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Our
History...
The Czech community in Milwaukee
is one of the oldest Czech settlements in the
United
States. Vojta Naprstek, an
outstanding Czech patriot came to Milwaukee in
1848 (the
year Wisconsin
became a state), and found a considerable number of Czechs already
living here.
Early records
show that an
organization, "Slovanska Lipa" was founded in 1854.
Slovanksa Lipa rented a hall in
what is now the heart of Milwaukee and
many amateur plays were presented for the Czech community. The
hall became a meeting place for
our people and it was there
that Sokol
Milwaukee was founded on June
14th, 1868.
Enthusiam
ran high and within
three months it was decided to build a hall directly
across
the street from the
present auditorium. The dedication and formal opening of
the hall
was celebrated on March 29th, 1869 with the presentation of the first
gymnastic exhibition.
A
Czech school was started, a
singing society organized, gymnastics classes held
and plays and
operettas presented
regularly.
As a result of the growth of
the Czech community it
was decided to build a larger hall
at 12th and Reservoir.
The
Bohemian Hall, completed in
1895, contained a large
gymnasium,
lodge hall, a huge
auditorium with a well
equipped
stage, a dining room,
bar and manager's
apartment. The accoustical
qualities of the auditorium
were excellent and as a result
it was in constant demand
by other nationality groups as
well as by the Czech lodges,
fraternal and social
organizations that met there to present
plays and other programs.
Due
to
deteriorating conditions
of the hall and the neighborhood, the Sokols vacated
the hall in
September 1967 and used
the facilities of the International Institute and various other sites
since that time. Also in 1967, fire virtually destroyed the
Bohemian
hall
resulting in the building being demolished.
Presently, general membership meetings
and Gymnastic
classes are held
at the Norway House, 7507 W. Oklahoma Avenue, Milwaukee Wisconsin.
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