Fayette County Retired Teachers Visit Czech Center

Members of the Fayette County retired teachers’ association toured the center on Jan. 15 hosted by the center’s Board President Retta Chandler, and Manager Mark Hermes, it began with a slide presentation of the history of Czech immigration (1850-present day). The reason for the center is to preserve the culture and history of the people who emigrated to Texas from Czech provinces in Europe.

After WWII, the young left their small Czech communities to work in larger cities. Borders of the Czech lands were closed under the Communist regime, and communication among Czechs ended. In 1995, Texans of Czech Ancestry met to address the need for a Czech Center. Founders determined that they were among the last generation that grew up in the Czech communities, had knowledge of life before and after communism, and had access to significant artifacts.

The Center includes the dining and meeting room, gift shop, library, museum, and a Czech village. The library contains numerous books, Victorian wedding shadow boxes, photo albums, pictorial displays from WWI and WWII, a genealogy section, and a picture of Karlstejn Castle (located near Prague in Central Bohemia). The museum contains numerous household items, religious and clothing items, and an entire wall devoted to “The Immigrants’ Mural”, which depicts the lives of immigrants in the life they left behind, and their life in the new world. The current museum feature is “Moravian Glory Exhibit”, which showcases life in Moravia. The exhibit will conclude on May 15. The Czech Village (seen by a walking tour) is composed of 13 buildings, houses, and museums.

Visitors do not have to have Czech heritage to appreciate all the history, artifacts, and to visit, the Czech Center. For further information, call 888-785-4500, or www.czechtexas.org.

After touring the village, museum and library, the retired teachers enjoyed a luncheon provided by the staff. The next regularly-held retired teachers’ meeting will be on Monday, March 14, at First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 1215 Von Minden, La Grange. Social time will be 1:30 p.m., with the business meeting at 2 p.m.

For more information about the Fayette County Retired Teachers’ Association, phone (361) 772-3068, or visit www.localunits.org/Fayette.While the name may imply the group is only for teachers, all retired public school personnel are invited, and will be welcome, even if from another city or county.