ca. 1931. The first Jewish synagogue in Tacoma was built in 1893 at the corner of So. 10th and So. I St. (921-23 So. I St.) Nineteen years later, the new Temple Beth Israel shown in this photograph was built at 324 No. J St. This building was the home of Tacoma's reform congregation from 1922 until the 1960 merger with Talmud Torah Synagogue. In 1965 it was sold to the Apostolic Faith Church. It still looks very much like it did when this photograph was taken in 1931, and it still retains its beautiful stain glass windows. Bowen# CHU-019

ca. 1931. Talmud Torah Synagogue, 901 So. 4th, Tacoma. Architects Hill & Mock designed this "Romanesque Italian Renaissance" structure, which was constructed in 1925. It was renamed Sinai Temple in 1947. In 1960, Talmud Torah merged with the reformists at Temple Beth Israel. Rabbi Richard Rosenthal was elected to lead the combined congregations. They built a new synagogue, Temple Beth El, at 5975 So. 12th St. Talmud Torah was sold in 1968 to the Tacoma Blood Bank. It was later demolished and its site used as a parking lot for Tacoma General Hospital. Bowen # CHU-025