Former Ohave Synagogue Marker
Gardner, Worcester County, Massachusetts
Marker Inscription
On this site from 1912 - 2017 stood the synagogue that was home to Congregation Ohave Shalom for much of the 20th century. This marker commemorates the building and celebrates the contributions its congregants made to the City of Gardner.
The Story
In 1912, as Jewish families put down roots in the furniture-making city of Gardner, Massachusetts, Congregation Ohave Shalom raised a synagogue that would anchor their community for more than a century. Through much of the 20th century the building served as both a house of worship and a gathering place, while its congregants wove themselves into the civic and commercial life of the city. When the structure finally came down in 2017, this marker rose in its place to keep the memory of that community alive.
Why it matters
Small-city synagogues like this one preserve the story of Jewish Americans who built lasting congregations far from the major metropolises, enriching the industrial towns they called home.
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