Friends of Suomi Hall

Suomi Hall was originally a one-story gabled rectangular building with a projecting porch topped by a pedimented gable roof. The gable was decorated with lentils. Ornate columns supported the porch. The building was constructed in 1893 by volunteers from the Finnish Temperance Society who wanted a gathering and entertainment facility. By building the hall, the temperance movement aimed to draw large numbers of Finnish fishermen out of the taverns and into more social activities. Suomi Hall was named after the Finnish people's own name for Finland. The building was originally located at the southwest corner of Alameda and Columbia Streets and contained a meeting room, two smoking rooms, a dining room and a small theater. The hall was the center for many activities, including ballad singing, poetry readings, fiddling, musicals, dances and balls, and plays.

In 1910, the Finnish Temperance Society moved the building to a more central location on what is now West Marine Drive. Makela & Wuopio were the contractors hired to move the hall. It was enlarged by jacking up the building, the first floor became the second floor, plus an addition to the east, doubling the width, allowing for more elaborate productions. Many plays, musicals and operettas were staged in the hall, often directed by professionals from the Helsinki stage. The productions had elaborate sets and costumes. Many of the plays performed included works by Moliere, Tolstoy, Chekov and Strindberg. There were many fine actors, musicians, singers, and directors from the Uniontown community.