709 JACKSON AVENUE GARGOYLE

The building was constructed in 1867 for the congregation of Sha'arai Tefillah, which translates into "gates of prayer," but the architect did not include the gargoyle.

The old synagogue at 709 Jackson Ave. was sold in 2004, and the new owners installed new glass in the windows. Fearing vandals would see the windows as ideal targets, the owners took out a little insurance. Since gargoyles are said to scare off and protect from evil and harmful spirits, it seemed like a good idea to display one on the building. So they found a fiberglass gargoyle in a shop on Magazine Street and attached it to the building. They had to put it on the side instead of out front because of restrictions placed on them by a preservation group. It seems the gargoyle did its duty and kept window-smashers away.