Lloyd Street SynagogueX
The Lloyd Street Synagogue: Designed by Robert Cary Long, the Lloyd Street Synagogue was built in 1845 by the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation; it has the distinction of being the first synagogue erected in Maryland and remains the third-oldest standing synagogue in the U.S. In 1861, the original Greek Revival building was enlarged by two structural bays. For more than a century, the building was used as a house of worship, study, and assembly by three different congregations: Baltimore Hebrew Congregation (1845-1889), a traditional congregation that later "reformed" its liturgy and practices; St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church (1889-1905), one of the first Lithuanian "ethnic" parishes in the U.S.; and Shomrei Mishmeres HaKodesh (1905-1963), one of the leading Orthodox congregations of the East European immigrant community. The last restoration of the synagogue occurred in 1963-65, at which time the exterior was sandblasted.
Exterior Restoration: This first phase of a multiphase restoration of the building was completed in November, 2008, and consisted of stabilization and restoration of the exterior, including:
- installation of a copper standing seam roof, flashings, gutters, snow rail
- extensive restoration of all exterior woodwork, including the portico, doors, windows and shutters
- restoration of the cast iron gates and railings
- masonry restoration, including reconstruction of the parapet
- coating of the brick and columns
- graining of the exterior doors
