Fraternity-Testvériség, 1956 (34. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1956-08-01 / 8. szám
FRATERNITY 33 American=Hungarian Group Plans Motorcade To Sonoma for Haraszthy Centennial The following article was a front-page headline feature in “The Sonoma Index-Tribune”, which is published in California’s valley of the moon, and land of romance and history; site of last old missions, and famous for its climate, wine and mineral springs: The American Hungarian Federation, which has national headquarters in Washington, D. C., and represents more than a half million persons of Hungarian descent in this country, is planning a series of motorcades to Sonoma next year, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the modern California wine growing industry at Buena Vista, by Ágoston Haraszthy. This was revealed by Frank H. Bartholomew in a letter from New York where he is president of the United Press, the news gathering association of over 6,200 American daily and weekly journals. Bartholomew, owner of Buena Vista Vineyards, said that our arrangements are now being worked out by B. Bachkai, national secretary of the American Hungarian Federation, Washington, D. C. In addition to the motorcades, which will represent an assemblage of visitors from all over the United States, converging on Sonoma, the Federation plans additional and formal celebrations in Sonoma honoring Haraszthy. Also planned is the issuance of a Haraszthy Memorial Stamp to go on the reverse side of envelopes during the year 1957. Issuance of such stamps, which always honor a distinguished Hungarian or a notable event in Hungary’s long history, is part of the regular program of the Federation, Bartholomew said. He expressed the belief that the stamps will be made available to business firms and interested persons in Sonoma and throughout the U. S. A. Count Haraszthy bought 560 acres in Sonoma Valley in January, 1857, to plant what was to become the foundation vineyard for the entire California wine growing industry. Later the same year, he began construction of the stone winery, which is still in use. The California Legislature declared it an historic site. Relative to the centenary event, Bartholomew suggested that it could be celebrated in late spring or summer — or could be consolidated with the Vintage Festival in 1957, if the V. F. Association deemed it advantageous. ★ ★ ★ ÁGOSTON HARASZTHY came to the United States in 1840, at the time Kossuth’s followers were already persecuted abroad. Hailing from Futták, County of Bács, in southern Hungary, he brought with him a zest for hard work and enterprise. His boundless energy first promoted settlement of Sauk City, Wisconsin. Then the gold rush captured his
