William Penn Life, 2013 (48. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2013-07-01 / 7. szám
Photos (clockwise from top, left): The wrought iron kapu (gate), erected in 1938, welcomes visitors: the fountain, as seen from the archway: a branch of a hawthorn bush, one of numerous Hungarian species brightening the garden; a photo dated May 26, 1936, showing the garden under construction; a bust of Hungarian poet Endre Ady is one of several memorials in the garden which honor famous Hungarians. Photos courtesy of the Hungarian Cultural Gardens of Cleveland and Tibor Check jr. Hawthorn photo ® Can Stock Photo Inc./Griffin024. July 2013 0 11 About 15 years ago, a small but determined group of Cleveland area American-Magyars banded together with a goal. They were determined to not only bring back the Garden to its original glory, but to expand and improve the kert. As with all noble undertakings, many obstacles occurred along the way to this rebirth. Vandalism, neglect and aging equipment were just a few of the stumbling blocks that hindered and slowed the refurbishing of the garden. Then, just last October, Mother Nature dealt a crippling blow. Hurricane Sandy caused tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage to the handcrafted wrought iron kapu made by American-Hungarian craftsman in 1938. But these detours to progress made each volunteer more determined to succeed. After years of hard work and fundraising, these dedicated volunteers have achieved their goal of resurrection: the Hungarian garden is back to the original splendor of decades before. Over the intervening years, thousands of Hungarians settled in the Cleveland area. Most who came here to America prospered but they never forgot their Magyar roots. Today, the Hungarian garden serves as a prime example to others on how to work collaboratively. The garden is a multi-leveled, park-like setting nestled amidst several beautifully landscaped acres of trees, plants, walkways, fountains, pools, statues and plaques. Each object has been painstakingly placed and cared for to offer guests a multi-sensory sojourn into the Hungarian cultural experience. On Saturday, July 20, the Hungarian Cultural Garden will celebrate its 75th anniversary. This grand event is open to the public and free of charge. The highlight of this fantastic celebration will be the dedication of the new Legacy Wall. This wonderfully designed feature of the garden is located in the lower section. Utilizing cuttingedge technology in communications, the Legacy Wall will enable guests to learn more about Hungarian culture and history. The list of other program highlights is vast and of high quality. My description to the grandeur of the program and site cannot serve justice to the actual magnificence of this day in mid-July. The photographs offered to you in this article are but a very small sampling of what the anniversary celebration will have to offer. Mark your calendar to be part of this great celebration and share your American-Magyar pride. I hope to see you there. For more information and details, log onto the official website of the Hungarian Cultural Gardens at www.hungariancultural5arden.0rs. n
