Czech Heritage Society Meets

The Fayette County Czech Heritage Society met for its annual Speaker meeting on Sept. 21, at TCHCC in La Grange. The business agenda included signatures from the Treasurer, a discussion of increasing State CHS dues for 2026, and fundraising suggestions. Dues will increase beginning on January 1, 2026.

Fayette CHS Little Princess Lillie Karstedt is the new 2025-2026 Texas Czech-Slovak Little Princess. Texas Czech-Slovak Queen Madelyn Karstedt is now the reigning 2025-2026 Miss U.S. Czech-Slovak Queen. Madelyn is the first Miss U.S. Czech-Slovak Queen from Fayette County.

Birthdays celebrated in July, August, and September were also recognized by CHS during the meeting, and birthday wishes were extended to Betty Danner, Phyllis Teykl, Tom Teykl, Georgia Vyvial, Vera Wehring, and Carolyn Surface.

Carolyn Heinsohn spoke on behalf of Retta Chandler about “How TCHCC Came to Be,” a five-minute introductory tour video shown to visitors, narrated by Nick Norris and featuring TCHCC staff, volunteers, and a visitor as actors. In the mini-film, Weikel’s kolaches made their debut, and footage of the annual Praha Picnic showcased lively Polka music and dancing.

The video also emphasized that religious oppression, military conscription, bad crops, and famine were reasons Moravians migrated by ship to Galveston and traveled the rest of the way by land to Fayette County. These Moravians started life in the new land as sharecroppers.

Starting in 1994-1995, there was a movement to establish a Czech Cultural Center in Texas. Numerous people contributed to this endeavor, and Texans of Czech Ancestry (TOCA) facilitated communication among the Czech organizations. La Grange was chosen as the site. The Czech Center began on the second floor of the Old Jail, then relocated to the Befco Building, Kalich House, and finally settled at the TCHCC Main Center in 2009. An initial grant from LCRA, matched by Sanford Schmid, made it possible for the amphitheater to be built. Nonprofit Czech organizations, including CHS, KJT, RVOS, SPJST, and others, funded theTCHCC’s main building. There are many other donors whose names are on the rooms in the main building and on the Donor Wall.

The Village consists of donated or rebuilt old farmhouses, a sawmill, a general store, a newspaper museum, a chapel, a barn, and other buildings. The TCHCC buildings are open to the public during regular business hours and on festival days.

The purpose of TCHCC is to preserve the Czech language, fine arts, music, and dance. Also, to provide a library and archives for the collection of books and other articles. There is also a cultural exchange program between the Czech people of Texas and the citizens of the Czech Republic.

The annual CHS Christmas party will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 9. An invitation with more information will be sent by mail to members.