Friends of Suomi Hall

Suomi Hall Building Restoration Plan

Background history of Suomi Hall

It was an important gathering place for early Finnish immigrants. Suomi Hall has a very complex history. Most people today think Suomi Hall has always been the Finnish Brotherhood. Its birth started out up the hill on Taylor Avenue. The Finnish Temperance Society built Suomi Hall in 1883. It was moved down the hill in about 1910 turned around and raised to become the second floor of the main hall with the stage. The first floor was added for businesses and the dining room and kitchen to the east. This tripled its size. In its new location it was built on pilings on the shores of the Columbia River. Not long after the shoreline was filled in and a new concrete foundation was poured under Suomi Hall. The Finnish Temperance Society was struggling in later years. The Finnish Brotherhood purchased the Suomi Hall in 1935. This was to become its first permeant home after nearly 50 years of meetings in various other locations throughout Astoria.

After nearly 100 years, the foundation has served its purpose well, but it's had its challenges, being built on unconsolidated sand fill, it's had to endure a lot of shaking, from the periodic earthquakes, to the major construction of the Megler Bridge in the 1960's, to all the heavy truck traffic on Marine Drive, every time a heavy truck passes you can feel the vibration in the hall.

The renovation will have to be done in phases unless a large lump sum of funding can be obtained.

Proposed Phases

1. Levelling and stabilizing Suomi Hall. No further work can be done on the building without a level and stable structure. The structural engineer and foundation contractor have already designed and submitted their proposals. Bergeman Construction bid as proposed on July 11, 2023, $247,941.35 and Stricker Engineering, structural design drawings completed and paid were $7,824.00 on July 1, 2023. Additional costs not included in Joel Bergeman bid associated with leveling of Suomi Hall will be the following:
   • Disconnecting and reconnecting the following, Stairs on backside of Hall, Water, Sewer, Possibly Electrical. Other costs that are unknown but probably will occur, due to movement of structure, might be doors that don’t open or close properly, Windows that break, cracks in walls. Repair of siding or at least temporary siding over newly filled in foundation sill gap.
   • Potential disruption of M & N and compensation.
   • Just a rough guestimate of additional costs in this first phase could be around $60,000.
2. A new elevator will dovetail in at the end of the leveling of the Hall. This is critical for reliable access of our members.
3. Hire an architect who specializes in historic nuilding restoration, extremely important in finding an architect who recognizes historic details and uses of materials. This phase can possibly be done sooner and preferable so our members and the public can see our vision. This would encourage donations and in finding Grants and that we are serious in achieving our objectives in renovating Suomi Hall.
4. Restore the street side of Suomi Hall to its former historic appearance. Removal of asbestos siding down the original ship lap siding. Removal of cheap vinyl windows, reinstall historically correct tall double hung windows of its former appearance. Restoration of the remaining three side of the building would be desirable at the same time. Financing would be the hold up.
5. Restore interior, removal of drop ceilings, remove sheet rocked walls to expose the bead board that was covered over in the last remodeling if it’s still in place. Install lighting to a more historic style. Install a fire suppression system to protect our investment. New window treatments, shades or curtains. Refinish floor.