Magyar Egyház, 1971 (50. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1971-08-01 / 8-9. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 13 Welcome to: BETHLEN FREEDOM PRESS In the paraghraphs that follow, we will attempt to acquaint you, our readers, with the history of the Press, past and present. For decades, it was the dream of many to have a printing establishment to serve our Hungarian people. The dreams of Rev. Kalassay, Rev. Nanassy, and others came into being due to the efforts of Rev. Alexander Daroczy, at that time, the Superintendent of the Bethlen Home. The Bethlen Freedom Press received its charter on the sixth of December, 1966. Those who signed the application were: the Rev. Alexander Daroczy, Rev. Alexander Babos, Rev. Kalman Csia, Rt. Rev. Louis Nagy, Rev. Nicholas Sewell, and Mr. William Szuch. The Press is an independent, non-profit, nonstock, non-ownership organization. Its main purpose is to serve the American-Hungarian people through religious and cultural publications in both the Hungarian and English languages. (In case of dissolvment, all assets become the property of the Bethlen Home:) Rev. Daroczy asked me to come to Ligonier and to manage the Press. I attended the first meeting of the Board in September, 1966, then in the early part of 1967, plans were made to go into production sometime in 1967. At its start, the Press had $116,207.26 in the bank and of this, $96,015.40 was donated by a foundation located here in Ligonier; $14,418.84 came from other funds, and $5,773.02 from interest and small donations. At first, the plans were for a larger building but, to please everyone, a two-story 60’ x 45’ building was constructed for $72,465.74. At that time, the plan was that the Print Shop would occupy only the first floor while the second floor would be used for other purposes. At the present time, we are using two rooms on the second floor for mailing and storage, leaving one two-room apartment and two one-room apartments, all with baths, which are occupied by the employees of the Home. Also on the second floor is a men’s room, costing many thousand dollars, with toilets, sinks, and showers. The equipment and items necessary for operation, and installation cost was $38,022.42. Sándor E. Chomos, Manager The Rev. Daroczy asked the National Board of the Hungarian Reformed Federation to cover part of the expenses for the second floor. The Board agreed, and the Bethlen Home turned over $19,604.02 in 1968 to cover some of the expenses. The completion of the building was scheduled for September 15, 1967. Arrangements were made to install the equipment in the latter part of September. When the equipment arrived, the floor had been poured, the walls and the roof were up . . . and that was all. By November 15th we were able to do some work . . . with limited electricity, without heat; finally, by December 15th, we were able to start on the 1968 Bethlen Naptar, with the electricians, plumbers, and all kinds of workers hindering our work. Many times, we had to stop the presses and cover the equipment as water was coming down from the second floor. But, slowly we were on our way, and by the end of March, 1968, the building was completed. We started off with four workers, including myself: my brother, Elias C. Chomos, to take care of the camera work, etc., Lowell T. (Mike) Head, our linotype operator, who never before set Hungarian (he is now one of the best Hungarian linotype operators around), and a pressman who is no longer with us. Our accomplishments are marvelled at by Continued on page 14
