Temple Freda (Bryan, Texas)

Infobox nrhp
name = Temple Freda


caption =
locator_x =
locator_y =
location = Bryan, Texas
area =
built = 1912
architect = Green & Finger Company
architecture = Greek Revival, Classical Revival
added = 1983
refnum = 83003128
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body =

Temple Freda, built in 1912 , is a synagogue located on 205 Parker Street Bryan, Texas. [ [http://www.isjm.org/Buildings/records/BR358.htm International Survey of Jewish Monuments record for Freda Temple] ]

History

Temple Freda, a part of Brazos County, Texas history, is one of the three oldest religious buildings still in use in Bryan (?) along with St.Andrew’s Episcopal Church and St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. Temple Freda is named for Ethel Freda Kaczer (1860-1912). Her husband, Benjamin Kaczer (1850-1938), was president of the kehilla when the synagogue was built. [cite web
title = A Guide to Historic Brazos Valley
publisher = Brazos Heritage Society
date = 2003
url = http://www.brazosheritage.org/pdfs/historicbrazosbrochure.pdf
accessdate = 2007-10-22 ] The temple is unique for a Jewish place of worship in that it is named after a woman. [ [http://www.geocities.com/txsynvr/Bryan/Bryan.html Temple Freda, Bryan, Texas] ] [ [http://www.isjm.org/Buildings/records/BR358.htm International Survey of Jewish Monuments record for Freda Temple] ]

In 1958, Texas A&M Hillel opened up a building in College Station, Texas. During this period, some members of Temple Freda in Bryan, Texas left to attend services at the Hillel building in College Station. Presently, Temple Freda's Torah is under the care of Texas A&M Hillel. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=oXOnaWM4NBMC&pg=PA191&dq=texas+a%26m+hillel&sig=ACfU3U1ZLTQUYjBJVLS2ySnk9ekDLJvoIA Lone Stars of David: The Jews of Texas] Brandeis University Press page 191]

Since 1982, Texas A&M University's "Center of Heritage Conservation" has focused on the history of Temple Freda as one of its historical projects. The temple structure is built in Greek Revival style [ [http://archone.tamu.edu/chc/projects.htm Texas A&M University College of Architecture Projects] ] and also exibits Classical Revival style with Beaux-Arts architecture elements. [ [http://www.isjm.org/Buildings/records/BR358.htm International Survey of Jewish Monuments record for Freda Temple] ] Temple Freda is associated with the Jewish cemetery "Temple Freda Cemetery" [ [http://www.geocities.com/txsynvr/Bryan/brycem.html Temple Freda Burials, Bryan, TX] ] and is also a part of the National Register of Historic Places of Texas. [ [http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/TX/Brazos/state.html National Register of Historic Places of Texas] ]

Further reading

*Toubin, Rosa Levin, "Bryan-College Station: Temple Freda". Texas Jewish Historical Society.
*Page, Bill. "Before Temple Freda: Jewish residents of Brazos County, Texas, 1865-1913." 1998.

ee also

*History of the Jews in Brazos County, Texas
*History of the Jews in the United States

References