Janecka to Talk at Library About Dubina’s History

Ed Janecka has spent more than 40 years researching the Dubina community and, with his wife Margie, has recently published the book “Dubina, A Place of Freedom and Hope.” He will share some of his favorite stories from the new book in a program sponsored by the Fayette Public Library, Museum, and Archives on Thursday evening, Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m.

Born in Dubina, which was founded in 1856 by a small group of Moravian immigrants that included his great-greatgrandfather, Ignac Muzny, Janecka spoke Czech before he learned English. That has been a great asset through the years as he researched all sorts of records, books, and newspapers, and interviewed countless people. He has also amassed a huge collection of photographs, which he shares in his book.

Janecka served as Fayette County Judge for 28 years and, upon his retirement in 2018, he and Margie began to consolidate everything he had learned about Dubina for their book. Early issues of Fayette County newspapers, including the “Svoboda,” a Czech language newspaper published at La Grange, had recently gone online at The Portal to Texas History, which helped to supply an even more complete history of the community. There are chapters on the early families, the Dubina church and cemetery, the Dubina Hall and picnic, schools, veterans, farming, businesses, traditions, family and social life, among other topics that are woven together to share Dubina’s rich past.

Janecka’s program will take place in the meeting room at the side entrance of the Fayette Public Library, located at 855 South Jefferson St. in La Grange. Signed copies of Dubina, A Place of Freedom and Hope will be available for purchase after the program. For more information, call (979) 968-3765 and ask for the Archives.