White Eagle Hall is a recently restored and rebuilt historic theater in the heart of Jersey City’s vibrant entertainment district. Live music, drama, comedy, dance, cinema, family events, and other acts are held at White Eagle Hall, serving food and beverages. White Eagle Hall is also a warm and intimate event room ideal for weddings, receptions, private parties, fundraisers, business meetings, and other events.
Polish immigrants and artisans built the White Eagle Hall under the direction of Father Peter Boleslaus Kwiatowski, who was expelled from Poland by Russian invaders soon before the turn of the century. During the Great Depression, but before he died in 1934, Kwiatowski gave St. Anthony’s ownership of White Eagle Hall. Throughout the twentieth century, the parish oversaw the venue in addition to church-related and other community events. As a result, White Eagle Hall is a theater, performance, concert, and event facility for the twenty-first century. They kept the building’s historical integrity while improving the audience’s experience with state-of-the-art sound and lighting equipment and facilities.
Two beautiful stained-glass skylights adorn the White Eagle Hall ceiling, one honoring classical music composer Frédéric Chopin and the other Marcella Sembrich. An internationally known opera diva performed at the New York Metropolitan Opera for 11 seasons.
The St. Anthony Friars and the basketball team of St. Anthony High School are perhaps White Eagle Hall’s most outstanding accomplishments. The renowned squad was coached by Bob Hurley, a Jersey City native. Hurley’s kids gained basketball scholarships to colleges and universities and went on to play for big-league teams. Hurley was the first coach to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame from a high school. May find wood fittings from Saint Boniface Church (constructed in 1865) in the window frames, bar sides, balcony railings, and ledges. You may locate the altar furnishings for St. Boniface in the box office/merchandise section.
The White Eagle Hall restoration was finished in 2016 by Ben LoPiccolo Development Group, LLC (BLDG). It employs the most up-to-date sustainable construction principles and reuses components from the original design. As a result, the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy gave White Eagle Hall the 2017 Excellence in Preservation Award 2017 for its restoration as a historic theater and public assembly venue.
To stay up to date with the recent outbreak of COVID-19, White Eagle Hall modified its vaccination and mask policy. It will take effect on March 21, 2022, based on Hudson County’s low levels of community transmission and expanded immunization.
Contact them at (201) 885-5166 if you want to learn more about their services. More places to visit in Jersey City.