HoubyDaysBooklet 2025 digital - Flipbook - Page 3
bohemies,”and Czech pride was only evident in private homes, churches,
and organizations. Czechoslovakia was Communist and it was illegal
to go to church, wear kroj, and celebrate one’s culture. By the mid70s genealogy became popular. People with no visible and concrete
family purchased old photos in antique shops and passed them off as a
grandmother or an uncle.
The interest was here. In 1971 the art museum had held “A Festival
of Fine Arts,” featuring the Czech culture and 14,000 attended. The
Czechs (Slovaks were a very small group at that time) were encouraged
and began to dream and plan.
The Cedar Rapids Czechs wanted to preserve their heritage and
formed Czech Heritage, Czech Fine Arts(which became the museum),
and Czech Village Association. The three groups worked tirelessly
together, each with a separate but common mission. The Czech Village
aspired to revitalize their business area, add parking, dress up the
current shops and add new ones, build a festival, and support a museum
and library. I coordinated their efforts. I was an educator and had the
ability to speak publicly, write news releases, and help people work
together. And I was enthusiastic!
The Kosek Bandstand had been the
昀椀rst success, commemorating the 1976
bicentennial. Houby Days began in 1978.
When I begin to “coordinate” we worked
with the mayor and City Planning, entered
statewide community betterment groups, the
merchants hired an architect and later a 昀椀rm
to tear out the unsafe sidewalks and build a
sidewalkscape. I wrote my 昀椀rst book in 1981,
THE CZECH BOOK to promote our mission.
That publication was followed by seven others,
including CZECH TOUCHES and SAINTS
AND HEROES OF THE CHARLES BRIDGE.(My publishers hired an
authentic Slovak to write for the Slovaks.) I had returned to teaching, but
I continued promoting. My last book, in 2017. was DECORATIVE CZECH
FOLK ARTS, a collaboration with artist Marj Nejdl.
In formal retirement, I have not retired from immersion in the Czech
and Slovak cultures and still volunteer weekly at National Czech and
Slavok Museum and Libary.
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