Culture
Famous
Annual St. John Bazaar Scheduled For September 20-21 In Ennis
Since
the St. John Bazaar was first established to help raise funds to build a new church
in the 1930’s, the KJT Hall, located on South Paris Street in Ennis, has always
been the bazaar’s base of operations. It was a natural evolution, as many members
of the church were also affiliated with the KJT (Catholic Union of Texas) Society
#35, which currently serves the insurance, fraternal and social activity needs
of more than 1,200 members of the Ennis community. The KJT has a significant history
of service to this community spanning more than 100 years. “Our membership bonded
with the church and school over the decades to help with many events which were
beneficial to our parish,” said KJT Society #35 President Joe Landsfeld. “It is
our sincere desire to serve, therefore, we provide many services to the bazaar
because they also help the Parish – especially the school. We donate the use of
our hall, all facilities, utilities, grounds, parking and many of our members
also assist with building and repairing booths, preparing the barbecue for the
Sunday dinner – and our members help the bazaar in numerous other ways – it is
just our tradition to support the bazaar wherever we can. It is still our way
of helping the school.” 2007 Bazaar Committee Chairman Larry Deagen said he appreciated
the contribution made by the KJT. “There would be no way the bazaar could function
without the support from the KJT, its officers and members,” he said. “Not only
has the KJT always been our bazaar home – we’ve had their total backing all these
years – the total package; home base, facilities, utilities and the heartfelt
support of the KJT team – their physical labor, spirit and the collective knowledge
they have shared with our committee. The bazaar’s success would be impossible
without the KJT membership and their hospitality! “The hundreds of volunteers
who, over the years, have involved themselves with the bazaar, have also been
our life-line,” Deagen said. When the KJT Hall was first constructed, it was a
large two-story frame structure, located on the Paris Street property. “In those
days Ennis was largely a farming community, and it was not uncommon that the families
of many of the children who attended St. John School, derived their family income
from seasonal crop harvests,” Landsfeld said. “Originally, the bazaar was partially
funded by farmers donating some of their cotton harvests, or from donations of
what they could afford when their crops were sold.” KJT membership increased over
the years, and the old frame structure was torn down in 1968, allowing members
to build a modern new hall on the same grounds. Over the years, the bazaar grew
larger, first through the St. John “Bazaar Queen program,” which began in the
early 1940’s, with competing St. John schoolgirls running as queen candidates.
The queen candidate who raised the most money would become Bazaar Queen, and would
be crowned the final night of the bazaar on stage of the KJT auditorium. “Taking
the place of the Bazaar Queen program, a popular ‘live and silent’ auction was
added to the bazaar activities – this program still remains in effect today, brings
a lively crowd and is held inside the beautiful KJT auditorium on the Sunday of
the bazaar,” Deagen said. “The KJT in Ennis has been the continuous home for the
St. John Bazaar every year since it has been in existence, except 1981, when the
massive, modern hall burned to the ground on August 15 of that year,” Landsfeld
said. A new 20,000 sq. ft. hall was soon rebuilt on the same site, and again,
the annual bazaar resumed operations to benefit St. John. The St. John Bazaar
event includes food, music, prize booths, auctions, bingo, kiddie rides, etc,
with the atmosphere of a fair ground. “The KJT grounds provide plenty of space
and is the perfect backdrop for a bazaar with ample parking, space for booths,
tents and easy crowd access,” Deagen said. “And the fun carnival atmosphere is
provided by the people! Many facets must come together to make the bazaar a success,
beginning with the KJT.” The 2008 St. John Bazaar will take place Saturday and
Sunday, September 20-21 at the KJT. Officers of the KJT for 2007 were President
Joe Landsfeld, Secretary-Treasurer Judy Strunc and Vice President Jean P. Beebe.
2007 Bazaar Committee: Larry Deagen, Chairman, Members: William Becker, Sergio
Diaz, Maggie Holy, Carol Honza, Dolores McKibbin, Tony Medina, Jeanette Murphy,
Cheryl OíBrien, John Payne, Linda Robledo Kieth Sibley and Barbara Sims. “The
KJT officers and members extend a huge ‘thank you’ to the entire community for
their support of St. John School in any and every capacity,” Landsfeld said. “It
is our hope that we can keep the school that we attended, open for the education
of future generations.” Reprinted from the Ennis Daily News Sunday, September
2007 issue written by Carol Grey Honza.
TCHCC
Breaks Ground For Library, Museum, Archives Building
Texas Czech Heritage
and Cultural Center, Inc. broke ground for the Library, Museum and Archives Building
on Saturday, June 14. The long-awaited day came as the Board of Directors dug
their shovels into the sod at the TCHCC site adjacent to the Fayette County Fairgrounds
in La Grange. Gaeke Construction Company from Giddings has begun the construction
of the 10,000 square foot facility, which they hope to complete in nine months.
TCHCC President Retta Chandler said “It is an exciting day for many of us
to see our dream of a statewide Czech museum and library become a reality. We
look forward to serving the people with meaningful programs that will promote
and preserve our heritage and history. Thank you all for your dedication and continued
support”. Although all of the money has not been raised to date, fundraising efforts
continue and naming opportunities are still available for the Endowment Fund as
well as some of the exhibit areas.
As part of the program, TCHCC Board Members
Joseph Bartosh, Bill Schovajsa and Ben Bohuslav shared their thoughts on reaching
this milestone and reminisced about the many years it took to get to this point.
The first officers to envision the center were recognized: President Retta Slavik
Chandler, Vice President Elo J. Goerig, Secretary Carolyn Meiners Heinsohn and
Treasurer Arnold Pechal. Over 60 people were present to share in the event including
Fayette County Judge Ed Janecka, La Grange City Council Member John Cernosek,
Fayette County Commissioner John Saunders, CHS Miss Texas Czech-Slovak Ashley
Sulak, architect Roger Kolar and his son Stephen, Contractor Louis Gaeke, Chamber
of Commerce Director Vickie Woodard. Representatives from TOCA, Sokol, RVOS, SPJST,
KJT, KJZT and State President and Chapter Presidents of the Czech Heritage Society
of Texas were on hand as well.
.CLICK ON PHOTO BELOW FOR THE PLEDGE OR DONATION FORM.
For
further information in supporting, pledging
or donating to the TCHCC Library, Museum and Archives Capital Campaign, please
contact the Center at P.O. Box 6, La Grange, Texas 78945-0006 or telephone (888)
785-4500 Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or e-mail
.
Texas
Czech Dialect Project
The Texas Czech Dialect Project
is seeking the help of the Texas Czech community to realize their goals of preserving
this unique variety of Czech, "born and raised” in Texas for future generations.
Many Texas Czechs have heard or think that their Czech is "wrong,” "slang,” or
"trash” Czech. This could not be more wrong! The Czech spoken is Texas is the
very last place in the world that this older variety of Czech is preserved. This
older form has many unique elements that no longer exist in Europe. Not only one
dialect of such great importance, but many, from all across the Czech-speaking
lands exist here. Read more about the Texas
Czech Dialect Project.
The
Texas Czech Genealogical Society has published the Brazos County 1900-1910 Czech
Census Extractions.
As a means of helping people with
their Czech genealogy, Texas Czech Genealogical Society member Helen Layman extracted
Czech names from 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 Brazos County census records. After
so doing, this information was donated to TCGS. The first volume, covering census
years 1900-1910, has recently been published and is now available. Included in
this 148-page volume are 250 surnames, late 1800 and 1900 photos and a brief look
at early Brazos County. Also included is the Frank J. Zubik family history. Available
from TCGS sales chair Bill Hodon, this volume can be purchased for $12 plus $4
shipping/handling. Contact Bill at 1201 Nimbus Drive, Pflugerville, Texas 78660,
(512) 251-5201 or by email at bdhodon@sbcglobal.net. Information is also available
on the TCGS web site at www.txczgs.org.
Czech Republic: Official website of the Czech Republic
