William Penn Life, 2002 (37. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
2002-07-01 / 7. szám
In the late 1890's most newly arrived Hungarians went right to Pittsburgh, Pa., or its vicinity, where the steel industry was on the verge of its first immense upswing. Indeed, one of the first steel mills in Pittsburgh was established by the Fejes brothers, who were refugees of the unsuccessful Hungarian war for liberty in 1848. Later, the brothers changed their last name to Morehead. One of them married a Laughlin girl, of the Jones & Laughlin steel plants. As early as the middle of the 1880's, a campaign was initiated to build a Hungarian Reformed Church. It became a reality in 1890, and the church became the first center of its kind in the United States. Later, St. Ann (Szent Anna) Roman Catholic Church was built, followed by the Hungarian Lutheran church. Pittsburgh is also the home of the oldest and largest organization of American Hungarians, the William Penn Association. Founded Feb. 21, 1886, in Hazleton, Pa., the Association has been faithfully serving Hungarians and others for 116 years. Pittsburgh's American-Hungarian Social Association (the Magyar Társas Kör in Hazelwood) is the center of many events. The Hungarian Classroom in the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh is, to a great extént, the result of the once well-organized Egyesült Magyar Szövetség's untiring efforts. The WPA has also supported the Hungarian Classroom and is today its major sponsor. Over the years, Pittsburgh was the scene of many American-Hungarian events of national importance. In the vicinity of Pittsburgh, several large and small Hungarian colonies were established, including ones in Homestead, Duquesne, Rankin and McKeesport. Homestead is perhaps best remembered for its notorious steel strike during which two Hungarian steel workers were killed. The Homestead Roman Catholics were the first to organize themselves and establish St. Margaret Church. The Greek Catholics established St. Illés. The Reformed Church was built in 1903 and is still flourishing. Duquesne's Hungarian colony was established when the steel mills went into operation. There were several Hungarian churches and a Hungarian club. All that remains today is the Reformed church. McKeesport has one of the oldest established Hungarian colonies in Pennsylvania. The Hungarians came here when the steel companies and coal mines advertised for foreign workers. One of the oldest and most beautiful Hungarian Roman Catholic churches in the country, St. Stephen's, will be closing its doors in the coming weeks. The Free Magyar Reformed Church is flourishing under the spiritual leadership of Dr. Rev. Daniel Borsay. The Hungarian Club recently re-organized. Braddock was home to a large number of Hungarians and gypsies at one time. The Reformed church there closed some years ago. pypi, | Congratulations, Mike! Congratulations to Mike Tomcsak, national director from Cape Coral, Fla., who was recently elected president of the Florida Fraternal Insurance Counselors. Mike is a native of Youngstown, Ohio, and past president of Branch 28. He was co-chairman of the fund raising committee when the Hungarian Freedom Fighters came to Youngstown in the late 1950’s. He was a great supporter of all Hungarian programs and was devoted to his parish, St. Stephen of Hungary. He moved to Florida after his retirement. He continues to participate in civic, cultural and fraternal affairs in the Hungarian community. He is also president of Branch 590 Cape Coral. He has earned the titles of FIC and FICF while serving as an insurance representative for the WPA. Mike is a credit to the Magyar race, and American Hungarians are justifiably proud of him. We commend Mike for his many years of fraternal work and congratulate him on this latest honor. -- Endre Csornán llilliain Penn Lile, July 2002 3
