Historically significant features of our main-floor restrooms/lobby (Condition Report)

CHARACTER-DEFINING FEATURES of our historic sanctuary building were identified in the Historic Structure Report (2003; “HSR”). These are the aspects that warrant historic preservation, in the eyes of architectural historians.

Below the jump, this post excerpts from here and there the HSR to describe and list the historically significant features in the four spaces that have been assigned the highest priority for rehabilitation/renovation. As named in the HSR, those spaces are known as the ladies’ lounge, ladies’ restroom, men’s restroom, and the narthex (lobby). 

Disclaimer: The material below reproduces the documentation as of October 2002. Some aspects may no longer exist today in the same form. 

Local Context 

Architecturally, the Mishkon Tephilo building reflects both its working-class immigrant community origins and its second- and third-generation constituency. … The materials used … reflect the congregation’s limited financial resources. Flawed factory-made ceramic tiles, or “seconds,” were purchased and assembled in patterns which strove for some degree of visual coherence. (p. IB-1)

Interior Spaces

The building retains much of its interior character-defining features and materials, such as space configurations, interior walls, and decorative elements. (p. IIC-14)

The Ladies’ Lounge and Restroom are located in the south area of the narthex and contains original ceramic tiles and wood stall partitions. (p. IC-3)

Historically significant features

[The items below are inventoried in the Spaces and Features Survey = vol. 2 of the HSR, where they are catalogued in more detail. Any aspects that are not mentioned below were NOT considered to be historically significant.]

Narthex

• Painted plaster ceiling
• Scored veneer stone in random ashlar pattern with travertine-like texture on north, south and west walls.
• Wood paneling on east wall.
• Stain and varnished wood baseboards with 1/4 round shoe molding.
• Stain and varnished mahogany door opens into Stairwell.
• Original ferrous metal door assists on both double doors.
• One and half pair copper alloy mortised butt hinges on double doors to Sanctuary.
• Ferrous metal door assist sets of double doors to Sanctuary.
• Hardware both pairs of double doors to Sanctuary: copper alloy pull on Narthex side and unpainted push plate on Sanctuary side.
• Stain and varnished door casing.

Ladies’ Lounge

• Painted plaster ceiling.
• Stain and varnished wood baseboards.
• Stain and varnished flush mahogany wood door in north wall.
• Stepped profile casings on doorway in north wall.
• Unpainted brass push plate on Narthex side and pull on lounge side on door in north wall.
• "Ladies Lounge" copper alloy bas-relief plate mounted on Narthex door.
• "WOMEN" sign on south Narthex wall next to Ladies' Lounge doorway.

Ladies’ Restroom

• Painted plaster ceiling.
• Painted plaster walls. Glazed ceramic factory seconds tile wainscot to approx. 50". Four alternating turquoise and pink courses with thinner course of turquoise at floor line. Seven courses of 4" x 4" pink tile in field with top course of 4" x 4" turquoise tile. Reddish brown 1/4 round bullnose trim. West wall is slightly concave at north comer where sink is located.
• Door from Ladies' Lounge flush hollow core mahogany wood; stain and varnished on Lounge side, and painted on Restroom side. Door assist is missing.
• Polished push plate on restroom side, pull on lounge side.
• Chrome door pulls, coat hooks, original surface-mounted hinges on stall partitions doors.
• Floor-mounted original wood stall partitions with single-panel doors painted pink. Stalls located on west wall.
• Grille fan at north end of room.
• Original toilet with original flush valve in south stall.
• North toilet original with replacement seat.

Men’s Restroom

• Painted plaster ceiling.
• Pink ceramic glazed 4" x 4" tile wainscot to 50" with reddish brown bullnose trim at top. Two bottom courses and top course are lighter shade of pink. Painted plaster to ceiling. Tiles are factory seconds.
• Metal-clad fireproof single panel painted door.
• Round ferrous metal knob without lock.
• One and half pair surface-mounted into door, and mortised into comer mortised hinges.
• Original door assist.
• Chrome pulls, original surface-mounted hinges on stall partition doors.
• Incandescent bulb lighting fixture.
• Floor-mounted original painted wood stall partitions with single-panel doors.
• Stepped profile painted wood casings on door from vestibule.
• Unpainted brushed chrome plate original Clipper brand air grille.
• Original urinals with non-original flush valves.
• "MEN" plate on door painted over.
• "BOYS" plate mounted over frame.