Czech Contributions to the Progress of Nebraska Editor Vladimir Kucera Co-Editor Alfred Novacek Venovano ceskym pionyrum Nebrasky, hrdinnym budovatelum americkeho Zapadu, kteri tak podstatne prispeli politickemu, kulturnimu, nabozenskemu, hosopodarskemu, zemedelskemu a socialnimu pokroku tohoto statu Dedicated to the first Czech pioneers who contributed so much to the political, cultural, religious, economical, agricultural and social progress of this state Published for the Bicentennial of the United States of America 1976 Copyright by Vladimir Kucera Alfred Novacek Illustrated by Dixie Nejedly THE GREAT PRAIRIE By Vladimir Kucera The golden disk of the setting sun slowly descends toward the horizon of this boundless expanse, and changes it into thousands of strange, ever changing pictures which cannot be comprehended by the eye nor described by the pen. The Great Prairie burns in the blood-red luster of sunset, which with full intensity, illuminates this unique theatre of nature. Here the wildness of arid desert blends with the smoother view of full green land mixed with raw, sandy stretches and scattered islands of trees tormented by the hot rays of the summer sun and lashed by the blizzards of severe winters. This country is open to the view. Surrounded by a level or slightly undulated plateau, it is a hopelessly infinite panorama of flatness on which are etched shining paths of streams framed by bushes and trees until finally the sight merges with a far away haze suggestive of the ramparts of mountain ranges. The most unforgettable moment on the prairie is the sunset. The rich variety of colors, thoughts and feelings creates memories of daybreak and nightfall on the prairie which will live forever in the mind. Not only is one impressed by the virgin beauty of exquisite nature at sunset, but one also feels the magnetism of this country that compels one to love it forever. There is the sound of its dramatic past, for on the Great Prairie echo the heroism of western battles, courage and gallantry, determination and sacrifice, blood and tears—that inalienable heritage of pioneers. Here on this great prairie, once the free land of the red men, the heroic hearts of the settlers met with those of not less courage and honesty who were strongly determined to defend their hunting grounds, their homes, their free land and the vast herds of buffaloes. The sun is already hidden behind the horizon. The night now takes possession of the prairie. The time comes to remember and think. This is a moment of reverie, a moment to sink deep into dreams and to listen to the mysterious voice of the past and present. This is a moment to catch the call of distance which ends somewhere in the massive ranges of mountains, to understand the Indian soul, the objectives of the explorers, the soldiers, the hunters, the pioneers and the missionaries, and thus to understand the warlike past of the plains. And perhaps in the last ghostlike gleam of sunset you will see the running herds of buffaloes; perhaps in the quiet moment which inaugurates the night, you will see again a chain of prairie schooners on the way to their new homes that will be free and better; and perhaps the shriek of the night beast of prey will strike your ears, a symbol of the departing day. And in this moment you will realize that the prairie is not (illegible words because of punched out paper on page 4) toward those who can lose themselves in its mysterious past, written forever in blood and tears. It is not niggardly toward those who can fuse with it or reveal their inner souls or toward those who appreciate the heroism of the pioneers’ courage. The prairie is then generous the more so to a poet or painter and especially to those who revel in its dreams. She will serve them and reveal the fullness of her mysterious beauty. The wilderness has been the setting for a dramatic epoch since its beginning, when the primitive hunter invaded this continent and looked down from the mountains of the West and with astonishment saw a wide open panorama like the open hands of a Titan. For centuries the master of the Great Prairie was the Indian. He was the exclusive owner of the thousands of buffalo herds so essential to his way of life. For centuries these children of the prairie lived happily and freely, until suddenly the white man appeared, and there began a new epoch of discovery and conquest. The Indians ardently defended their hunting grounds but the resolute westward march of the white man could not be stopped. And so the Great Prairie, principally the river basin of the Platte River, became a major artery of transportation westward and the highway of civilization and the place for settlements. (Picture page 4) Dugout built by Kovarik brothers near Crete, Saline Co. (Drawing of dugout Page 5) Czechs and Nebraska By Dr. Marvin Kivett, Director of Nebraska State Historical Society The Czech contribution to the development of Nebraska has been a significant one. Readers of Nebraska history will find that Czechs have played an increasing role in the affairs of the state as successive waves of these Central Europeans emigrated to the Plains. The first few Czechs were here in the Territorial years—before 1860. The latest arrivals are refugees who left their native land following World War II, when armies of invaders crushed the Republic of Czechoslovakia. Today it lies behind the Iron Curtain. The author of this study is Vladimir Kucera, once a newspaperman in Czechoslovakia, who has been a dedicated employee of the Nebraska State Historical Society since 1952. Today he is curator of the Nebraska Statehood Memorial (the Kennard House) in Lincoln. This book, Czech Contributions to the Progress of Nebraska, is his third on some phase of Czech culture in our state. The author is eminently qualified to undertake such a work. It is a significant addition to the history of his people in America The Czech Contribution to Nebraska By Leigh G. DeLay, Historian, Nebraska State Historical Society The Nebraska State Historical Society, the principal repository of significant materials delineating the backgrounds of the state, is pleased that its own Vladimir Kucera has come out with the second edition of his Czech history. The first was published during Nebraska’s Centennial Celebration; this volume is a contribution to the 1976 Bicentennial activities commemorative of our nation’s origin. This volume brings to the non-historian a realization of the accomplishments of this distinctive ethnic group which has given Nebraska such diverse men as the sometimes irascible Omaha Bee editor Edward Rosewater, and the always affable Congressman Karl Stefan; as well as all the Svobodas, Viteks, Novotnys and Husaks who have built prospering farm communities, managed successful businesses and contributed to the cultural and religious activities in Nebraska. In addition to his contribution to the history of Nebraska, Dr. Kucera through his book, has brought to Czech communities a renewed interest in their old-world origins. Czech festivals have sprouted in a number of cities. The rollicking good humor of the several yearly Czech celebrations—the colorful costumes, the distinctive food and polka dancing—is all great fun and is now entered into almost as enthusiastically by non-Czechs as Czechs. (Picture Page 6) First school in Saline County – In this log cabin between Crete and Wilber were meetings of the oldest Czech society (Picture Page 7) The first home of Ludvik Civis, founder of the Czech colony in Box Butte Co.— 1885 The Czech Immigration to Nebraska, From Its Origins to the Present By Dr. George J. Svejda The landing in America of Columbus in 1492 marked a new epoch in the history of the world. When the early explorers returned to their home countries and told of the value of this unknown land and its untold riches, a mad scramble for possession took place. French, Portuguese, Spanish and English all sent their daring seafarers to America to claim a part of it as their own. Each of these countries carved out its section of the American continent and established its own customs and government. The various colonies were settled by people who differed widely from each other in religion, race and forms of government. Each group naturally introduced its own ideas into the new land and these have come down through the years as the characteristics of the various sections of the United States. A glimpse into the lives of these settlers who introduced customs and ideas which influence our lives still today will give an insight into our social history. The colonists settled from Maine to Florida, and each section was settled by people of widely different status. Each brought its own contribution and left its particular section with the stamp of its original habitation. Although the Dutch, Spanish and Germans settled many of the colonies, the English influence was predominant. John Cabot, an Italian sea captain in the service of the King of England, was the first man to explore North America in the name of England. He landed on the eastern coast of North America in 1497 and explored as far south as Virginia. He did not start a colony but he carried tales back to England which encouraged migration to the New World. Although the founders of the colonies differed widely from each other, they also shared many common characteristics which are still predominant in the American people as a whole. They were the Christian people of Europe, who despite their various languages and national characteristics, had basically a common culture and way of life.