Finn Halls

[Claire Registered Find all posts View Profile Close Claire]

I understand that there were Finn Halls in the U.S. and in Canada where Finns (and Swede-Finns) met to socialize and dance. Would anyone know how to find more information about these?
I believe my grandparents met in one. Perhaps it was in California or maybe Oregon.

[jeffekmeister Registered Find all posts View Profile Close jeffekmeister]

I am from Rochester, Washington, and there is a Swede Hall located on James Rd. I don't know when it was built but it is a very old building. There is a lot of history: pictures, writtings inside the hall. Every 3rd Sat. in June Rochester has a Swede Day parade.

[jeffekmeister Registered Find all posts View Profile Close jeffekmeister]

Also if your not aware, Rochester has been home for numerous families from Finlandduring the immigration period.

[sune Registered Find all posts View Profile Close sune]

K-G Olin's book "Guld och röda skogar" about Finnish immigrants in California has a lot of information about the halls.

Sune

[June Pelo Senior Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close June Pelo]

Finnish Halls

I have a couple articles about halls in New York. They came from "An Album of Finnish Halls" by Reino Nikolai Hannula. The address shown is: Finn Heritage, P.O. Box 1675, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406. Perhaps someone knows whether this place still has copies?

June

[Margaret Rader Registered Find all posts View Profile Close Margaret Rader]

Swede Hall

Rochester Swede Hall was built by Order of Runeberg and is still is very active use today as a community hall and also center of the annual Swede Festival in Rochester. Of course most of the "Swedes" were from Finland.
There were many social halls and I understand sometimes there was one for the "Red" Finns and one for the "Whites."

Margaret Holm Rader

[debbiesantelli Registered Find all posts View Profile Close debbiesantelli]

Finn Hall in Buckley, Washington

SFHS had their last summer picnic at a Finn Hall located in Buckley, Washington. Saima Hyppa, widow of Elmer Hyppa, attended the picnic and shared the history of the building and the Finns who built it. It is an old place, and when I am able, I would be happy to forward information that I have on my home computer.

There is a beautiful new housing development, I believe called "Finlandia" just down the street from the Finn Hall--also built on land that was owned by the Hyppa family.