The Settlement, Growth and Movement of the Czechs and their Institutions in Cleveland, Ohio

About the Book

Reviews the history of the Bohemians, Moravians and Silesians in Europe and the forces that led them to emigrate to Cleveland. Traces immigration patterns of the Czechs in the U.S. and particularly their settlements in Cleveland, Ohio. It includes historic information on Catholic churches, Protestant churches, the Jewish Chevra Kadisha Congregation, freethinker organizations, Sokol, Bohemian National Hall, Delnicke Telocvicne Jednoty (DTJ), Karlin Hall, Prokop Velky Fresh Air Camp, Slapnicka’s Grove, and Czech Cultural Garden. Reviews the history of music and drama societies including the Lumir-Hlahol-Tyl and Vojan Singing Societies, Vcelka Czech Drama Society, the Furdek Dramatic Society, the Hruby Conservatory of Music, and others. Briefly summarizes the history of Czech fraternalism, newspapers, radio broadcasting, breweries and other activities. It provides a history of the Cleveland Czechoslovak Legionnaires who fought in WWI and those in Cleveland who provided foreign relief during the war in support of the struggle to form the new country of Czechoslovakia.

About the Author

Stephen J. Sebesta was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in the predominantly Czech Mt. Pleasant neighborhood. He attended Cathedral Latin High School, obtained a B.S.C.E at Ohio University, an M.S.C.E in environmental engineering and an M.S in occupational and environmental health from the Medical School at Wayne State University and a Ph.D. from The Union Institute. Dr. Sebesta, a registered professional engineer, has served as President of Stephen J. Sebesta and Associates, Inc., Consulting Environmental Health Engineers since 1980. He has taught on the faculties of Cleveland State University and Case/Western Reserve University and has served on a Board of Advisors for the Russ College of Engineering at Ohio University. He has served as President of the Cleveland Chapter of the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences (SVU) and as a Vice President of Sokol Greater Cleveland at Bohemian National Hall. He has lectured on the subjects of the Czechs in Cleveland and the Cleveland Czech Legionnaires throughout the U.S. and in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and is the author of "The Wartime Experiences of A Cleveland Czechoslovak Legionnaire."