William Penn Life, 2005 (40. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2005-05-01 / 5. szám
Branching Out with Endre Csornán Árpádhon: The Hungarian Settlement of Louisiana This buidling, which once housed the Árpádhon school, will soon be the home of a museum focusing on the history of the Hungarian settlement AROUND 1896 A SMALL GROUP of Hungarian immigrants settled in Louisiana. Some 10 years later, more came from ports of the northeast to work for the Charles Brackenridge Lumber Company, which also had a sawmill located in Eastern Livingston Parish, near Albany. Their motto was: "Cut Out and Get Out." No attempt was made to replant trees after the timber was cut. The lumber company sold the cutover land to the workers in 20-acre plots, which attracted more Hungarians from the north. They were hoping that they could make a decent living off their own farm land in their new country which they called " Árpádhon" (named after the legendary Hungarian leader Árpád). The land the immigrants purchased from the lumber company needed much attention. They worked 12-hour shifts in the lumber mill then went home to clear the land of stumps, dig ditches for drainage, and fight with mosquitoes, wild creatures, reptiles, extreme heat, wet summers and cold winters. By 1916, the lumber company ceased operation and the Hungarians became full-time farmers. They had to change their farming procedures and habits to meet the environment. According to records, by the year 1930 there were nearly 200 Hungarian families which inhibited Árpádhon, Louisiana. By 1920, the settlement was operating its own school and had established its own Hungarian Reformed and Roman Catholic churches. Students in the Hungarian settlement school started classes after the Fourth of July and ended in March so they could pick strawberries. The school closed its doors in 1943 and the students were moved to the nearby towns of Albany and Springfield. Over the years the school building had fallen into extreme disrepair. Five years ago the descendent children of the settlers formed the Hungarian Settlement Historical Society and obtained a 50-year lease at no cost from the Livingston Parish School Board and secured the building. In addition to the above, the Hungarian Settlement Historical Society has grown its membership from 15 to 105 in just one year. They are committed to assisting with fundraising efforts for the restoration through sponsoring dinners, Hungarian pastry sales and raffles. The school grounds have been cleared and cleaned. The building has been weather-proofed. Donations to the restoration project may be sent to: Hungarian Settlement Historical Society P.O. Box 1909 Albany, LA 70711 I had the distinct pleasure of contacting Louis Bartus and Juliana Roberson of Louisiana. Both of them furnished invaluable information pertaining to Árpádhon. Though many people are aware of the Cajun, Creole, Italian and African-American communities of Louisiana, very few know about the Hungarian farming community near Albany Louisiana, once called Árpádhon. [WPL| William Penn Life, May 2005 5
