Magyar News, 1993. szeptember-1994. augusztus (4. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1994-01-01 / 5. szám
:iTY OF FAIRFIELD Havadtoy Ages differed considerably from that of the 20th century. The people settled on the fields made fertile by deforestation and they abandoned the marshy areas. An enclosed yard and garden belonged to each house. The lands were cultivated by the rotation of the crops with primitive tools and they provided only light yields. Fishing, hunting and plant-gathering for livelihoods played a significant role on this territory. The Turkish invasion brought a considerable change. After the fall of the neighboring Buda in 1541 and of Esztergom in 1543, Bánhida and both Gallas were devastated. They appear in the records only as a “puszta”, Ihat means Hungarian steppe. The surviving offsprings resettled it in 1622. According to record books their religion Reformed. In 1650 their church and in 1674 their minister are mentioned by the documents. When the Turkish army in 1683 repeatedly had the intention to besiege Vienna, the enormous troops marched through this area. The villages simply disappeared from the historical data for a long time. Following the defeat of the Turks and of the Rákóczi rebellion, this whole territory was purchased by Count Joseph Esterhazy for a fabulous sum of money in 1727. Considering the circumstances of the feudal system, the value of the land was determined by the number of people cultivating these lands. Since there were only about 150 inhabitants left in the whole area, the Count started an organized settlement process as well, bringing Germans from Alsace, Württemberg and Bavaria, and Slovaks to raise his income. The Count’s aim was, among others, the conversion of the people to Catholicism. Thus he took the Reformed churches from the villagers living in Bánhida as well as churches from other villages. According to the census data of 1784-87, Alsögalla had 580, Bánhida 1144, and Felsögalla 842 inhabitants. The population of the Gallas was almost entirely composed of Germans, and in Bánhida the ratio of Hungarians and Slovaks was 1:2. The 1848 Revolution brought about the liberation of the serfs and a much timely land reform. The population, in spite of the fact that it was mixed, sided with the Hungarian cause against the Hapsburgs. Haynau, the leader of the Austrian army, took cruel revenge. He had the parson of Bánhida flogged and sentenced to several years of imprisonment. The great change in the life of this territory was due to the coal that was found here. A mining company was established in 1891, and the whole area became the most dynamically developing industrial region of the country. By the time of the II World War this industrial complex provided work for 10,000 employees, and by this ensured good living conditions for 30,000 persons. The people with Hungarian as a mother tongue represented the large majority of the population in all three villages. Following the II World War, the Communist regime made Tatabánya the cornerstone of its industrial planning. It became the center of Komárom county with a population of 80,000 people. The three villages were now officially united. After long-lasting and furious debates, the final name, Tatabánya, was accepted by the ruling authorities. Following the unification, the most significant change in the city was the construction of new dwellings. The growing population required entirely new quarters. A new town centre was built on the territory of the present day Újváros. The demand for family houses with gardens created the Kertváros/Garden Town. Due to the extensive exploitation of the coal fields during the Communist era, the coal sources in the old Tatabánya coal basin have become exhausted, the local plants have been closed. The basin provided the country with 170.5 million tons of coal between 1896 and 1987. From among the 26 pits and 5 surface cuts, only one pit can be seen today, which is an Open-air Mining Museum. Therefore nowadays the most urgent problem is the transformation of the industrial structure of the town and the creation of new jobs. The cultural life was determined by the historical characteristics of the town. The growing industry demanded a well educated work force. Today there are 11 High Schools in Tatabánya, some liberal arts, others industrial, commercial, technical and musical High Schools, and one newly established Business College. Several museums collect and preserve the rich history of the whole area. One can find highly interesting collections in the Cultural Home, the Komárom County Labor Movement Museum, the Industry History Museum and the House of Public Education. The cultural institutions give everyone an opportunity to participate in all sorts of artistic activities. The Miners Orchestra, the Lovers of Arts of Tatabánya, the Free School of Fine Arts, the Miner’s Circle of Fine Arts offer rich programs. The guest performances of the Budapest theatrical companies bring the world of musicals, comedy, ballet and drama into town. Since 1980, every two years an International Jazz Camp has been organized which is attended by Jazz lovers from all over the world, including the United States. The traditions of the town are preserved not only in the cultural but in the everyday life as well. These traditions are cultivated in the first place by the old towns. Naturally, the traditions of the mining past are also carefully preserved. The townspeople love to wear the mining uniforms on festive occasions even today. Tatabánya with its rich history has a particular character. All factors can be traced in its history which influenced the social development of the Hungarian reality of today. This town is special, exciting and rich in sights. We are very happy that it has become the sister-city of Fairfield. Sport Center Office Building and Cultural Center (below) page 5
