William Penn Life, 2002 (37. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
2002-01-01 / 1. szám
Branching Out with Endre Csornán A Lasting Alliance After 90 years, Branch 189 maintains traditions and club This photo collage of the founding members ofVerhovay branch 189 Alliance, Ohio, reminds today’s WPA members of their roots. ALLIANCE, OH - This past fall I had the pleasure of attending (twice) the steak and fish fry dinner of Branch 189 Alliance, Ohio, at the former Verhovay Club. Hats off to the officers for the fine job they are doing to keep the club going. It is impossible to establish either the exact number of Hungarians who settled in Alliance or the year they did, but we do know that the first family settled there in 1898. Although Hungarians immigrated to the United States in the late 1800s, most of them settled in the coalmining regions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. After the turn of the century, as many as 175,000 Hungarians came to America each year until 1908. Most of the immigrants did not intend to stay. Many of them did return home, and some of them crossed the ocean several times. Records show that by 1912 a modest 90 to 100 Hungarian families settled in Alliance. Most of them were "Reformed" or Unitarian and belonged to the Hungarian Reformed Church. The most known and respected Hungarian-American businessman was Janos Korosfoy, also known as "The Traveling Grocer." His invention, "Grocery and Meat Market on Wheels," was popular with many merchants. Mr. Korosfoy was instrumental in organizing the Verhovay Egylet, Branch 189 in 1912. There were two Verhovay branches in Alliance, Branches 189 and 369. Later, Mr. Korosfoy served on the national level as chairman of the Appeals Committee and national vice president. It was also through his untiring efforts and unselfish activities that the club was purchased in 1939. The club was built in 1928 by the Hungarians (Magyar Haz). Unfortunately, the Great Depression created financial difficulties for them and Mr. Korosfoy paid off the remaining liability. The club was renamed the Verhovay Club and soon became the center of all Hungarian cultural and social activities in the area. It also served as the meeting place for other national groups and organizations. The earliest elected club officers were: Marton Magyaros, president; Mihály Székely, vice president; Imre Sera, treasurer; István Kozma, secretary; Lajos Murányi, József Dénes and Károly Szabó, directors; and János Lakatos, George Bandy, Mihály Buzogány and József Máté, auditors. The late Mr. and Mrs. Korosy (Korosfoy, nee Sara Olajos) were able to raise six children. Their youngest child Michael and his wife Etta continue to live above "Korosy's Corner" at 299 W. Main St., and their son Michael Jr. runs the family store. All the Korosy (Korosfoy) descendants are William Penn Association members. One great-great-grandchild, Phoebe Jackson, was the winner of the WPA's "Baby One 2000" promotion. Like most ethnic settlements, the Magyar group in Alliance shrank with each succeeding generation, and the Hungarian Reformed Church eventually closed. But, the club is preserved for future generations. On behalf of the Home Office, I wish to extend our gratitude to those who continue to keep this club, and our wonderful Hungarian traditions, alive in Alliance. ID William Penn Life, January 2002 3
