ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T
Volume 107 Number 25
Benevolence
H E R A L D
★ Humanity
★ Brotherhood
August 21, 2019
ISSN —07458800
SPJST Hall - Lodge 38, Kovar Also known as Kovar Hall, it once was among the largest dance halls in Texas - and still draws celebrations This story originally appeared in Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s pages within Texas Co-op Power magazine’s August 2019 issue and is reprinted with the permission of Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative. by Clayton Stromberger Photos by Sarah Beal
B
ack in the day, SPJST Lodge 38, Kovar Hall in the Bastrop County community of Kovar, with its huge wooden dance floor and side windows, was the place for a local family to go on a Saturday night — just like SPJST halls all over Central Texas.
After a hard week of working on the farm or in town, Texas Czechs in small rural communities would unwind and celebrate their heritage by dancing to polka music and having a bit of beer as the children skittered around the edges of the dance floor or played chase outside. SPJST stands for Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas, or Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas. It’s a fraternal organization initially created to provide affordable life insurance for recent immigrants; you would buy insurance, choose a lodge, and be voted in. SPJST was founded in 1897, Continued on Page 21.
2019-2020 State Royalty
2019-2020 SPJST State Royalty, center, Duke Hudson Riha and King Luc Marcaurele, both of Lodge 30, Taiton, and Queen Misty Dvorak and Duchess Aubrey Roberts, both of Lodge 25, Ennis, are congratulated by 2018-2019 State Duke Tyson Bilbrey, King Nash Campbell, Queen Kelly House, and Duchess Jenna Fair. The new royalty court was crowned at SPJST State Youth Achievement Day held August 3 in Temple. More on pages 4 to 15.
Queen Ollie celebrates Grand Age of 96 Congratulations to Ollie Pospisil, right, of Lodge 23, Moravia! She celebrated her 96th birthday in Schulenburg on Sunday, July 28. She was presented her Grand Age of 96 certificate by District Six Director Karen Kaspar. “Presenting Ollie with this certificate is definitely among my the best experiences in SPJST,” Director Kaspar says. “Through the years as I visited Lodge 23 meetings, Ollie was there actively attending and participating. Thank you, Ollie, for being a very dedicated SPJST member!” More on page 19.
( ( ( ( ( Inside This Week’s Věstník ( ( ( ( ( Important Dates ...................................3 Interest Rates.......................................3 Fraternal Focus ...................................3 Youth Merit Points Results...............14 District News......................................15 SPJST Cruise Information ................16
Lodge Section ...................................16 In Memoriam ......................................22 Youth Section ....................................23 Czech Culture ....................................27 Advertisements ............................28-29 Lodge Calendar .................................30
Lodge 18 Elgin members donate tabs to RMH Page 18
Lodge 200 BrucevilleEddy member serves as Beep umpire Page 21
District One hosts youth swim party/ social Page 23