William Penn Life, 2007 (42. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2007-02-01 / 2. szám
Branching Out with Endre Csornán In honor of our Founders THIS YEAR, ON FEB. 21, OUR WPA joins effort to preserve historic St Emery’s Cemetery Association celebrates its 121 st anniversary. The beginning of our Association can be traced to the anthracite coal region of northeastern Pennsylvania—Freeland, Mount Carmel and the McAdoo area of Hazelton-where a group of Hungarian immigrant coal miners longed to establish a sick benefit society. Their aim was to help the sick, the widows, the orphans and the unemployed. A coal miner’s injury or death cost the company practically nothing. The workers received no compensation, insurance or assistance of any kind. Strikes and organizing were common, as were evictions from company-owned housing. “Tent cities” were all over the coal regions of Pennsylvania. The coal barons responded quickly to organizing and strikes. They recruited the most vicious uniformed thugs from the big cities. Miners who were fighting for their rights were beaten and killed. You and I must never forget the suffering and sacrifice our forefathers bore for us. We must also recognize the women who played a big role in helping the men, picketing and protecting their husbands and sons from the mine deputies (or “yellow dogs”) by causing conflicts with them. We must value the fact that our predecessors founded this Association, built churches and cultural houses and taught us to be good citizens and cultivate the Hungarian traditions. It is the duty of all of us to remain faithful to the traditions and carry on the wish of our ancestors. We must keep the basic idea, the basic law of the Association—to practice fraternalism and to preserve the Hungarian traditions. Happy Anniversary, William Penn Association. THIS YEAR MARKS the 100th anniversary of one of the worst disasters in the history of coal mining in the United States-the explosion at the Darr mine which took the lives of 239 miners. The mine was located in Westmoreland County, Pa., across the Youghiogheny River from the town of Jacobs Creek. More than 100 Hungarian men and boys perished in the explosion. More than 100 wives became widows; more than 300 children would never see their fathers again; and 112 parents were left without the support of their sons. About 60 of the dead were buried in a mass grave at the former St. Emery's Hungarian Roman Catholic Church Cemetery in Connellsville. In 1909, the Verhovay Aid Association erected a monument there in honor of the "Martyred Laborers." Just as many men were buried in Olive Branch Cemetery in Rostraver Township, where the American Hungarian Federation of America erected a monument in 1908. Just recently, Steve Charles and I traveled to both cemeteries. The Olive Branch Cemetery is well cared for, although the monument needs a good cleaning. The former St. Emery's Cemetery, however, is left unattended. The William Penn Association, the Bethlen Home, the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America and the American Hungarian Federation are joining forces to clean up St. Emery's Cemetery and to preserve it for future generations as a reminder of the many needless industrial accidents that occurred during the early 1900's. We are appealing to all Hungarian Americans, friends, churches and organizations for monetary contributions to aid in the clean up of the cemetery and the restoration of some of the grave markers and the two monuments. Please send your contributions to: William Penn Association Foundation, Attn: Endre Csornán, 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. Experience Profiles EDWARD AND DIANNE VARGO (pictured right), father and daughter, came together to the Hungarian Heritage Experience in August 2006. Ed hails from Indianapolis, and Dianne from St. Louis. Ed's parents came from Hungary in the early 1900's and settled in Kalamazoo, Mich. Ed and Dianne were both bom in Kalamazoo. Ed grew up in the Hungarian community and speaking Hungarian. He, Dianne and his other daughter Katie visited Hungary in 2005. Their tour included Budapest, Kecskemét, Pécs, Lake Balaton, Eger and other stops. They enjoyed sampling foods and wines of the country. Ed and Dianne are planning to make the Hungarian Heritage Experience an annual tradition. "The Experience is fulfilling, exciting and fun," Ed said. Indeed, we all enjoyed their pleasant smiles and companionship. 6 William Penn Life, February 2007
