The Baltimore Sun
Baltimore, Maryland
11 Sep 1921, Sunday
Lithuanian Hall Is Fine
New Club House On Site Of Old Winans Home
The Lithuanian Hall Association Has Completed A Commodious And Attractive Building That Is Designed To Be A Center Of Lithuanian Social, Educational And Political Activities In Baltimore.
By Emily Emerson Lantz.
DOUBTLESS many who pass along the quiet old thorough street, as it extends westward from Fremont avenue, have speculated as to the character of an edifice of imposing dignity and beauty that during the summer months has been in course of erection at the southeast corner of Hollins and Parkin streets.
It stands directly opposite the stately iron gateway that affords entrance to the park of Alexandroffsky, the old Winans estate, that long ago borrowed monies about October 1. In it the Lithuanian Educational Association will find a permanentiorae. The National Lithuanian Library will have quarters there, the Lithuanian Orchestra will meet there and departments of languages, naturalization and drama will also be established there. There will be choral groups and athletic groups. Here dramatic entertainments and moving pictures will be given and concerts and community singing will introduce the spirit of music and keep alive Lithuanian folksongs.
Many Resident Lithuanians.
Mr. Laukaitis, president of the association, said recently in speaking of Mr At fhi'i vi its picturesque name from the Alexandroffsky Mountains, that raise their snowy peaks in Asiatic Russia. Its frontage of 66 feet overlooks the formal garden and sequestered lake of Alexandroffsky, the green branches of the park and the handsome residence, ventilated by a chimney 100 feet high, that was built by the Winanses and is now occupied as the town house of Mrs. Gann M. Hutton, descended from the gifted and inventive Baltimorean who, in conjunction with the late Joseph Harrison, of Philadelphia, built for the Russian Imperial Government the first railroad in Russia.
Inquiry concerning the new building elicits the information that it is Lithuanian Hall, built by members of the Lithuanian Hall Association; that it was designed by the architect Stanislaus Russell, built by the Harry W. Johnson Company and that it is a clubhouse designed to afford fitting environment for the educational, social and political activities of the association.
Has Doric Simplicity.
The building is constructed of Indiana limestone and tapestry brick. Its dimensions are 66 by 150 feet, fronting upon Hollins street and extending along Parkin street to Boyd street. Above a ground floor or basement it rises to the height of three stories in the front and two stories in the back, and its design, of almost Doric simplicity, is said to be suggestive of a style of architecture frequently seen in Lithuanian cities.
The front of the edifice, to the height of the second story, is of Indiana limestone with a granite base. Cornice and trimmings also are of limestone, blending harmoniously with the several soft yellow tints of the tapestry brick. The main entrance is impressive and dignified and upon the stone pediment above the front of the building, is carved the coat of arms of Lithuania. It represents a knight riding a war steed, richly accoutered in mediaeval trappings. The horseman, lance in hand, is charging upon an enemy. The shield upon his left arm is blazoned with the double cross of Lithuania and the rider personifies the Lithuanian military hero, Grand Duke Vytautas, who in an early century rallied his people successfully against the invasion of foreign types, and who is to Lithuanian song and story what King Arthur is to Anglo-Saxon legend and romance.
The basement or ground floor of the building has a large billiard room, a bowling alley, spacious grill and dining room, a kitchen equipped with modern ranges and every convenience known to domestic science, pantries, storerooms, lavatories with shower baths and engine room and storage cellar. There are concrete flooring and stairways where even the smallest danger from fire might exist.
Assembly Room And Stage.
The first floor above has spacious reception and directors' rooms, banking and ladies cloakroom and lavatories. A foyer opens info an assembly room that extends the width of the building and back to Boyd street that has a seating capacity of 1,500. There is a stage sufficiently large to serve as a gymnasium. The stage i3 fireproof, as are also the approaches to it and dressing rooms connected with it. Both the stage and a fireproof moving-picture booth upon the floor above are equipped with asbestos doors.
The second floor above the basement has two large assembly rooms, and the third floor has one assembly room, cloak and store rooms and a housekeeping apartment for the resident janitor. The woodwork throughout the building is of cypress and birch. The most modern lighting plant is installed and fixtures and finishings from the kitchen up are of the best. In addition to the main entrance, there are several other entrances, including a large stage entrance opening upon Boyd street through which stage properties may be carried.
The Lithuanian Hall Association numbers 700 members, of whom about 200 are women. The officers are: President, Ambrose Laukaitis; vice-president, Peter Lazauckas; financial secretary, Vincent Lukosewecze; recording secretary, J. Vilevis, and treasurer, John Aleta. The building committee includes Ambrose Laukaitis, chairman; Peter Lazauckas and J. Vilevis. The edifice will be completed and dedicated with imposing cere- the Lithuanians, that 25 years ago there was only a handful of his countrymen in Baltimore, whereas there are now 12,000 Lithuanians in the State of Maryland, 8,000 of whom reside in this city.
Three-fourths of these live in Southwest Baltimore and most of them own their own homes. The chief ambition of Lithuanians now living in Baltimore is to work and own their own homes. They are a constructive element in the community, not a destructive one.
An Ancient People.
“It may be asked by some: Who are the Lithuanians, from what part of Europe do they come, of what race are they a part and what language is native to them?" Those who have more closely followed international affairs, know that while the origin of this people is lost in obscurity, their language is somewhat akin to Sanskrit; they are neither Slavs nor Russians, but a separate and distinct branch of the Indo-Almost European race.
They are strongly individual and have occupied for eight centuries the region that lies along the southern shore of the Baltic Set, with part of Estonia and Prussia on the west, Poland on the east, Russia on the south and Latvia, occupied by the Letts, with whom the Lithuanians are closely connected, on the north. The great pine forests of Lithuania are famous throughout Central Europe ; the country abounds in lakes, and while pine is the chief wood, there are many oak, birch, ash, maple and linden trees of fine quality. Because of their marshy country, Lithuanians were an isolated people, whose early religion was pagan and who worshiped in forests. Their isolation preserved their national characteristics and racial individualism to a marked degree. Physically they are well built, with elongated faces and fine features their very fair hair, blue eyes and delicate skin distinguishing them from Poles and Russians. In their own country Lithuanians are an agricultural people, good hunters, good cattle breeders and keepers of bees: They raise flax in large quantities and are skilled in textile industries and the poorest peasants wear linen underwear - and woolen clothes woven and made by their own families. Their women are skilled in needlework, and as a race they are peculiarly dependable. The Lithuanians were first united into a Grand Duchy in 1252, when Pope Innocent IV crowned Mindaugas King of Lithuania. Led by the Grand Duke Vytautas, this sturdy people fought valiantly against foes who, under the guise of Christianity, sought to despoil them of their territory, but in 1386 the Lithuanians voluntarily adopted the Catholic faith, in which religion they continue to the present time. The large numbers emigrating to Baltimore have been chiefly interested in textile industries, although many of the younger generation are entering professional life. There are several Lithuanian physicians in the city, many have studied pharmacy, some are practicing dentists and there is one Lithuanian attorney.
Are A Devout Race.
The devoutness of the people is indicated by the fact that in 1917 the Lithuanians of Baltimore purchased St. Alphonsus' Catholic Church, corner Park avenue and Saratoga street, together with its rectory and school, all of which had been for 77 years in charge of Redemptorist priests. One of the reasons for purchasing this church property and school was that it would enable Lithuanians to develop their educational work and establish a home for aged Lithuanian women.
Despite the fact that Lithuanians of Baltimore are now enthusiastic American citizens and steadily promoting Americanization work among their own race, they have not been unmindful of the sufferings of their mother country during the World War or neglectful of sustaining her financially in her hour of need. They have aided in her reconstruction work and, exerted such influence as they possessed in the United States to aid her in her struggle for political freedom. Lithuania, lying between the upper and nether millstones of Russia and Germany, has been terribly devastated by the war, but has risen from the ashes of the fire through which she passed, possessed of political freedom and she is now gallantly maintaining her little republic.