Skip to main content
Menu

Historic Columbia

search toggle

Donate
menu close

Historic Columbia

Donate
collapse

Navigation

  • Tours
    • House Tours
      • Robert Mills House and Gardens
      • Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens
      • Mann-Simons Site
      • The Museum of the Reconstruction Era
      • Modjeska Monteith Simkins House
      • Hours and Pricing
    • Garden Tours
      • Garden Database
      • Plant Sale
    • Offsite Tours
      • Bus Tours
      • Walking Tours
    • African American History Tours
    • Online Tours
    • Group Tours
  • Events
  • Education
    • Field Trips
      • House Tours
      • Bus Tours
      • Walking Tours
      • Early Adventures
    • Traveling Trunk
    • Homeschool Friday
    • Scout Troops
    • Summer Camp
    • Adult Education
  • Preservation
    • Current Projects and Initiatives
      • Bull Street Campus 
      • Columbia's Green Book Sites
      • Veterans Administration Regional Office
      • Women’s Club of Columbia
    • Preservation Awards
    • Resources for the Public
      • For Property Owners
      • For Neighborhoods
      • Take Action!
  • Support
    • Corporate Support
    • Donate
    • Membership
      • General Membership
      • Palladium Membership
      • Corporate Membership
    • Volunteer
    • Partners and Donors
  • Rent a Venue
    • Gardens of the Woodrow Wilson Family Home
    • Seibels House and Garden
    • Robert Mills Carriage House and Gardens
    • Gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion
    • Recommended Vendors
    • Contact Us
  • About
    • Blog
    • Board Members
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Gift Shop at Robert Mills
      • Online Store
    • Local History
      • Columbia Jewish Heritage Initiative
    • Newsletter
    • Staff Directory
  • Frequently Asked Questions

1318 Park Street

Original Site of House of Peace Synagogue

By 1907, a small group of Jews, led by first president Philip Epstin (1836-1921), began to gather at this location to conduct Orthodox services. Under the leadership of Rabbi David Karesh (1878-1964), the House of Peace Synagogue, today known as Beth Shalom Synagogue, received its state charter in 1912. The first structure was destroyed by fire in 1915 and rebuilt in the same year. Isidore Gergel is credited with saving the Torah scrolls. Most recent Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe lived within walking distance of the shul, or synagogue, until the congregation outgrew this building and erected a new structure on Marion Street in 1935. The building subsequently became the Big Apple Club, a popular African American dance hall, which was physically relocated to its current location at 1000 Hampton Street in the early 1980s.  

  • caba rivkin 1915

    A young Caba Rivkin delivers for Rivkin's Deli, 1915. The original House of Peace building appears in the background. Historic Columbia collection

  • House of Peace Synagogue

    The second House of Peace Synagogue, circa 1935. Image courtesy of Special Collections, College of Charleston

  • house of peace the state

    The sale of House of Peace stipulated that the building never be used as a house of worship again. Reprinted from The State newspaper, October 13, 1935

  • Big Apple nightclub

    Big Apple Night Club, late 1930s. Historic Columbia collection

34.0026865, -81.0372945

Newsletter Signup

newsletter signup

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for events, news, and updates from Historic Columbia!

  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Flickr
Historic Columbia

© 2021 Historic Columbia

1601 Richland Street,
Columbia, SC 29201

(803) 252-7742
Website by Cyberwoven