Edgar Kaskla: Overview of the Estonian House and Community in Los Angeles

Edgar Kaskla, a board member of the Los Angeles Estonian House, offers an overview of the local Estonian community and their activities.

The Estonian community in Los Angeles has become smaller and quieter, but we actively continue to live on. It’s frightening to think that for so many years our mission was to introduce Estonia and its culture to people who knew nothing about us, and now the political climate in the White House raises concerns about Estonia’s future security. We have to do it all over again.

So it goes. In 2019, I had the honor of participating in a roundtable as part of ESTO in Tallinn where we talked about the various Estonian Houses around the world, and I was chosen to represent the LA Estonian House since I have been on the board of directors for about 45 years.

We learned that several Estonian Houses are facing financial challenges, and the representatives shared their challenges openly. The Stockholm Estonian House remains open largely thanks to renters who are often not of Estonian descent. In Melbourne, the Estonian House has seen fewer visits from younger generations, and the building itself requires significant renovation. Recently, they announced plans to sell the building with the hope of acquiring a smaller, more suitable space. In Toronto, the old Estonian House property was sold to make way for a new, modern complex with classrooms and auditoriums. However, rising construction costs have exceeded the original budget, and some community members have expressed reservations about the project.

What was left for me to say? Thanks. We’re doing pretty well.  

The running costs for the house are largely paid for by the rental properties that the Estonian House owns on the other side of the parking lot. In the front is the “red house” (named for its brick façade) that has three apartment units; in the back is the “white house” that houses one family. At the moment, all four renters are Estonian.  

Though there have been some glitches with payments from time to time, we’ve managed pretty well! We do not have any kind of financial crisis, though—this is true—things are not as they were 40 years ago when we had maybe two to three times more visitors to Estonian House events! We miss those days, especially when one thinks of the organizations that once existed and are no longer there (for example, the Estonian Women’s Club, Youth Club, and Ski Club) or when the number of members today is a fraction of what it once was. Still, if there’s something going on, it’s off to the Estonian House!

The Los Angeles Estonian Society has continued to be active even as the number of members has declined. The primary events on the calendar are the celebration of Estonian Independence Day (which typically still draws a larger crowd) and Jaanipäev in June, held on the parking lot.  

At Independence Day this year, the keynote speaker was Estonian Consul to the US, Tarmo Punnik, and a year earlier it was former Prime Minister Jüri Ratas. President of the Estonian Society, Renee Meriste, has done an excellent job inviting speakers who are well-known to the public and have interesting things to say.  

From time to time, there are also other Estonian Society events, from theatre troupes to concerts, and so on. Just recently, VABAMU Director Ivo Lille visited and gave a brief talk, hoping to learn more about Estonians living abroad. Hopefully, we left a good impression!

The regular Estonian House season of events runs from September to May, though it used to run through June as well. After Estonian independence, many go back to the homeland, so it’s more difficult to organize events (with fewer active members anyway).  

The LA Estonian Mixed Choir will celebrate its 75th anniversary in September 2025, and the Estonian Sunday School will also have its 75th birthday this year.  

The Seniors Club meets once a month at the Estonian House, the Estonian Kitchen offers classic Estonian meals, and perhaps the newest regular user of the Estonian House is the Lutheran church congregation since the group has gotten smaller and older congregants find it easier to go to church in their own house, not the Latvian Church (which is still used during the year but has dauntingly steep stairs leading to the doorway). Besides, the post-church coffee tastes better in one’s own “home.”

There are other events too. At Christmastime, there’s a bazaar where it’s possible to buy traditional blood sausage, sauerkraut, bread, gingersnaps, and so forth. The choir has its own Christmas gathering, as does the Seniors Club and church Sunday School (where the honored guest is Santa Claus!). Friday is still time for choir practice; “Inglikeeled” (“The Strings of Angels” — and think that LA is named the City of Angels) practice the kannel, and the “Gypsys” folk dance group (which includes Estonians) are rehearsing and practicing for the Dance Festival to be held in Tallinn.

Yes, there was a time when the halls were filled with people. Friday night choir practices ended with parties that spilled into the next day, and we had 40 singers instead of the 16 we have now. Many organizations and groups came together on a regular basis. Things are smaller and quieter now. But one has to accept it for what it is, knowing that the Estonian House is not going to go away anytime soon.