Opened as a music venue in May of last year, White Eagle Hall is one of the newest and most unique performance spaces in the Northeast. The venue houses state of the art sound and lighting equipment optimized for live music while still featuring many of the building’s historic details, including a wrought iron wrap-around balcony and a coffered tin ceiling with two large stained glass atriums.
The White Eagle Hall originally opened in 1910. It was constructed by Polish immigrants under the leadership of Father Peter Boleslaus Kwiatowski, who had been driven from Poland by Russian occupiers just before the turn of the 20th century. During the depression, Kwiatowski transferred the ownership of White Eagle Hall to St. Anthony’s and the parish managed the venue throughout the 20th century.
White Eagle Hall’s most famous achievement is the facility’s unique contribution to basketball: the St. Anthony Friars, which is the basketball team of St. Anthony High School. Jersey City native Bob Hurley coached the team, and dozens of students under his tutelage earned basketball scholarships to attend colleges and later went on to play on major league teams. This eventually made Hurley the first High School Coach to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. The original wood basketball floor the Friars practiced on is now used as bar counters and balcony flooring in White Eagle Hall.
White Eagle Hall has managed to preserve the historic integrity of the building while enhancing the audience experience, making it a remarkable venue that we are excited to feature in the first ever American edition of Independent Venue Week. Come see this historic room (and a great show!) when The Get Up Kids perform at White Eagle Hall on July 13—find your tickets here!
