Magyar News, 2000. szeptember-2001. augusztus (11. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2000-11-01 / 3. szám
A celebration in 1928 Richard C. Németh recalls The documentary film, “Searching For Wordin Avenue - The Hungarian Immigrant Experience,” begins by noting that “During the first half of this century, the West End of Bridgeport, Connecticut was the home of one of the largest Hungarian communities in America.” I am a second generation American of Hungarian ancestry who was once a part of that vibrant community and I take great pride in my Hungarian heritage. My immigrant paternal grandparents sailed to this country early in the century. They met on the ship, settled in Bridgeport, married in St. Stephens church, and made their first home on Pine St., “down by the gas house” my father used to say. By the time I was bom the depression had hit and it was not unusual for extended families to share the same dwelling. The Nemeth family - my grandparents, uncle Sam, my parents, and I had by then moved to 984 Wordin Avenue, second floor rear -one of those tenements that housed twelve families. It had a good view (and smell on some days) of the municipal dump and was half a block from St. Stephens School, one of few remaining recognizable landmarks in that area today. Therefore, I feel qualified to comment about the documentary and to correct a major omission in its’ portrayal of Bridgeport’s West End. Specifically, there was absolutely no mention of the championship football teams of the 1920’s which were a source of great and continuing pride to that Hungarian community in an era when ethnic neighborhoods and ethnic pride dominated Bridgeport culture. By the early 1920s sons of the “greenhorns” were in their late teens or early twenties, strong, youthful, and vigorous. Even though times in the nation were relatively good, families in the West End were not prosperous and there was always a need for the young men to earn money for the family. While most completed Longfellow grammar school, high school and college academics and athletics were available to only a few. Neighborhood social clubs provided substitute opportunities. The club that represented the Hungarian West End in the semi-professional Bridgeport City League was the Western Athletic Club with headquar-The rosterof 1928 included: front row. Mascots Bedo and Olah; second row-Johnny Duby, Frank Paul, Lou Majoris, Captain Steve Nemeth(x), Mickey Dolyak, Johnny Mentes, Joe Gerics; third row-John Rohl, Johnny Sabo, George Mandulák. Steve Majoris, Frank Moore, Sam Nemeth(*), Charley Miski, Jimseye Wargo, AI Fekete; fourth row, Lou Kassay, Steve Suchery, Antos Warren, Joe Seamon, Charley Cellars, Johnny Imre, Alex Borsody, Bert Sabo and Coach Grant (Rosy) Barber. Page 4
