Hello, i am from Czech republic from moravia region and i really wish to visit this part of texas because i am so proud to these people from my homeland which they managed to build these villages on the other side of the world and made huge community back than. I am so excited to see my native language in this part of the world. Sorry for my english.
No problem. That's great. I hope that you make it over here soon. Czech culture has left a lasting imprint on Texas. There are many more important Czech towns and historic sites not shown in this video.
Kdyby moje angličtina byla jako ta tvoje, když jsem emigroval, tak bych si pískal. Ale roční pobyt v anglicky mluvící zemi by to pro tebe vyřešil. Good luck to you.
Hello...my dad's family, and others, came here to Texas from Moravia in 1902. They settled in the towns of East Bernard, Hungerford, and Wharton. So visit there as well when you get here! Czechs are pretty much all over Texas! 🙂 Research Texas Czech Festivals to get an idea of a good time of the year to visit.
What's odd about the language is that so many people from Moravia emigrated to Texas that the Moravian dialect of that era has been better preserved in Texas than it was in the Czech Republic. I guess that's one of the things that makes us Czexans.
I grew up playing in the church yards of praha and high hill. So many beautiful memories. High hill was my home church. My grandparents were children of czech and german immigrants there.. It warms my heart to see this video.
My last name is Vašek and I was born and raised in Texas. I've been curious about the history of my ancestors for some time, and I'm trying to dig deep to find more history on where my family comes from and why they moved here. Thanks for this video!
Thanks for the video, because it brings back a lot of fond memories. I grew up in La Grange and still consider it to be the best time of my life. I also used to love listening to the polka show on KVLG radio in La Grange on Sundays, hosted by Lee Roy Matocha.
I've watched almost all your films! Missed this one 😆 Another great bit of history preserved. The cemetery has some ancient stones there! Thanks for a good share Secrets of Texas.
My husband, I and our three kids lived in El Campo, TX until 1972...he was a Texas Hwy Patrolman and we got transferred from time to time. Now, El Campo had a huge Czech population back then. I had no idea that the other cities you spotlighted also had large populations of Czechs. Very interesting video. Thank you.
The Czechoslovakian Village is very inspiring. It gives me some ideas for structures on my Texas and New Orleans model railroad. Did you ever notice how similar the old Czechoslovakian flag is to the Texas state flag? Now that is a Secret of Texas to check out.
Koyner was my great grandmas maiden and she was part German but also Czech alot of her folks came from the part of the country later annexed by Germany..but i know we have some moravian..this is great and my late grandma would have loved this
I feel lucky to have grown up in Shiner, and have gone to many church picnics. I just found your channel and growing up in the area I just wanted to get out, now I wish I czeched everything out just a bit more. Ang get more in tune with my family
Another great video being of Czech descent myself. I believe my Great Grandmother told me they came to the US in the early 1900's (06 or 16....cant remember). I love the character of the homes that were shown.
I love this part of Texas and the Czech/German people there. My dad was born in La Grange in 1929 to German parents. When I was growing up nothing got me in trouble faster with my dad than me repeating some racist remark or joke that my mom's side of the family would make. When I was a teen I was telling my dad's best friend, also from La Grange, about this. How I was surprised that someone that grew up in deep Texas in the 1930's-40's escaped being so prejudice. His friend said that was the German side in my dad. That the Germans and Czechs from that part of Texas had no patience with prejudice attitudes. I just wish that had made it back to Germany. Right after I married in mid 1980's I went down to La Grange with my wife to see everything and see some property that had been in our family from the days of the Alamo. We stopped by to see an older Czech couple that my dad grew up with and I had known all my life. They were of course super hospitable to us. My wife noticed that all around the dining room and kitchen were a bunch of pies and cakes. My wife was worried that we had interrupted them getting ready for guests or to go to some party or event. I had to tell her that no they are Czechs. Their home will be filled with pies and cakes and breads at any time. When we left that evening my wife left with a stack of recipes from Momma Z.
Thanks for the video. There’s many major points in. First, America became a dream country for so many Europeans. Those days people couldn’t just jump on planes and fly back for visit. So they build there homes with everything what could possibly make it like home. I did exactly the same approx 135 years later. I ended in Down Under and I could fly back any time. Different eras brings different challenges. If I lived in the States I would strongly consider to move in to one of this towns. Again great video. Thanks/děkuji.
My mother's family was in Ganado, Texas. Kovar was mom's Maiden name. Her sister and her were twins, and the Long time members of the KJZT Fraternity. Miss them dearly.
Dude I love Your videos. There is something special about the small, the offbeat, the historic. I'm a South Texan. Victoria, Corpus Christi and San Antonio. Oh, I also spent 20 years in the Worlds Finest Navy so I've done my share of travelling. Keep bringing great content. Best Wishes.
My grandfather came to us 1890 landed green port grandmother 1892 Ellis island settled in Yonkers by in by Yonkers has 13 catholic church's just as beautiful the Czech have incredible artisans just in owr blood
My last name is lesikar and ive been trying to figure out where im from my whole life being in foster care since youth. Thank you for shedding a little more light on my history
I love what you're doing. Your channel is both educational and entertaining. This is exactly what I'm aspiring for in my channel. Keep on inspiring people! 🤠👍🏼
We live near the Fayette County Fairgrounds, which houses the Texas Czech Center. They have a Czech Festival every fall which is lots of fun and educational.
Many relatives on Mom's side came in through La Grange, the von Rosenberg family of Texas. Thank you channel, I did not know some of this history about La Grange.
Thanks for bringing attention to this part of our state's cultural history. Not many people outside of Texas (and too many within) realize the contributions made by the settlers of Czech, German, Wendish and Polish origin. About 20 years ago, I was eating in a restaurant in La Grange and noticed that my server had a distinct accent. She explained that she had grown up speaking German as her first language, and her family had come to Texas nearly a half century before my own family! However, their experiences when first coming to Texas weren't all good. Those early immigrants from central Europe encountered hostility from the surrounding Anglo communities during the Civil War as many of them were opposed to slavery and did not support secession from the Union. They endured that hostility and stuck together as a community and that may very well be why their language and culture still endures in Central Texas to this day.
Seriously this is putting me in the mood for some prague limburger and vodka and peroshkis and sauerkraut..this whole video makes me think of great grandma lol..beautiful painting of krumlov castle you just showed in the library
I heard there also is a Czech museum in Temple. It seems like everything about the Texas climate, soil and living conditions was so different from where they came from that it must have been a difficult adaptation.
Also check out the areas east of Temple, TX. Temple is the home of the S.P.J.S.T - I had to look that up. "SPJST comes from the Czech phrase Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas, which translated in English means the Slavonic, Benevolent Order of the State of Texas." I believe it has a Czech genealogy library in its basement. Towns east of Temple include Heidenheimer, Westphalia, Seaton (with Seaton Star Hall), Zabcikville (with Green's Sausage House), Ratibor, etc.
Great video, thanks a million. Those kolochies made my mouth water. I'm Polish decent and when some one calls a pig-in-a-blanket a kolochie, it irritates me. If there is no fruit or poppy seeds, you can't call it a kolochie. A law like that would make more sense than a lot of our laws. Also, Polka Music: Happy music for happy people.
@@secretsoftexas6872 hmmm, hiccups with DP? probably cause they're now NWO supporters, but its history runs in the veins of TX ... Kolaches are like Bolo-Ties for Cowboys, they're "suitable" @anytime👍 BUT if you're going to Dublin, don't forget to stop by Hico, TX (still not sure bout the legend of Billy the Kid)😎
Well it doesn’t matter if it’s Czech, bohemian or German, It’s all beautiful, my family is German-Messianic-Jewish, my grandparents are fluent in German-Prussian, Czech and Polish, ja! Ahoj! Jak se mazs? Don’t ask me how to spell Correctly in Czech , I can only speak what I have learned, luckily I have some Czech neighbors down the street that escaped during the 60s from Sudetenland Czechia 🇨🇿 , I helped them with German and they help me with Czech language😁
For years a well kept secret in La Grange was a house just off of IH 71 and business 71. The ruins are still there and can be seen from Rocky Creek Rd.
My great-grandparents were August and Anna (Breska) Knesek who had a farm in Schulenburg on my grandmother’s side AND my grandfather’s parents Joseph and Mary (Gayda) Veselka from Fayetteville. Joseph Veselka is buried in the Fayetteville cemetery. I’m searching for their parent’s names and where they are buried.
Praha lost all of its young men in WW2. Their tales are told in the grottoes surrounding the painted Catholic church there ... the community never truly recovered.
My question is who claims or how you claimed land back in the day? Did someone discovered peace of land and made it there's or did they murdered people for it?
The answer starts with Land Grants, given by Spain first, later Mexico, later Texas. They gave land to white people so the Commanche Indians would attack the whites first ... how's that for turning your idea around?
These are parts of Texas history that not many people know about...thanks so much for showcasing these...some great history!
Hello, i am from Czech republic from moravia region and i really wish to visit this part of texas because i am so proud to these people from my homeland which they managed to build these villages on the other side of the world and made huge community back than. I am so excited to see my native language in this part of the world.
Sorry for my english.
No problem. That's great. I hope that you make it over here soon. Czech culture has left a lasting imprint on Texas. There are many more important Czech towns and historic sites not shown in this video.
Kdyby moje angličtina byla jako ta tvoje, když jsem emigroval, tak bych si pískal. Ale roční pobyt v anglicky mluvící zemi by to pro tebe vyřešil. Good luck to you.
Hello...my dad's family, and others, came here to Texas from Moravia in 1902. They settled in the towns of East Bernard, Hungerford, and Wharton. So visit there as well when you get here! Czechs are pretty much all over Texas! 🙂 Research Texas Czech Festivals to get an idea of a good time of the year to visit.
Jak se mas. I wish my grandmother taughjt me more of our language.
What's odd about the language is that so many people from Moravia emigrated to Texas that the Moravian dialect of that era has been better preserved in Texas than it was in the Czech Republic. I guess that's one of the things that makes us Czexans.
Love this area of Texas.
beautiful sharing my friend👍 congratulation from Poland👍
I grew up playing in the church yards of praha and high hill. So many beautiful memories. High hill was my home church. My grandparents were children of czech and german immigrants there.. It warms my heart to see this video.
Thank You for your videos. My grandfather, Victor Krause was from Praha, Texas.
Fascinating. Thank you for sharing!
@Secretes of Texas
Thanks for the Video. My Czech Paternal Grandparents lived & farmed near Moravia, Tx.
Lots of great memories!
I found the countryside in the areas I visited to be some of the most peaceful I've ever been to in Texas. I'm sure you enjoyed visiting them.
@@secretsoftexas6872
Oh Yes Definitely!! We still have Family Reunions in Both Shulenburg & Halletsville every year. 😊
Visited Dubina, High Hill, and Praha churches. Lovely, ornate testaments to the faith of these immigrants.
Testaments to their craftsmanship as well.
My last name is Vašek and I was born and raised in Texas. I've been curious about the history of my ancestors for some time, and I'm trying to dig deep to find more history on where my family comes from and why they moved here. Thanks for this video!
Vašek translate to Vince. Usually first name. Hope you use the little hook above s (š). It makes the whole name sounds different.
I love the Quality of the Filming, thanks.
Great video!! We history buffs love this. Thank you for sharing with us. May God continue to protect you on the road .
Thanks for the video, because it brings back a lot of fond memories. I grew up in La Grange and still consider it to be the best time of my life. I also used to love listening to the polka show on KVLG radio in La Grange on Sundays, hosted by Lee Roy Matocha.
Putting this on my travel list. Thanks
I've watched almost all your films! Missed this one 😆
Another great bit of history preserved. The cemetery has some ancient stones there!
Thanks for a good share Secrets of Texas.
Thank you for showing these beautiful historic places. I am Moravian descent and I am related to many TX-Moravian settlers.
My husband, I and our three kids lived in El Campo, TX until 1972...he was a Texas Hwy Patrolman and we got transferred from time to time. Now, El Campo had a huge Czech population back then. I had no idea that the other cities you spotlighted also had large populations of Czechs. Very interesting video. Thank you.
The Czechoslovakian Village is very inspiring. It gives me some ideas for structures on my Texas and New Orleans model railroad. Did you ever notice how similar the old Czechoslovakian flag is to the Texas state flag? Now that is a Secret of Texas to check out.
Wow. I'd love to see that scene when it's finished. Yes some of those buildings look like classic model railroad structures.
@@secretsoftexas6872 What is a good way to send photos to you?
Thnxs 4 sharing 🇺🇸
Your videos are incredible. They always make me want to move to rural Texas
Thanks for that. I often think about that myself.
Koyner was my great grandmas maiden and she was part German but also Czech alot of her folks came from the part of the country later annexed by Germany..but i know we have some moravian..this is great and my late grandma would have loved this
I feel lucky to have grown up in Shiner, and have gone to many church picnics. I just found your channel and growing up in the area I just wanted to get out, now I wish I czeched everything out just a bit more. Ang get more in tune with my family
I know how you feel. Hopefully you will soon.
Very interesting!
My Czech family came over about 1879. My family still has land in Schulenburg.
Thank You !!
Nice video! I hope to visit these amazing places soon… Greetings from the Czech Republic!
And, BTW, thanks for the close up of the Casino Hall marker. I didn't have the narrative for it and now I do.
Another great video being of Czech descent myself. I believe my Great Grandmother told me they came to the US in the early 1900's (06 or 16....cant remember).
I love the character of the homes that were shown.
Most of my family are from Schulenburg and that area. Thank you for this video. I passed it on to them. Love your videos. Been binge watching them.
It's inspiring to watch someone else's enjoyment...
I love this part of Texas and the Czech/German people there. My dad was born in La Grange in 1929 to German parents. When I was growing up nothing got me in trouble faster with my dad than me repeating some racist remark or joke that my mom's side of the family would make. When I was a teen I was telling my dad's best friend, also from La Grange, about this. How I was surprised that someone that grew up in deep Texas in the 1930's-40's escaped being so prejudice. His friend said that was the German side in my dad. That the Germans and Czechs from that part of Texas had no patience with prejudice attitudes. I just wish that had made it back to Germany.
Right after I married in mid 1980's I went down to La Grange with my wife to see everything and see some property that had been in our family from the days of the Alamo. We stopped by to see an older Czech couple that my dad grew up with and I had known all my life. They were of course super hospitable to us. My wife noticed that all around the dining room and kitchen were a bunch of pies and cakes. My wife was worried that we had interrupted them getting ready for guests or to go to some party or event. I had to tell her that no they are Czechs. Their home will be filled with pies and cakes and breads at any time. When we left that evening my wife left with a stack of recipes from Momma Z.
Wonderful work
Very enjoyable. Thank you.
Thanks for the video. There’s many major points in. First, America became a dream country for so many Europeans. Those days people couldn’t just jump on planes and fly back for visit. So they build there homes with everything what could possibly make it like home. I did exactly the same approx 135 years later. I ended in Down Under and I could fly back any time. Different eras brings different challenges. If I lived in the States I would strongly consider to move in to one of this towns. Again great video. Thanks/děkuji.
My mother's family was in Ganado, Texas. Kovar was mom's Maiden name. Her sister and her were twins, and the Long time members of the KJZT Fraternity. Miss them dearly.
Your moms maiden name translated to English is Smith. Just in case you didn’t know.
@@TheMidrev I didn't know that. Interesting
I'm from a small town just up the road from Ganado and had a principal with the last name Kovar.
I love you work, keep em coming!
Dude I love Your videos. There is something special about the small, the offbeat, the historic. I'm a South Texan. Victoria, Corpus Christi and San Antonio. Oh, I also spent 20 years in the Worlds Finest Navy so I've done my share of travelling. Keep bringing great content. Best Wishes.
Nice video! Uh oh. looks like the Old Anderson Place marker was broken in half and then repaired. I hate to see any marker get broken.
Just got to hang out with the Janda family. I have to say it was one of the best times I've had in a while.
My grandfather came to us 1890 landed green port grandmother 1892 Ellis island settled in Yonkers by in by Yonkers has 13 catholic church's just as beautiful the Czech have incredible artisans just in owr blood
Blazek/Sodolak descendent. Thank you for the reminder of what we built.
My last name is lesikar and ive been trying to figure out where im from my whole life being in foster care since youth. Thank you for shedding a little more light on my history
I live here.... there was a kindergarten teacher named miss Lesikar not too long ago.
I love what you're doing. Your channel is both educational and entertaining. This is exactly what I'm aspiring for in my channel. Keep on inspiring people! 🤠👍🏼
I see you've got some interesting stuff on your channel. I'll have to watch some of your videos soon.
My family is from Ammannsville... this is what i call heaven .. great memories
So well done I had to subscribe! Then I saw that I had seen some of your other videos previously and had enjoyed those too!
We live near the Fayette County Fairgrounds, which houses the Texas Czech Center. They have a Czech Festival every fall which is lots of fun and educational.
Texas History is awesome!
Many relatives on Mom's side came in through La Grange, the von Rosenberg family of Texas. Thank you channel, I did not know some of this history about La Grange.
Thanks for bringing attention to this part of our state's cultural history. Not many people outside of Texas (and too many within) realize the contributions made by the settlers of Czech, German, Wendish and Polish origin. About 20 years ago, I was eating in a restaurant in La Grange and noticed that my server had a distinct accent. She explained that she had grown up speaking German as her first language, and her family had come to Texas nearly a half century before my own family! However, their experiences when first coming to Texas weren't all good. Those early immigrants from central Europe encountered hostility from the surrounding Anglo communities during the Civil War as many of them were opposed to slavery and did not support secession from the Union. They endured that hostility and stuck together as a community and that may very well be why their language and culture still endures in Central Texas to this day.
Seriously this is putting me in the mood for some prague limburger and vodka and peroshkis and sauerkraut..this whole video makes me think of great grandma lol..beautiful painting of krumlov castle you just showed in the library
I sure would like to drink a Czech Pilsner in one of those drinking places. I got tipsy just looking at them.
Your comment just made me thirsty
My daughter and family live in Weimar..my son in law is a Fayette County Deputy. Try Shiner Bock, a great tasting dark beer made in Shiner, Texas.
Moms maiden name is Schoppa. Lots of connections around there. Haven't been out there in years. You may have started something.
I hope so! Thanks for visiting my channel.
You did not over use" Wow! " WOW! Thanks for sharing! PS, you're not annoying! : )
I'm Mexican-american from Weimar, my mom is from Fayette county, grew up on kolaches..jak se mas..
I am happy ZZtop joined La Grange to play their wonderful Texas Blues. No Mercy. Jochen Maeder, Kassel, Germany.
Nice
I heard there also is a Czech museum in Temple. It seems like everything about the Texas climate, soil and living conditions
was so different from where they came from that it must have been a difficult adaptation.
Also check out the areas east of Temple, TX. Temple is the home of the S.P.J.S.T - I had to look that up. "SPJST comes from the Czech phrase Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas, which translated in English means the Slavonic, Benevolent Order of the State of Texas." I believe it has a Czech genealogy library in its basement. Towns east of Temple include Heidenheimer, Westphalia, Seaton (with Seaton Star Hall), Zabcikville (with Green's Sausage House), Ratibor, etc.
The Marker is wrong. Families of Joseph Janda Valintin Kolibal, Frantisek Koza were also in that 1856 settlers.
As a 5th generation Czech from the 1850 migration, my entire Texas heritage is buried in a cemetery not far from these places. Jak se mas? 👍
My last name is lesikar joseph l lesikar is my ancestor all of them are in shillerville cemetery
Ahoy ! Dobre nebo dobre.
My great grandparents were the Knesek in Shulenburg And Veselka’s in Fayetteville.
Great video, thanks a million. Those kolochies made my mouth water. I'm Polish decent and when some one calls a pig-in-a-blanket a kolochie, it irritates me. If there is no fruit or poppy seeds, you can't call it a kolochie. A law like that would make more sense than a lot of our laws.
Also, Polka Music: Happy music for happy people.
Same here!!!!!!
Kolač :))
@@masdan13 správně 👍
The barn is built in the traditional dog trot style from the founding of texas.
On my list for my next road trip, I’m from Roma Texas!
You’re the only one that doesn’t seem to shy away from showing and talking about Catholics churches and historical sites!
🍺beer & coke in Czech country only? ..Where's Dr Pepper...Hope you make a video on Waco and Dublin DP 👍 as always, awesome videos📹
I will go to Dublin soon, but I'm still upset with Dr Pepper.
@@secretsoftexas6872 hmmm, hiccups with DP? probably cause they're now NWO supporters, but its history runs in the veins of TX ... Kolaches are like Bolo-Ties for Cowboys, they're "suitable" @anytime👍 BUT if you're going to Dublin, don't forget to stop by Hico, TX (still not sure bout the legend of Billy the Kid)😎
Thank u that catholic church was stunning
07:56 Edzel (sp?) toy jets. I see that on the display. I loved those as a kid. I wonder if they are still open with all the insanity going on now?
Well it doesn’t matter if it’s Czech, bohemian or German, It’s all beautiful, my family is German-Messianic-Jewish, my grandparents are fluent in German-Prussian, Czech and Polish, ja! Ahoj! Jak se mazs? Don’t ask me how to spell Correctly in Czech , I can only speak what I have learned, luckily I have some Czech neighbors down the street that escaped during the 60s from Sudetenland Czechia 🇨🇿 , I helped them with German and they help me with Czech language😁
For years a well kept secret in La Grange was a house just off of IH 71 and business 71. The ruins are still there and can be seen from Rocky Creek Rd.
I'm czech on my father's side. His people settled in Kansas shortly after the Civil War.
My great-grandparents were August and Anna (Breska) Knesek who had a farm in Schulenburg on my grandmother’s side AND my grandfather’s parents Joseph and Mary (Gayda) Veselka from Fayetteville. Joseph Veselka is buried in the Fayetteville cemetery. I’m searching for their parent’s names and where they are buried.
And there's still a lot more Czech communitys in Texas
" Hesky Chesky Musica," Beautiful Bohemian Music. The way I heard it pronounced. Czech it out!
Sad..to live so long n Texas and be so unaware of these treasures.
Our cathedral has that same vaulted ceiling. Unfortunately, the beautiul altar has been moderized.
And why would you leave out Hostyn. It was also formed in 1856, as a matter of fact is that the Hostyn Church was built before Dubina.
Amazing, I live just under the saint hill of Hostýn in CZ
@@handycandy7244 my great grandfather Frantisek Knapek came from Vlkovice.
My people.
What about Hill Country Wends
why did you not show the Masonic
East Corner Stone of the Church?
To pronounce Dubina correctly, place emphasis on the first syllable rather than the second syllable.
Praha lost all of its young men in WW2. Their tales are told in the grottoes surrounding the painted Catholic church there ... the community never truly recovered.
That's very sad to hear
Do they like other races there ? Would love to move there
My question is who claims or how you claimed land back in the day? Did someone discovered peace of land and made it there's or did they murdered people for it?
The answer starts with Land Grants, given by Spain first, later Mexico, later Texas. They gave land to white people so the Commanche Indians would attack the whites first ... how's that for turning your idea around?
Actually,Praha is closer to Flatonia than Schulenburg!!
I should know,I lived in Flatonia from 1974-96!!😮😅😊😢
Try a Czech black Lager 🍺
We live here, my neighbors are Czech