White Eagle Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White Eagle Hall |
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| General information | |
| Status | Open |
| Type | Performance Venue |
| Address | 335-337 Newark Avenue |
| Town or city | Jersey City, New Jersey |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 40°43′30″N 74°03′06″W / 40.7249°N 74.0517°W |
| Opened | 1910 |
| Renovated | 2016 |
| Height | 5 stories |
| Other information | |
| Seating capacity | 800 standing / 400 seated |
White Eagle Hall is a cool place in Jersey City, New Jersey. It's a historic building that now hosts music shows, theater plays, and has restaurants. It's located in the Village neighborhood of Downtown Jersey City.
This building first opened in 1910. It was a community center where people gathered for fun events. They had bingo games, dance shows, and even concerts. Later, it became a practice hall for a famous basketball team. Today, it's a lively spot for performances, art, and food.
Building History and Design
The name "White Eagle Hall" comes from the coat of arms of Poland. The white eagle is a symbol of Poland. Polish immigrants and skilled workers built this hall in 1910. They were led by Rev. Peter Boleslaus Kwiatowski. He helped start many churches in northeastern New Jersey.
The outside of the building has special decorations. You can see statues of Polish heroes like Ignacy Jan Paderewski and Casimir Pulaski. There are also two beautiful glass skylights inside. One honors Frédéric Chopin, a famous music composer. The other celebrates Marcella Sembrich, a world-famous opera singer.
Home of the Friars
In 1934, the building became part of St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church. It was used for many things, including bingo games. For many years, it was the practice gym for the amazing St. Anthony High School basketball team. They were called the Friars.
The Friars were a national powerhouse team. Their coach, Bob Hurley, was a legend. He led the team to win 28 state championships and 4 national championships! Coach Hurley was even put into the Basketball Hall of Fame. The team didn't play their main games here. They often played at the Jersey City Armory.
A Place for Entertainment
From 1968 to 1975, "Battle of the Bands" contests happened on the stage. Many talented musicians got their start here. For example, Frank Infante, the guitarist for the famous band Blondie, began his career at White Eagle Hall. He's now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!
Starting in 2013, the building got a huge makeover. It was a multi-million dollar project to bring it back to life. The people doing the restoration used parts of the old building in new ways. For example, the original wood floor was used to make bar counters. Wood from a nearby old church (Saint Boniface Church from 1865) was used for window frames and railings.
White Eagle Hall reopened in April 2017. The Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) held the first performances. On May 5, there was a special opening ceremony with Mayor Steven Fulop. The first official concert featured bands like Sunshine & The Rain and Rye Coalition.
Today, the venue can hold 800 people standing or 400 people seated. It has three bars and very high ceilings. The stage is large, with two levels of backstage areas. There are dressing rooms and warm-up areas for performers. The building also has restaurants. White Eagle Hall is now a very important place for music and arts in Hudson County. It also hosts events like the Golden Door Film Festival.
