Imatra Society

At the beginning the society operated as a workers' association with the name of '''Workers' Association Imatra'''. In September 1907 the society began to collect money for the crofters of the estate Laukko in Finland "who had got into distress because they were fired out from their crofts." == Some of the Finnish workers´ associations that belonged to the Imatra Union ==

The society built its own house for their activities and moved into it on November 1, 1908. Opening celebration was held on November 18 and 19. They also supplied to their new house a generator to produce electricity. "This was a historical event in the Finntown hill and caused a lot of talk in the neighbourhood since it was the Imatra Society that brought the first electric lights to the buck hill" (now the Sunset Park area). This house, later called Imatra Hall, was most important place for the activities of the society and became well known and very popular among the Finnish people. In December 1908 the society maintained a cause of temperance. No alcoholic drinks were allowed to be brought to the hall and nobody was allowed to appear under the influence of alcohol. Also smoking was absolutely forbidden in the restaurant. Imatra Society established an employment agency by the proposal of Matti Kurikka. The agency began its operation on December 1, 1910. In a year the agency exchanged a job to about 50–60 men and 135 women. In service occupations for women there were much more open vacancies than there were applicants. In 1912 the agency exchanged 242 jobs. In 1910 the theater group of the society performed several plays in Imatra Hall, such as Pimeyden valta (the power of darkness), Charleyn Tähti (the star of Charley), Jeppe Niilonpoika (Jeppe the Nilsson), Tukkijoella (on the log river), Roinilan Talossa (in the house of Roinila), and Viimeinen Ponnistus (the last effort). As special performances they performed Kristitty (the Christian) and Kun piiat ovat lakossa (when the hired girls are on strike). == Aid society and national society ==

In the annual meeting of the society on January 20, 1918, new clauses were made for the bylaw of the society such as: Clause 8 – The society tries to do its best to make Finnish people well known in the United States. Clause 9 – Officially the society is known as the Finnish Aid Society Imatra. Clause 22 – If the society dissolves or its operation becomes so weak that there is a fear for withdrawal of the society, do not move or sell the property of the society without a special permit from the Senate of Finland. This clause must not be changed. Originally the society was a workers' association, then it became an aid society, and in July 1921 it was named as Kansallisseura Imatra (National Society Imatra). May 13. 1923 the Imatra Society sends a group of seven people to Ellis Island to help the Finnish immigrants in the landing process. == Visitors from Finland ==

Visitors from Finland, such as artists and others, have been an important part in the activities of the Imatra Hall. Many Finnish artists have performed a concert at Imatra Hall including such famous artists as: Uuno Klami on October 27, 1917, J. Alfred Tanner on May 29, 1924, Robert Kajanus on January 11, 1925, Lea Piltti on April 24, 1949, Tapio Rautavaara on October 22, 1959, Henry Theel on February 2, 1973, and Heimo Haitto on January 24, 1984. A group of actors from the National Theater of Finland led by Sakari Jurkka performed a comedy Myöhästynyt hääyö (the delayed wedding night) at Imatra Hall on June 2, 1971. The performance was a great success and therefore it was rerun at Imatra Hall on June 27. There was a concert at Imatra Hall on March 7, 1991, in which two police choruses performed, one was the west coast police chorus from Finland with 60 singers and the other the New York City police chorus with 40 male and female singers. Only a few years after the 100 anniversary celebration the Imatra Society had come into financial difficulties and in fall 1995 it was so much involved in debt that it was no more able to recover. Imatra Hall was sold and then Imatra Foundation was established with the remaining property. The Imatra Society was suppressed on April 26, 1996 and the Imatra Foundation was abolished in the fall of 2011. ==Presidents==

==Photos from the activities of the society==

File:Imatra_Society%27s_summer_festival.jpg|Imatra Society celebrating its summer festival in Forth Hamilton in 1894. Their own brass band can be seen in the picture. File:The_theater_group_of_Imatra_Society.jpg|The theater group of Imatra Society in 1910. File:Imatra_Society%27s_athletic_group.jpg|Imatra Society's athletic group Kullervo formed in 1910. At the same time the gymnastic group Kyllikki was formed for women. File:Imatra_Society%27s_male_chorus.jpg|Imatra Society's male chorus in the 1920s directed by Jallu Honkanen. File:Imatra_Society%27s_70th_anniversary.jpg|Imatra Society celebrating its 70th anniversary on March 18, 1961. The picture is from the main room of the Imatra Hall. File:Imatra_Society%27s_staff.jpg|Imatra Society's staff which arranged the society's 100 anniversary celebration in 1991. The picture is from the courtyard in front of the Imatra Hall. ==References==