Magyar News, 1992. szeptember-1993. augusztus (3. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1992-09-01 / 1. szám
THERE IS NO DUST ON HUNGARIANS IN THE DESERT Wherever I go, I look up Phonebooks, ask people about Hungarians. Just recently I was traveling in the desert around Phoenix. With the family, we visited some relatives at a retirement village called Sun City West. It turned out that many Hungarians live there, some I have previously known from this area. At the headquarters of this settlement, I was introduced to Tony Szemerei. It was obvious that he is Hungarian. So, answering my questions he told me that there are about 5,000 Hungarians in the broader area. In the northern part of Phoenix they have the Hungarian Reformed Church with a social hall. The congregation, lead by Rev. Demeter, doesn’t count more than two hundred, but their Hungarian style activities and hospitality draw many Hungarians of different denominations. Since pictures are worth a thousand words, I am showing you the building among palm trees, the interior of the church, and also the hall. We all know that the Hungarian churches in many places are closing based on different excuses. This church in Phoenix is on a different track. There is no dust settling here neither on the building nor on the activities. They established this church 10 years ago, and since added on to it. Now the congregation is planning to move it out of the area that is mostly made up of smallsize industry. This congregation outgrew this building, and they also have the vision to expand it in a more suitable location. I thank Tony for this rare experience to see a Hungarian community, based on tradition, grow and flourish. The cross of the chapel in Oak Creek Canyon stands over 500feet tall. The very same day, driving through the beautiful red-rock formations of Sedona, I came across a chapel that has something to do with the Hungarians. In my preliminary investigation I couldn’t confirm the rumor that a Hungarian lady erected it Her name was Marguerite Brunswig Staude, and all the other names involved, including Senator Goldwater, didn’t sound at all Hungarian. I finally solved the puzzle. The lady wanted to build a sky-scraper chapel in memory of her parents. She traveled around looking for a proper place, she found it in Hungary. This is what the records say: “(the architect) build the first architectural model with the articulated cross, the whole structure lined in glass and perforated stone screen. This was to encircle one square city block. In 1937 this plan was accepted and to be built in Budapest on one of the hills overlooking the Danube. The war soon put a stop to this dream.” We Hungarians thank the thought and it would be nice if some American Hungarians or people from Hungary would express their appreciation by adding a Hungarian decoration to this chapel. Just a nice thought. Joseph F. Balogh Surprisingly Affordable Stratford Athletic Club 140 Watson Bvld. (Next to Ramada Inn) Just off TPKE1-95, Exit 30 Stratford, CT Telephone: (203) 378-2211 Owned & Operated by Bob and Carol Maráczi
