The following text about the Slavonian-American Benevolent Society and their home in the Slavonian Hall is from an article on the society found on www.croatians.com:
The Slavonian-American Benevolent Society of Tacoma, which was incorporated on April 10, 1901, is a local organization which has survived and thrived throughout the years. Its meeting hall was built by its predominantly Dalmatian membership in the same year. The lodge played an important part in the lives of the community. Besides its social significance, it paid sick and death benefits to its members. The women's section of the lodge was organized in 1912 and helped assist the widows .and persons dependent upon deceased members. In 1976, the Slavonian American Befievolent Society celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary. The hall still served the community and now has a place on the National Register of Historic Places. During its early history, the lodge was one of the most active benevolent organizations in the city of Tacoma and the surrounding area. Its band and drill team competed with the local Eagles and Moose lodges, which were considered the leading benevolent groups of the country at that time. The members were men of many talents, some of whom built a theater in the lodge building. They presented plays using local talent from among the families of the area. These stage plays were a source of enjoyment to the community. In later years, the theater was rented to the Tacoma Little Theater.
The Slavonian-American Benevolent Society conducted an interesting ritual at the funerals of their departed members. The American flag which flew above the hall would be lowered to half-mast at the passing of a member, or of a state or local dignitary. This custom continues today, and the Slavonian community still looks to this flag as a bellwether of such solemn tidings. When a member of the lodge died, the membership was expected to attend the funeral. The night before the funeral, the body of the deceased was placed in the parlor of his home, and mourners surrounded the casket and prayed the rosary. Food and drink were brought by relatives, friends, neighbors, and lodge members who came to the wake, which lasted all night long. The next day, with solemn, dramatic demeanor, the members of the lodge, led by a band resplendent in goldbraided uniforms, marched in front of the horse-drawn hearse with great dignity, pomp, and ceremony to the church. The procession sometimes covered a great distance.
The Three Kings Dance, which originated in 1901 at the Slavonian Hall in Tacoma, drew Slavonians from all corners of Washington State. It was known as the "Tri Kraija Bali", and was, and still is, a favorite holiday function. After the gaiety of the Christmas season and the beginning of the New Year, there is usually a lull in the social season. This was not so for the Slavs. The Three Kings, or the Epiphany, is a Catholic feast day celebration of the three kings who had followed the star to Bethlehem and offered the gifts to the Christ Child. The dance that celebrated this event still takes place on the first or second weekend of January. It is not limited to those of the Catholic faith but was, especially in the first half of the century, an event to renew old acquaintances and meet new friends.
The watchful eyes of the elders were always on these proceedings, and they were called the "Censor Board" by the younger set. "This consisted of most of the mothers, sitting on benches which lined the walls of the dance floor of the lodge, where they would keep an eye on 'who danced with whom' and 'how many times! This was one of their ways of predicting a budding romance, or, in some cases, they were hoping it would." How difficult it was for the young man who had many sisters or cousins, for he had to dance with them at least once before he sought the girls of his choice. It didn't make the cousins feel any better when the young man said, "Let's dance over here so my mother can see this."
Whenever there was a dinner or dance at the lodge, during intermission a few men and women would invariably start singing softly some of the old country songs. Within a very short time, a group would form, and one could hear them singing with feeling and depth." The rafters shook from the volume of their voices, and a feeling of warmth, love, and friendship prevailed. An integral part of this lodge was- really its conviviality, stemming from love of music, both vocal and instrumental."
This Tacoma lodge and its activities, which survive today, are typical of what has taken place, and continues to take place.
The Old Town community had a series of free classical concerts on Tuesday nights at 7 in the Slavonian Hall. For information about upcoming concerts check the events schedule on the Old Town Neighborhood's Website.