Global True Lithuania Encyclopedia of Lithuanian heritage worldwide

Easton, Pennsylvania

Easton (pop. 70 000, ~0,5% Lithuanians), a suburb of Allentown had its St. Michael Lithuanian church. It is a pretty Gothic Revival building with an old rectory.

Easton Lithuanian church

The church building has been originally constructed in central Easton in 1854 by the Presbyterian church and used by Civil War veterans in 1896-1916. It has been acquired by Lithuanians in 1916. The art deco stained-glass windows were installed then. In 1958, the original wooden spire has been replaced by a metal spire after being destroyed by lightning. In 1971, the interior of the church has been simplified.

St. Michael Lithuanian church closed in 2008 and acquired by a film studio Lou Reda Productions in 2011.

The studio uses the building for storage of their material and as an office for post-production. According to the current owner of the studio Scott Reda, they purposefully searched for a church to acquire in order to have an expansive space for cinema reels.

Easton Lithuanian church interior

No Lithuanian details remain on the building and most likely few existed even before the sale of the building.

Storage in the interior of Easton church

Since 1934, the Easton Lithuanian parish had its own Mary Magdalen Cemetery. The land was donated by a local Lithuanian Martin Lychius, whose name is now thus inscribed on the cemetery gate.

Easton Lithuanian cemetery gate

The map

All the Lithuanian locations, described in this article, are marked on this interactive map, made by the "Destination Lithuanian America" expedition (click the link):

Interactive map of Pennsylvania Lithuanian sites