FINN HALL PRESERVATION
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Majakka  Hall

Home of DeKalb Area Women's Center
1021 State St.
DeKalb IL 60115

Learn More

History

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Majakka Hall is a former Finnish Temperance Hall, currently home to the DeKalb Area Women’s Center in DeKalb, Illinois. Finnish immigrants laid the cornerstone for the building in 1917 and the building was completed and dedicated in 1918.
The building was used as a space for the Majakka Temperance Society and their related activities, such as meetings, plays, dances, musical performances and gymnastics. The Temperance society also sponsored a lending library in the balcony of the Hall and in the basement, a cafeteria for workers from the nearby factories.

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Organized as early as 1901, the Majakka (Lighthouse) Temperance Society played an important role in nation-wide Finnish Temperance activities. A 'Peace Meeting' between Temperance factions met in DeKalb in 1908. Many state-wide events were held at the building. The photo on the left is of a meeting with state-wide representatives standing on the Majakka Hall front porch steps. Due to the historic significance of the building and the contribution of the Finns to the City of DeKalb, in 2013 the bid for local landmark status was approved by the DeKalb City Council.

                          The Preservation project & the Temperance HaLL

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In 2014 we received financial assistance from several organizations and individuals allowing preservation of the Majakka Hall to begin. The project to preserve this Finnish Temperance Hall will be accomplished in several phases. The first and second phases were for stabilization of the building with a focus on repairing and preventing water damage to the structure. Phases following this will include window restoration, painting and interior restoration work. To learn more visit the Restoration Details section of the website.
This photo on the right features the magnificent Majakka Hall stage. In front of the stage from right to left, Micki Chulick of DeKalb County Community Foundation presents a check to Anna Marie Coveny, Director of DeKalb Area Women’s Center. Diane Rodgers, NIU Associate Professor of Sociology and Lucy Sosa, NIU Sociology graduate student look on. Please click on Updates page above to see the continued progress!

Historic restoration is being achieved because of the following generous donors:
Landmarks Illinois
Finnish-American Society of the Midwest (Chapter of Finlandia Foundation)
DeKalb County Community Foundation (DCCF)
City of DeKalb
Kishwaukee Kiwanis
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Tom's Own Maintenance Services
Gordon Hardware
Cardinal Glass
Breezy of DeKalb
Barbed Corners Antique Club
And these wonderful individuals who have donated during the May Give Local DCCF and DeKalb County Nonprofit Partnership (DCNP) campaigns of 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 or during other times:                                                                                                                                                                              
Sally and Oscar Forsman*    Michael Hernandez*     Averil Schreiber*    Mike Nelson*    Mary Wurzer*       Lynn Waldeland*     Tom and Darby Hills    Dorothea Bilder    Daniel and Karen Maki*    Greg Taylor*     Lauren Hills    Anna Marie Coveny*    Rosemary Ostberg    Meryl Greer Domina*    Janice Devore*         Anton Koach    Kathy Dimmerman and Ted Saari*    Steve Kapitan    Mary von Zellen*  Barbara Hills       Linda Slabon*    Ted Anderson    Heikki Hartikainen    Julie Kiefer-Bell    Marcia Elliot*  Ronald Barton     Bret and Amy Baier    Bill and Rita Finucane    Diane Rodgers*    Shannon Wilde   Janet Danekas             Carmeda Gregory*    Patricia Vary*    Jim Luebke    Suzanne Willis*    Toni Tollerud   Paul Stoddard         William and Christine Whelon    Nancy and Ron Proesel*    Anonymous*   Irene Ekstrom   Al Riippi           Paul and Lana Uplinger  Mary Jo Neitz   Kevin and Anne Kivikko   Judith Solsken   Ashley Lankenau 
Nancy Olson  Sally & Michael DeFauw   Judy Krajewski   Moria Nagy   Tammy Johnson  Lea Gorman          Gayla Nieminen* Mary Lou and Jeff Strack  Beverly O'Shaughnessy  Laura Frankiewicz  Richard    Christal  Addison Egel  Cheryl Nicholson. Heidie Loudermilk  Hannah Hammel  (Megan) of Byers Brewing Company   Al Riippi  Juanita E. Mundy  Jo Burke    and to all who participated in our 2016 summer fundraising events!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
​*Multiple year donors                                                              
                                                                                             
                                                          


                              Kiitos!! (thanks in Finnish)


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