west front entrance, the rounded masonry arches above the windows and doors and the many finials atop the towers and parapets.
The exterior is made from a special kind of brick developed in the latter part of the 19th century called "pressed brick."These bricks contain very little moisture and are high density. This allowed the brick to be laid with very thin mortar joints giving a more unified and monolithic appearance . Red-brown mortar further de-emphasizes the brick joints.
The temple underwent an extensive renovation in 1993-94 including repairs to the original slate roof, removal of the original galvanized metal ornaments on the spires and replacing them with copper. Interior work included upgrading the electrical service , repairs to interior plaster walls and ceilings, the heating and cooling system, fire alarm and security system improvements were also necessary.
Downtown Huntsville has many beautiful houses of worship. Temple B'nai Sholom is a stately and important part of Huntsville's religious heritage. It proves that an old structure can be modernized and yet retain what makes it truly unique and architecturally important.
Take a 360-degree panoramic spherical tour of Temple B'nai Sholom. Click on the image and scroll around from floor to ceiling to view this historic building.