Věstník (West, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 31, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 31, 1957 Page: 17 of 32
thirty two pages : ill. ; page 11 x 9 in.View a full description of this newspaper.
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Wednesday,;Jú3y'31, 1957
HOW
Amid the widespreading ancient live-
oak trees, as. old. as America herself,
the descendants of Paul and Rose Sebe-
•sta. (nee Pagac) who came to Texas in
the winter of 1855-56, helcl a basket
picnic and family reunion, at the S. P.
J. S. T. Halí, at Snook, Texas, July 21,
1957. Guessing — there must háve been
around 400 kin there.
Because the editor and wife are in-
terested in Czech folklóre, an invitation
was extended to visit witb these good
people.
The day was hot and sunny and
morning travel v/as delightful. As we
left the circle near Temple, it was evi-
dent that the locality had. had some
rain which cooled the countryside, As
■we neared Caireron, one could easily
descern the Czech farmers by the met-
iculous care of their crops and land.
Everywhiere one saw clean fields, ditches,
corn topped and cotton a nice green
beginning to show blooms and the whole
rolling countryside, with the green crop-
rows running in a craszy quilt pattern,
had splaehes of vivid orange and red
through the design o ripening m>ilo-
maize. Here and there one could see a
field dotted with bales of hay not yet
hauled away. Industry and good farní-
ing management was evident on all sides
and was delightful to behold. There had
been some rain here a:ls o.
Roadside stands fllled with the local
produce such as watermelons, carita-
loupeš, honey, peaches, peas, potatoes
and onions were numerous on the way
south.
We stopped to inquire about the road
to Snook, and were directed down a
highway amid fields of waist high cot-
ton in full bloom, being irrigated with
water from large pumps that were evi-
dent at regular intervals with their
green collapsible plastic tubing. What
a country!
We finally found Snook in this lush
cotton land and found the spacious
S. P. J. S. T. Lodge Slovan No. 9, with
its gathering crowdt under the trees vis-
iting. This Lodge had. built a large out-
door barbeque pit and a two drink
stands on the groimds for the conve-
nience of those that attend the activi-
ties in this Halí.
Lodge Slovan No. 9, I learned has to
dáte the largest niimber of living Char-
ter Members of the founding of our
S. P. J. S. T. Order.
The sisters (I call them sisters be-
canse over 95 percent of them are mem-
bers of our S. P. J. S. T.) laid out the
fcod on long tables in the cool Halí,
buffet style. The most rigid dleter could- *
V Ě B T N i K — WEST, TEXAS ' Stmm 1% ]
WE SPENT OUR SUNDAY
n’t háve resisted that wonderful cook-
ing.
Brother John Sebesta was the Chair-
man of the group, called the gathering
to order after the meai for a scheduled
program after the tables were cleared.
Brother J. F. Chupick gave the Sebe-
sta clan a résumé of the early beginnings
here in America of the family. Two
lovely riumbers were sung by the young
ladles in the group t o piano accompa-
niment, and in chorus we all sang God
Bless America and Faith Oř Our Fath-
ers.
Gracious, white haired Mrs. Mary No-
(vosad of Smithville, was reminescing
about those early Texas settlers and
how, today, they would háve been de-
lighed, could they háve been here to
see, at the sight of this big gathering
of fine looking kin, at their farms,
hom.es, families, the luxuries that are
now their birthright as compa-red to
their timies when roads were a cowpath
oř a wagon rut with the usual bog-
holes and creeks without bridges and
culverts, where after rains, puddles re-
mained to breed mosquitos and spread
the dreadeď malaria over the land. It
took roads and its drainage ditches plus
oil spraying in some cases, to annihilate
the mosquito, to make Texas and this
spot around Snook the nice plače to
live in that it is today. The water-
bucket with its dug well has passed for
a faucet and a kitchen sink. The ba tli-
tub for a wooden trough or washtub.
The car for the horše and wagon or
buggy and the tractor for the oxen and
wooden plow. Yes, the pioneer Sebestas
bléssings bestowed tipon their children.
would humbly give thanks for these
They would give thanks that these kin-
folks still love and hold in esteem the:
wonderful fraternal order that they
established at that time for the protec-
tion of their loved ones in those Hron-
tier days of this statě, when things were
stih “wild and woolly.” Fate has been
good to all of them. To all of the Se-
bestas, and to Lodge Slovan No. 9, our
congratulations and thanks again for
the nice visit.
We hope to be with yo;n again at the
earliest opportunity and until than may
you all prosper and be true to our Fra-
ternity. — Leťs all work together for
a still better, greater S. P. J. S. T. ! !
4 $
New Tábor, Texas, lasfc Sundav, July
21st.
The Encampment property is nestled
in a wooded area, cleared for the con-
struction of dormitories, and main Halí
where meals are served as well as where
Services can be held in bad weather. An
outdoor court for evening Services iui-
der the stars is also erected. There is
plenty of parking space, tennis court,
and plenty of room for any ether sport
the youth may desiree.
To we ring above all is the flagpole on
its cement block with the American
Flag waving “Welcome” topili visitors.
What a lovely spot for a" family re-
union on .tuch a beauliful day. We wish.
for them many more such family reu-
iiioiis in the future.
. —) ♦ * (-----------—
O UK DISTRICT V., the WINNER
They say, that “The Third Time Is A
Chanr.',” mut it didn’t work out for our
Third District, for we again losí; our
contest to the Fifth District.
The Third District signed. up more
members, but the Fifth District signed
up more insurance,
.Since the Contest winner would he
based on a point for eacli member and
a point for every $1000. signed up, the
totai number of points made District
Five —The Winner.
It is regretable that District Three
couldiVt háve won just once, but the
Winning couldnT háve gone to a nicer
group of folks than those in District
Five, and our Supreme Lodge of course,
is all the richer for the new addition to
our froternal family.
Our best wishes go to the ether Dis-
tricts in our orbit and leťs keep the new
insurance rolling in.
----------) ❖ ^ « (--------
REG RETTABLE ACCIDENT
Early Sunday morning, just as the
Věstník was being set up for printing,
Br. Koliha, telephoned us of the acci-
dental gasoline lamp explosion and
painful burning of the hands and. cliest
of our Supreme Lodge President, Br.
Edward Marek, who is now being
treafed at the King’s Daughters Hos-
pital in Temple, Texas.
We wish for Fit;. Marek, a speedy re-
covery with no 111 after efíects, and we
are all thankful that the accident was
not any worse.
We hope í.o see Br. Marelťs smiling
On our way to the Sebesta Reunion. í fr.ee among us again reál soon.
we could not resist to visit our new Hus J Our members who rnay háve buši-
Schod Encampment in, Burleson County. j ness to fransact with our Brother
The Fiasek and Fomykal families hekl ; Marek will know wliy attention to some
their fatmily reunion at this beautiful . will be delayed—and we ask forebear-
Hus Schod Encampment groimds near 1 ance in this mat.ter.~~Thanks.
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Hošek, Ludva O. Věstník (West, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 31, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 31, 1957, newspaper, July 31, 1957; West, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth625090/m1/17/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas.