New York Estonian House
Encyclopedia
The New York Estonian House is a 3-story Beaux-Arts building located at 243 East 34th Street
in the Kips Bay
neighborhood in the New York City
borough of Manhattan
. The building was designated as a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
in 1978.
The house was originally built for the Civic Club in 1898–1899, having been designed by Brooklyn
architect Thomas A. Gray. The Civic Club was founded by the local social reformer F. Norton Goddard
(1861–1905) to reduce poverty and fight against gambling in the neighborhood. After Goddard’s death in 1905 the club ceased to exist, but the building remained in the Goddard family until 1946, when Frederick Norton’s widow sold it for $25,000 to The New York Estonian Educational Society, Inc., which is still the owner of the house today. The building underwent a $100,000 restoration in 1992.
Known as the Estonian House , the building houses a number of Estonian organizations such as the New York Estonian School , choruses for men and women and a folk dancing group. Vaba Eesti Sõna
, the largest Estonian-language newspaper in the United States is also published at the New York Estonian House. The Estonian House has become the main center of Estonian culture
on the U.S. Eastern seaboard, especially amongst Estonian-American
s.
34th Street (Manhattan)
34th Street is a major cross-town street in the New York City borough of Manhattan, connecting the Lincoln Tunnel and Queens-Midtown Tunnel. Like many of New York City's major crosstown streets, it has its own bus routes and four subway stops serving the trains at Eighth Avenue, the trains at...
in the Kips Bay
Kips Bay
Kips Bay is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Because there are no official boundaries for New York City neighborhoods, the limits of Kip's Bay are somewhat vague, but it is often considered to be the area between East 23rd Street and East 34th Street extending from...
neighborhood in the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. The building was designated as a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission is the New York City agency charged with administering the city's Landmarks Preservation Law. The Commission was created in April 1965 by Mayor Robert F. Wagner following the destruction of Pennsylvania Station the previous year to make way for...
in 1978.
The house was originally built for the Civic Club in 1898–1899, having been designed by Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
architect Thomas A. Gray. The Civic Club was founded by the local social reformer F. Norton Goddard
F. Norton Goddard
Frederick Norton Goddard was a Republican Party politician from New York City.-Biography:...
(1861–1905) to reduce poverty and fight against gambling in the neighborhood. After Goddard’s death in 1905 the club ceased to exist, but the building remained in the Goddard family until 1946, when Frederick Norton’s widow sold it for $25,000 to The New York Estonian Educational Society, Inc., which is still the owner of the house today. The building underwent a $100,000 restoration in 1992.
Known as the Estonian House , the building houses a number of Estonian organizations such as the New York Estonian School , choruses for men and women and a folk dancing group. Vaba Eesti Sõna
Vaba Eesti Sõna
Vaba Eesti Sõna is a prominent Estonian expatriate weekly newspaper published in New York, USA established in 1949....
, the largest Estonian-language newspaper in the United States is also published at the New York Estonian House. The Estonian House has become the main center of Estonian culture
Culture of Estonia
Estonian culture combines an indigenous heritage, represented by the country's Uralic national language Estonian, with Nordic cultural aspects. Due to its history and geography, Estonia's culture has been influenced by the traditions of the adjacent area's various Finnic, Baltic, Slavic and...
on the U.S. Eastern seaboard, especially amongst Estonian-American
Estonian-American
The Estonian Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who are of Estonian ancestry, mainly descendants of people who left Estonia before and especially during World War II...
s.
See also
- Estonian-AmericanEstonian-AmericanThe Estonian Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who are of Estonian ancestry, mainly descendants of people who left Estonia before and especially during World War II...
s - List of Estonian Americans
- Estonia – United States relations
- Estonian HouseEstonian HouseAn Estonian House is a center of Estonian culture, usually overseas. Numerous Estonian Houses were set up after the Soviet occupation of Estonia led to tens of thousands of Estonian people fleeing the war and the occupation and settling overseas.-London:...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan from 14th to 59th StreetsNational Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan from 14th to 59th StreetsThis is a list of properties and districts in Manhattan from 14th to 59th Streets that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.This is intended to be a complete list of properties and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Manhattan from 14th to 59th Streets...
- Estonian Consulate General in New York
External links
- Estonian House described by Landmarks Preservation CommissionNew York City Landmarks Preservation CommissionThe New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission is the New York City agency charged with administering the city's Landmarks Preservation Law. The Commission was created in April 1965 by Mayor Robert F. Wagner following the destruction of Pennsylvania Station the previous year to make way for...
in 1978 - Images of the building in New York Architecture Images