The Lithuanian Hall (), also known as Lith Hall, is the home of the Lithuanian Hall Association. It is a private

club Club may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Club'' (magazine) * Club, a ''Yie Ar Kung-Fu'' character * Clubs (suit), a suit of playing cards * Club music * "Club", by Kelsea Ballerini from the album ''kelsea'' Brands and enterprises * ...

located on Hollins Street in the

Hollins Market Hollins Market is the name of the oldest existing Marketplaces#Types, public market building in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. It is a contributing property to the Union Square, Baltimore, Union Square-Hollins Market Historic District. The ma ...

neighborhood of

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

and serves as a recreation center and meeting house for social events, including dance nights, musical events, community suppers and cultural events. The hall was founded to serve the needs of the Lithuanian community in Baltimore, Maryland. The hall is popular with artists and hipsters.

History

The hall was established in 1921, and was only referred to by the Lithuanian name ''Lietuvių Namai'' until 1968. During the 1920s the hall was provided as a venue for speeches by prominent members of the

Communist Party USA The Communist Party USA (CPUSA), officially the Communist Party of the United States of America, also referred to as the American Communist Party mainly during the 20th century, is a communist party in the United States. It was established ...

, such as

William Z. Foster William Z. Foster (born William Edward Foster; February 25, 1881 – September 1, 1961) was a radical American labor organizer and Communist politician, whose career included serving as General Secretary of the Communist Party USA from 1945 to ...

and

Juliet Stuart Poyntz Juliet Stuart Poyntz (originally 'Points') (25 November 1886 – c. 1937) was an American suffragist, trade unionist and communist spy. As a student and university teacher, Poyntz espoused many radical causes and went on to become a co-founder ...

. On October 13, 1929, a

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

branch of the

CPUSA The Communist Party USA (CPUSA), officially the Communist Party of the United States of America, also referred to as the American Communist Party mainly during the 20th century, is a communist party in the United States. It was established ...

hosted a speech by Sol Hurwitz, the editor of the ''

Jewish Daily Forward ''The Forward'' (), formerly known as ''The Jewish Daily Forward'', is an American news media organization for a Jewish American audience. Founded in 1897 as a Yiddish-language daily socialist newspaper, ''The New York Times'' reported that Set ...

'', and the speech was interrupted by a mob of

anti-Communists Anti-communism is Political movement, political and Ideology, ideological opposition to communism, communist beliefs, groups, and individuals. Organized anti-communism developed after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia, and it reached global ...

. The Communists defended themselves with chairs until the police arrived to disperse the mob.Vernon L. Pedersen ''The Communist Party in Maryland, 1919-1957'' (2001) p 45

References

External links

Baltimore Lithuanian-American Community websiteBlog for Lithuanians in BaltimoreImage of the HallImage of Lith Hall
from

The Baltimore Sun ''The Baltimore Sun'' is the largest general-circulation daily newspaper based in the U.S. state of Maryland and provides coverage of local, regional, national, and international news. Founded in 1837, the newspaper was owned by Tribune Publi ...

Official webpageWebsite for Lithuanian folk dancing group based at Lith Hall
''

'' {{Music venues of Maryland 1917 establishments in Maryland Clubs and societies in the United States Communism in Maryland Communist Party USA Dance venues in the United States Drinking establishments in Maryland Hipster (contemporary subculture) Hollins Market, Baltimore Lithuanian-American culture in Baltimore Music venues in Baltimore Organizations based in Baltimore Organizations established in 1917 Union Square, Baltimore