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Feb 25, 2008 8:16 am US/Central
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Finding Minnesota: Czech-Slovak Meeting Hall
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―
Pass along a certain stretch of West 7th Street in St. Paul, just a few blocks past downtown, and you might just think you've landed in eastern Europe.
Foreign melodies can be heard emanating from a century-old brick building. Step inside and you will find the trappings of tradition, and of the immigrants who settled this city long ago.
"This is the, for a lack of a better word, the meeting hall or theater of Sokol Minnesota," said Joe Landsburger, president of the Czech and Slovak Sokol of Minnesota and our tour guide.
Czech and Slovak Sokol is a civic club, so to speak, for people proudly clinging to their Slavic culture, something clearly evident when you climb to the third-floor meeting room.
There on the walls are extremely large, wood framed mosaics -- most of which date back to the late 1800s -- taken of people who are proudly dressed in suits and dresses.
"Then we have these marvelous pictures, where we have all of the founders, men and women who basically built the organization," said Landsberger while pointing at them.
For 125 years, the descendants of those founders have gathered here to socialize and to perform theater on a stage lined by old world backdrops. The huge, hand-painted scenes depict settings like the city of Prague and beautiful Czech and Slovak countrysides.
Many of the Sokol members took classes to learn the English language here, as well as lessons in dance and fitness.
The Czech meaning of the word "Sokol" is "falcon," a raptor that is also a symbol of strength and beauty, harmony and freedom. Today's Sokol members are staying true to their mission.
Each Tuesday, Sokols get together to sing traditional Czech and Slovak songs. They are led by pianist Georgiana Dolesji, who is closing in on her 90th birthday. She still pounds keys and belts out the tunes like a teenager.
"Well this is one way we are keeping our heritage alive. And, unfortunatly, we wish we had the youth coming up to continue that," Dolesji lamented.
Although the initial use of the place as a gathering spot for new immigrants is a thing of the past, today's Sokol is all about preserving the past with a richness in heritage that rings loud and clear.
"As long as I'm alive, I hope to see these younger people coming in," sad Dolesji. "And I'm more than happy to help them out."
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