Akron Jewish Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Akron Jewish Center
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Front of building in 2013
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 Akron Jewish Center
Location in Ohio
Akron Jewish Center
Location in the United States
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| Location | 220 S Balch St., Akron, Ohio |
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| Built | 1929, 1951 |
| Architect | Fichter & Broker |
| Architect 1951 addition | Michael M. Konarski |
| Architectural style | Romanesque, Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001919 |
| Added to NRHP | 24 July 1986 |
The Akron Jewish Center is a historic building in Akron, Ohio. It was built in 1929 and made bigger in 1951. For over 45 years, it was a special place for the Jewish community in Akron. It served as a Jewish Community Center, offering many activities and services.
What the Building Looks Like
The Akron Jewish Center building is at 220 S. Balch Street. It was designed by architects Fichter & Brooker. The building has a style called Romanesque, with details that look like Byzantine designs.
It was built in 1929. This two-and-a-half-story building is made of red bricks. The outside decorations are made of a material that looks like granite. The main entrance is raised up six steps from the ground. The outside walls go up to a low wall called a parapet, which hides the flat roof.
The main entrance is on the long side of the building. It has a grand archway with many layers of curves. These curves rest on a special stone carving that looks like an old figure, resting on lions. The arch is supported by many columns. The entrance has four doors, with the middle two paired together. Above the doors is a wide beam that says "Akron Jewish Center." Above this beam is a large glass area. A smaller door on the left leads to the sports areas.
In 1951, a large addition was built on the left side. This part was designed by Michael M. Konarski. It matches the original building's brick and has an Art Deco style. It also includes Byzantine-like details. Inside, there is a large auditorium with balconies and a stage. It can seat 1,000 people. The building also has many sports facilities, rooms for fun and social events, and offices.
A Center for the Community
The Akron Jewish Center is also the name of the organization that used this building for over 45 years. A group of important local Jewish men started the Akron Jewish Center organization in 1924. As a Jewish Community Center, the building and the organization offered many religious and non-religious activities.
The center had a Synagogue and hosted religious events. But it also helped the community in many other ways. It supported physical health, social connections, learning, and spiritual growth. The organization was active both within the Jewish community and in the wider Akron community.
They offered many religious and Jewish cultural programs. They also put on concerts, plays, and a speaker series for everyone in the community. The plays and concerts were very popular. The speaker series, called Akron Civic Forum, even became a TV and radio show by 1986. Famous guests who spoke there included Franklin Delano Roosevelt Jr., Eleanor Roosevelt, Robert A. Taft, Edward R. Murrow, and Drew Pearson. The national radio show America's Town Meeting of the Air broadcast from the center twice.
The building was built on several land plots. One of these plots was already a meeting place for a local Jewish group. The first stone of the building was laid on November 4, 1928. The building officially opened on September 22, 1929. The architects, J. Adam Fitcher and Harry A. Brooker, were well-known in Akron.
The Building Today
The Akron Jewish Center organization moved out of the building in 1973. They sold it to Shadyside Baptist Church, which used it until 1985. Today, the City of Akron owns the building. They use it as a community center for everyone.
The building was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places on July 24, 1986. This means it is recognized as an important historic site.
