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Estonian-Americans The emigration of Estonians to other lands typically reflected the turbulent history of their homeland. Rather small numbers came to the United States during the years of Estonian independence, followed by a large influx of refugees after World War II.
The early settlers of the 1930’s in Ocean County came exclusively from New York City where an active and vibrant ethnic community existed. Through friends and relatives, people learned about the beautiful countryside, pine woods, lakes, resorts, and poultry farms just a train ride away in Ocean County. In 1933, a young newlywed couple, Konstantin and Martha Lacht, settled in Jackson Township, near the Lakewood Township boundary line, off Lakewood-New Egypt Road. Together with Konstantin’s father, Jakob Lacht, who moved from nearby Neptune, they became the founders of an organized Estonian Community in Ocean County.
Most immigrants purchased land to build homes and farms. Poultry farming became one of the major occupations of these early Estonian settlers. Others took up various trades and opened businesses, becoming union carpenters, painters, home repairmen, land surveyors, real estate entrepreneurs and building contractors.
The desire to hold together in a strange land was foremost. They wanted to speak the Estonian language, observe national holidays, and reinforce a love for their ancient homeland. In order to accomplish these goals as their numbers grew, they had to move beyond gathering in each other’s homes. At first they hired rooms, then halls. Finally, the need for their own clubhouse began to take form.
In 1945 a group of twenty-eight Estonians formed the Lakewood Estonian Association. Officers were elected and a constitution was adopted. Land was donated by Konstantin Lacht at Cross Street and New Egypt Road in Jackson Township for the building of the clubhouse. The Association was incorporated in 1946 and its first president, Konstantin Lacht, was elected.
Plans for the construction of the clubhouse were drawn up and a cornerstone-laying ceremony was held on June 23, 1946, at the site. This significant event attracted guests and well wishers from Estonian communities in northern New Jersey, New York City, Baltimore and even Cleveland. The construction of the club facilities was undertaken mainly with volunteer labor from the Association’s membership and financed chiefly with bank loans and member donations. The club building, a modest hall designed mainly for social events, was completed in June of 1947. The first function held in the clubhouse and in the surrounding wooded area was a traditional mid-summer festival. By then, the Association’s membership had climbed to sixty.
As a direct result of the Soviet occupation of Estonia in August-September of 1944, thousands of Estonians were forced to flee to the West and became political refugees. In 1948 the United States Congress enacted the Displaced Persons Act to assist in the resettlement of European refugees. Several hundred settled in Ocean County. The earlier Estonian settlers in the area became sponsors to the newly arriving immigrant families by helping to provide jobs and finding places to live.
The newly arrived refugees came from all walks of life, representing various educational and professional backgrounds, such as business, teaching, government, farming and the trades. Regardless of background, the newcomers accepted whatever job opportunities were available locally at that time. This usually entailed working as domestics, construction workers or farm helpers. Through hard work and perseverance, the Estonian immigrants soon established themselves and began contributing to the local economy and community.
Because the main purpose of the Lakewood Estonian Association is the promotion of cultural, educational, youth, social and sports activities, the clubhouse had become the focal point for carrying out these goals and had become a favorite gathering place for Estonians from near and far.
With the surge of Estonians into the New York-New Jersey area in the 1950’s their numbers steadily grew. Several new additions had to be built to the existing Estonian Clubhouse by the 1970’s to accommodate the increase in membership and attendance. By then it housed a library, meeting rooms for the youth and scouting activities. It was fully equipped to meet the needs of social affairs, lectures, art shows and theatrical performances. Its facilities also included a sharp-shooting range where numerous matches were held, including an international sharp-shooting match in 1971, at which the world record for indoor shooting was broken. The Association also had an outdoor stage and arena which could seat two thousand for its annual athletic, song and summer festivals.
The Lakewood Estonian Association is an umbrella organization. It has comprised of such clubs as the following: Bridge, Garden, Senior Citizens, Chess, Stamp, and Teens. Since 1950 the Association has operated the Lakewood Estonian School, whose objective is to instruct children of Estonian-American parents in the language, history, geography, literature and other aspects of their heritage.
A branch of the Estonian War Veterans, the Legion of Estonian Liberation, Inc., has its local chapter within the Association. The cultural group, the Lakewood Estonian Folk-Dancers, was established in the early 1950’s. The theatrical group, Lakewood Estonian Theater, had been active since the very beginning.
Emulating a trend of recent decades has been the influx of retirees of Estonian descent into Ocean County. Just as their predecessors, they have become active citizens, fully integrated into both the local Estonian community and the larger general community. For more that half a century, Estonian immigrants and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have perpetuated Estonian heritage and traditions, while at the same time, contributing to Ocean County’s economy, culture and political fabric. Estonians came to the United States in search of freedom, opportunities and a new home. For many, their hopes were fulfilled in Ocean County.
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