William Penn Life, 2004 (39. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2004-04-01 / 4. szám
Branching Out with Endre Csornán The Verhovay ‘Kiskapu’ Association-funded gate completes Cleveland’s Hungarian Cultural Garden RECENTLY I HAD THE PLEASURE of visiting the Hungarian Cultural Garden in Rockefeller Park in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. It was breathtaking, even in February, to ride through this international cultural garden park. My main reason for being there was the so-called "Verhovay Gate." The Hungarian Cultural Garden was established by a group of American-Hungarians. According to records, when the garden proper was completed, there seemed to be something still lacking. So, when the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association was approached by the Hungarian Cultural Garden committee for a donation, they found there would be nothing more fitting and appropriate with which to finish the picture of the garden than a symbolic gate: "Székely Kapu" of eastern Hungary. In Transylvania, such gates are made wholly of wood, patiently carved by hand and brightly painted with many colors, and placed over the yard entrances of the peasant farms. The garden's gate would be made of iron. More than a dozen men labored for more than two months fashioning the garden's gate. When completed, it stood about 18 feet high and about 20 feet wide. The top of the structure represents a pigeon coop, carried out in malleable iron, including a small opening for pigeons to enter. The rest of the gate, a wrought iron arabesque, is dominated by two large hearts reminiscent of the heart-shaped ginger cookies traded by sweethearts in the old country during the holiday season. Interwoven in and around the hearts are the famous Hungarian tulips, oak leaves and grapes. Two bronze plates were attached at the bottom, one on each side of the arch. Inscribed on the plates—one in Hungarian, the other English—was: "This Gate is dedicated to Hungarian Culture and to the City of Cleveland by the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association of Pittsburgh, PA, July 10, 1938." Unfortunately, those bronze plaques are now missing, apparently stolen some time ago. More than 60 Hungarian groups in native costumes marched in the mammoth parade preceding the garden's dedication ceremony, which was attended by some 25,000 Hungarians and Clevelanders. It is appropriate that this Hungarian Cultural Garden can not be found anywhere but in Cleveland, as the love of the city's Hungarians for their race and culture is endless. I must also say that every William Penn Association member can be justly proud of our Association's part in producing the Verhovay Gate. We plan to make a pilgrimage to the gate while in the Cleveland area for the Annual Bowling Tournament this May. The Hungarians are one of 24 nationalities represented in the Cultural Gardens. The American Legion Peace Gardens-Garden of the Nations and of the States-are of particular significance as they represent the central theme of the entire garden chain: "Peace through Mutual Understanding." In the American Legion Peace Gardens, a bust of Miss Liberty sits atop a pedestal with the following inscription: "In America, Peace, Understanding, Amity and Cooperation among All Peoples of All Nations." 10 William Penn Life, April 2004 The “Verhovay Gate,” donated by the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association, provides an elegant entrance into the Hungarian Cultural Garden
