January 2010 - We are extremely proud to have participated in writing the resolution going before the General Assembly 2010 term that is being presented by the Prince George County Board of Supervisors. The Resolution asks that the local area in Prince George County, VA, known as New Bohemia, be designated as a Historical District in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Lets keep our fingers crossed that our lawmakers will recognize the significance of this area and pass this decree in honor of our forefathers.
December 21,2009 - As a new year approaches this website will be featuring even more information for seekers who are interested in the Czechs and Slovaks of Southern Virginia. With the ever expansive data that webmistress Joyce Pritchard continually puts on our "sister' website: www.virginiaczechslovak.org many are making exciting discoveries that is helping you complete your personal family search. We are so glad to be able to share this information with you and thank you for your interest and contributions. There will be more information here about this remarkable Bohemian Journey and included will be additional information, photographs and references as we enter into 2010. The book, The Bohemians of Southern Virginia, still in the editing phase, is progressing nicely and you will be extremely interested in the photographs that feature of some of the first Czech and Slovak families who settled in this area. See more about this in the following paragraph.
The Bohemians of Southern Virginia, by Marie Blaha Pearson. (Not yet released - still a work in progress)
This book gathers together and re-tells historic first person stories of early Czech and Slovak families who finally found the peace, and for many, the prosperity in southern Virginia that they were searching for after arriving in America. From personal interviews, photographs and local research, this book explains what it was like for many foreign immigrants who came from villages all over Eastern Europe as they made their homeplaces in the beautiful countryside of southern Virgina. No longer did they continue to search for fulfillment in America because for the most part, what they found in Virginia satisfied their ethnic needs and wants. With more than 100 pages of old letters and photographs it is not difficult for us to realize that their dreams were for opportunities and the freedom to express their ethnic choices and abilities. They lived a life of anticipation and through the letters and photographs we learn how hard work and frugul means were the means to their success. Most of the research for the book was gleaned from old out of print booklets, articles, clippings and journals, but mostly from the first person stories of their relatives who continue to live here. They have graciously shared their family histories, photographs, albums and time to talk to us about their family's personal stories and journeys and it has been a privilege to listen to them and to put it together in print. The book features many photographs of the people, their farms and most importantly, it is basically told in their own words. It gathers, in a capsule, a glimpse of their lifestyles in general from the early 1900's through the early 1940'sand it tells the "whole story" all in one place. According to early reviews,this is a book that is destined to become an important historical document that families will want to keep in their possession for generations.
2009 Blaha Reunion
The Reunion was just awesome. As far as I'm concerned, I am completely unable to find enough words to describe the joy and family fellowship that I experienced and witnessed at our very first Blaha Reunion. It was a wonderful event and a day that will linger in my memory forever. I will be posting my photos beginning today. If you want a couple of your favorites added, please send them electronically to me and I will do my best to get them up also. Depending on how many I receive, I may have to rotate some of them on and off but that's OK too. If you have any comments you'd like to share about anything on this website and especially about the reunion send them along to me (via email with "Blaha web notes" in the subject line.) I will do my best to get your remarks in as well.The committee wants your feedback so that as we plan another in the future, we will try to make it even better (if it's possible.) This is a Blaha website and open to your voices, news and information. (At times I may need to use my editing license if space is not available.) Look under news and events as I will be putting the photos up in the order of the day to depict the events beginning with mass. Fun, food, dancing, re-uniting, of yeah!
" FANTASTIC" IS WHAT IT WAS and that only begins to tell the story: An estimated 330 to 350 family members attended the day long event. We love hearing from you so keep the emails and notes coming.
For this special occasion and for a short while during our reunion, Joyce Pritchard and Pat Kolakoski , shown above, dressed themselves and some of the "little girls" in our authentic kroje. These dresses were made by the village seamstress in Gernik who let us try them on and buy as many as we wanted. (We now know we didn't buy enough because there is a big demand for them.) A complete kroj outfit includes a long sleeve blouse with tucks at the wrists, down the front and has a "peak" along the bottom of the blouse in the back. Often it is decorated with rick rack or narrow lace. It has a matching skirt, with a coordinating apron and head scarf. We noticed that all of the older ladies in the village dressed like this daily however some of the younger married women wore more western skirts and blouses, however they always covered their head wearing their scarves. Young girls and teens were dressed in western style clothes. Some of the old photographs on display at the reunion showed that even here in Virginia, some of our grandparents continued to wear their kroj when they dressed up to go out or to receive company. As Jenny Jones presented the gifts to the priest for holy communion wearing the kroj she got at the village, I couldn't help but wonder how long it had been since a lady was seen wearing a Gernik kroj to service at St. John's in Dinwiddie as our ancestors would have worn. Perhaps 80 to 100 years ago? That too was very special.
Left to Right: McKenzie Adams, Taylor Henderson, Ashley Adams, Joyce Pritchard, and Pat Kolakoski
Having an opportunity to see these original village dresses, even if worn by the children, was a treat for most of our family members. Although these dresses are not the formal "folk dress" of the village, they are the style that most of the ladies wear daily.
Our day begins with Mass
St. John's Nepomucene Catholic Church - 7215 Squirrel Level Road, Dinwiddie, VA 23805
St. James in Dinwiddie was designed in the style of the Village church, also St. James in Gernik
Cemetery at St. John's Roman Catholic Church
Father Nott, Deacon McGlauglin, and our own Deacon John Blaha held mass followed by a ceremony to Bless the Graves of our ancestors.
The Blessing
The Ceremony
"Every parting is a form of death, as every reunion is a a type of heaven." Tyron Edwards
Josef F. and Kristina Sucha Blaha
Aloijsuis and Frantiska Sucha Blaha
Matyas and Mary Anna Piecek Blaha
Catherine Piecek Blaha
The display tables included artifacts, photos, histories and documents relating to each of the original Bohemian Blaha family members who eventaully immigrated to Southside Virginia. This gave everyone an opportunity to see the generation charts in print and how we are related to each other. Once in America, many of our relatives "Americanized" their names - perhaps because of their heavy accents, perhaps because of the spelling, (Matyas, Mathias, Mathies, &Matthew could easily be the same person,) or perhaps they just wanted to be Americans. Thus Aloijsuis became Alois which became Louis. Joanna became Jenny, and Frantiska became Frances. Sometimes when a child in a family died, another child who was born later was given the same name as the deceased one. Another tradition which make genelogy difficult is that in the families of brothers and sisters, they often named their children after their other relatives, thus there are a ton of family members with the same names: Matyas, John, Frank John, Charles John, Marie, Mary and Anna are other examples. Genealogy though not easy is definitely challenging. That is why it's imperative that every person be verified with official records and documents of birthdates, times and place of birth and death and by their parents and grandparents lineage.....and then verified again.
Eight of the ten children shown below came to our first family reunion and they were beautiful young adults many with children of their own. There were so many people at the reunion that we unfortunately did not get them all together in the same place at the same time but they found each other nontheless with hugs, laughter and warm greetings. (They are all still just as cute today as they were then.)
The little cousins photo was taken 1967ish at Crystal Lake in Hopewell, VA. It was during the occasion of Grandma, (for these youngsters) Great Grandma, Christina Blaha's 80th birthday. They are L - R: first row:Ricky Cole,son of Eddie Cole; Kendell Ramsey, daughter of Christina Urban Ramsey; Patrick Henderson, son of Patty Blaha Henderson; Lara Pearson, my daughter; Eric Blaha, son of Alvin Blaha. Second row: Jeff Urban, Steve Urban, sons of Adolph Urban; Randall Pearson, my son; Mickey Cole, Eddie's son; and Cindy Blaha, Alvin's daughter.
These BABIES are now entering the BABY BOOMER stage. Seeing them again at the reunion was a special treat and my how they had grown!
Looking for a photograph of Catherine Blaha Piecek with or without their families, anyone???? Please email me if you have one even if it's in poor condition. I will return it to you unharmed along with a touched up reproduction. Thanks. Marie
More photos from the reunion will be added to this space: keep checking for them
A look back: 1937 The Blaha's and Cerny's celebrate a new arrival.
This photo was taken following the christening of Louis (Sonny) Blaha, Jr in October 1937 . Four generations are represented. In the very center is his great-grandmother Frantiska, her son, the baby's grandfather Matyas (Matthews) is touching her shoulder.Standing to his right is Christina Zaruba Blaha. Others in the photograph are left to right standing: Virginia Blaha, (due to have Frankie in December) Wilson Cerny, peeking behind him is another man we can't identify, Helen Blaha Cole, Mildred L., Margaret Cerny Blaha, holding the baby, Ann?, Frantiska, Christina, Louis Zaruba, Matyas, Amos Blaha, Rudolph Cerny. Seated group left to right: Eddie Cole, Paul Cerny, Louis Blaha, Sr, Mary Blaha, Frank S., Joe S., Pauline Cerny, Tillie Blaha, Helen Zaruba, Eddie Blaha. (The identification of these family members were written on the photo (thank you Aunt Margaret) and is quite faded. If anyone has more information, please let me know.)
The reunion was held in honor of our descendants - the three Blaha brothers, Jozef, Aloysius, Mathias Vincent, and one sister, Catherine, who immigrated to Virginia beginning in 1898.
Special Events at the Reunion or How it all unfolded ...
To begin the day, we had a mass of Thanksgiving at 10:00 AM. It was designed as a way of paying tribute to our ancestors, the brave and courageous Blaha family who along with others, made their way from a little remote Czech village, now in Romania, to America and to the very spot where St.John's in Dinwiddie County, VA now stands. Many of these Czech immigrants lie in peace in the small, quaint and peaceful cemetery in the church yards. Their tombstones stand as tributes and reminders of the sacrifice and hard work, of their skills and abilities that led us to this day of reunion and celebration. Following the mass, the family gathered together in the cemetery where a "blessing of the graves ceremony" and a wreath was placed on the graves of each of the Blaha brothers who first journeyed to America and their sister, Catherine Piecek. Josef came to America in 1889, Alois in 1903 and Matyas in 1911. Catherine Blaha Piecek came with her husband some time later.
During the day, Jim Blaha's seminar, a presentation about our Blaha Genealogy, was well attended and very informative. He talked about what we already know, what we have verified, and what we don't know -YET! He had a display of the family tree branch for each of the Blaha brothers, and one sister. He also discussed his research to date. This was an invaluable session for those who are doing your own research and we invite you to share your research and findings, no matter how minor it seems, with Jim who is the official Keeper of the Book of our genealogy.
Speaking of Jim, he was chosen to speak on behalf of our family during the opening remarks of the Mass of Thanksgiving, this is what he said:
"It is very fitting that we start the Blaha Family Reunion here in St. John Nepomuk church. This was the center of the Czech community that our grand parents and great grandparents built. The land that we stand on and the church that we are sitting in are a testimony to their commitment to God and the Church as the focal point of their lives. This land was donated by Catherine Blaha Piecek and her husband Charles. They lived on the adjoining land just north of here. Her brother, Alois Blaha, and his wife Franceska lived across the road and their descendants in the Stech family still live there. The Blaha families contributed their labor and resources to construct this building. The large crucifix above the alter was donated by my grandfather Vaclav Blaha. Many of us were baptized, received our first sacraments and were married here. So in a real sense, St. John’s defines our roots.
Over 100 years ago three Blaha brothers, Joseph, Mathias, and Alois and their sister Catherine immigrated to the US from Girnic in eastern Austria-Hungary (now Romania) and started a new life for themselves and their children. They were all instrumental in founding the physical, cultural and spiritual dimensions of the community that many of us grew up in. They clung fiercely to their Czech/Bohemian heritage and the Catholic faith that was such an important part of their lives. In the 1820’s when the Blahas moved from Bohemia to Girnic Romania, they replicated their Czech culture and Catholic faith in a foreign land. And 80 years later when they came to the US, they did it again. We are here today to celebrate and give thanks for what they did then to make a better life for us today.
We look back nostalgically on the life that they lived. We remember many of the older members of the community who only spoke no English, only Czech. And we learned patience because we got to hear the Gospel, Epistle and homily in both English and Czech. Of course the Mass was in Latin, but what is one more language! The Czech community had a strong tradition of working, playing and praying together. People from neighboring farms came together to help each other pick tobacco, chop peanuts, slaughter hogs and dozens of other farm chores where lots of hands were needed. On Sunday after Mass they would usually congregate at someone’s house where there was lots of food, homemade wine and talk about the old country. Father Steve was usually a fixture at these gatherings.
During the course of the day we will have a chance to reflect on those “good old days,” but now I think it is important that we take advantage of this opportunity to reflect on how thankful we should be for the sacrifices, hard work and courage of our Blaha ancestors. We should thank God that we were blessed to be born into a community that gave us our faith, strong family values and a spirit of community that is not found everywhere. But beyond that, if Josef, Alois, Mathias and Catherine were here today, what would they say about the way we live our lives? Have we respected the values that they passed down? Is God and Church a significant part of our lives? Do we seek out opportunities to work, play and pray with our relatives and community? One hundred years from today will any of our descendants reflect on how much we contributed to their well being?
Josef, Alois, Mathias, and Catherine all rest in peace in the cemetery behind this church. After Mass we have asked Father Nott to go with us to the cemetery and bless their graves. As you visit the grave of your ancestor, reflect on what they would think of how we have lived our lives and what kind of model we have been to our children and grandchildren. It is at times like this that we should remember that the most important measure of success is not how much money we have, or how nice a car or house we have. It is what kind of life we have lived and how we have passed on such principles as love of God, love of family and love of community to our children."
Another session was a movie complete with Czech Folk Songs in the background showing photos taken during the 2005 and 2006 visits to the family village in Romania. It showed pictures of people and places and the movie transported those who watched right into the village so that you could be seen it as those who actually went there saw it. With hundreds of photos to choose from by those of us who went, the movie gave one the sense of sharing the experience of the journey with them. Both sessions were held during the afternoon.
FOOD - MUSIC - DANCING: What would a Blaha reunion be without good old Czech music, food and dancing? We had plenty of all. The food table was laden with czech food, salads, kolaches, peanut rolls, and other delightful and delicious dishes. There was no lack of it and it was available all during the day.
We can't tell you how much fun we've had planning this reunion. For most of us the committee has found that our meetings are also "mini-reunions" and we've enjoyed being together for this common cause. Any of your questions, suggestions, comments will be taken seriously and we're anxious to hear back from you.
The Sokols were active in instilling the finest American Principles and endeavored to develop the entire body symmetrically and evenly. They were most interested in developing a healthy mind as well as sound, healthy bodies. They were known to be totally patrotic and were pledged to the principles for which American patriots fought . They also were deeply rooted in art and culture and they had a strict respect for law and order. The American Sokols were well acquainted with the cultures of two worlds, the old country and the new America. To develp their bodies gymnastic techniques were employed. The remaining Sokol clubs today, unless I'm mistaken, are more social than athletic.
St. John's Men's Sokol Club of Dinwiddie.
These groups performed and competed with a group of Czechs from Baltimore, MD. Do you recognize these members? Are any of them in your family? Louis Blaha, Sr. is pictured in the center of the first row above.
Women's Sokol Club assumed from Dinwiddie. Does anyone know for sure?
Women's Sokol Group from Dinwiddie and Baltimore. Blake Richardson is the lone male in the background.
Dinwiddie was host - does anyone know where the competition was held? At St. John's?
These photos are from Aunt Marie Richardson's family album (as are most of the older ones that are posted on the website.)
THINK ABOUT THIS: How many times have we said to each other, "we need to get together again real soon, but under happier circumstances." Family reunions gives us this chance!!!!
This is Josef Blaha, who because of his courage to immigrate and settle in Virginia in 1889 and his influence upon others back in the old country, he and his family unknowingly paved the way to our reunion this year, exactly 120 years later. Thanks Josef and Kristina!
Thanks to Pat Kolakoski who provided this photo from her family album. We will have many more of the pioneer Blaha's photographs at the reunion.
A Bohemian Picnic in Virginia late 30's early 40's.
Do you know whose grandma, great grandma or great great grandma this is? Hint: Look within. Send me your guesses!
By following the link below you will be taken to the Southside Virginia Czech/Slovak Heritage Society's website. Take time to explore it as it is full of information about the many activities of the Virginia Czechs and Slovaks. There are hundreds of family names of Virginia Czech and Slovak ancestors listed under "Family Names" with more yet to be added. The webmaster of that site is Joyce Pritchard who continues to update the site as time allows. You will also find many interesting articles and photos of the activities of this group. Please feel free to visit it because it is full of interesting information that could be of great assistance to genealogists and researchers in this specific area. P.S. Don't forget to return back here as it's still in it's infancy of creation.
NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization "The Most Honored Nation" The Czech Republic was this year's featured nation, as celebrated during the Virginia Arts Festival in Norfolk. The festival pays tribute to the country's 20th year of independence and 10th year of being a part of NATO. The Southside Virginia Czech Slovak Heritage Society were honored to be asked to participate in the events and to ride on their float during the parade that ended the affair. (May 2009)
Czech it out - we're local, we're statewide and we're global - Photos to tweak your interest in visiting some of these interesting places.
This is the area that was so severely damaged in the flood in Iowa. The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (before the 2008 flood) Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They are in the process of rebuilding this invaluable museum and library. Donations are appreciated. You can visit their website at: http://www.ncsml.org
The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (before the 2008 flood) Cedar Rapids, Iowa
" FANTASTIC" IS WHAT IT WAS and that only begins to tell the story: An estimated 330 to 350 family members attended the day long event. We love hearing from you so keep the emails and notes coming.
Left to Right: McKenzie Adams, Taylor Henderson, Ashley Adams, Joyce Pritchard, and Pat Kolakoski
Cemetery at St. John's Roman Catholic Church
Father Nott, Deacon McGlauglin, and our own Deacon John Blaha held mass followed by a ceremony to Bless the Graves of our ancestors.
Josef F. and Kristina Sucha Blaha
Aloijsuis and Frantiska Sucha Blaha
Matyas and Mary Anna Piecek Blaha
Catherine Piecek Blaha
The display tables included artifacts, photos, histories and documents relating to each of the original Bohemian Blaha family members who eventaully immigrated to Southside Virginia. This gave everyone an opportunity to see the generation charts in print and how we are related to each other. Once in America, many of our relatives "Americanized" their names - perhaps because of their heavy accents, perhaps because of the spelling, (Matyas, Mathias, Mathies, &Matthew could easily be the same person,) or perhaps they just wanted to be Americans. Thus Aloijsuis became Alois which became Louis. Joanna became Jenny, and Frantiska became Frances. Sometimes when a child in a family died, another child who was born later was given the same name as the deceased one. Another tradition which make genelogy difficult is that in the families of brothers and sisters, they often named their children after their other relatives, thus there are a ton of family members with the same names: Matyas, John, Frank John, Charles John, Marie, Mary and Anna are other examples. Genealogy though not easy is definitely challenging. That is why it's imperative that every person be verified with official records and documents of birthdates, times and place of birth and death and by their parents and grandparents lineage.....and then verified again.
These BABIES are now entering the BABY BOOMER stage. Seeing them again at the reunion was a special treat and my how they had grown!
This photo was taken following the christening of Louis (Sonny) Blaha, Jr in October 1937 . Four generations are represented. In the very center is his great-grandmother Frantiska, her son, the baby's grandfather Matyas (Matthews) is touching her shoulder.Standing to his right is Christina Zaruba Blaha. Others in the photograph are left to right standing: Virginia Blaha, (due to have Frankie in December) Wilson Cerny, peeking behind him is another man we can't identify, Helen Blaha Cole, Mildred L., Margaret Cerny Blaha, holding the baby, Ann?, Frantiska, Christina, Louis Zaruba, Matyas, Amos Blaha, Rudolph Cerny. Seated group left to right: Eddie Cole, Paul Cerny, Louis Blaha, Sr, Mary Blaha, Frank S., Joe S., Pauline Cerny, Tillie Blaha, Helen Zaruba, Eddie Blaha. (The identification of these family members were written on the photo (thank you Aunt Margaret) and is quite faded. If anyone has more information, please let me know.) 
The Sokols were active in instilling the finest American Principles and endeavored to develop the entire body symmetrically and evenly. They were most interested in developing a healthy mind as well as sound, healthy bodies. They were known to be totally patrotic and were pledged to the principles for which American patriots fought . They also were deeply rooted in art and culture and they had a strict respect for law and order. The American Sokols were well acquainted with the cultures of two worlds, the old country and the new America. To develp their bodies gymnastic techniques were employed. The remaining Sokol clubs today, unless I'm mistaken, are more social than athletic.
St. John's Men's Sokol Club of Dinwiddie. 
Women's Sokol Club assumed from Dinwiddie. Does anyone know for sure?
Women's Sokol Group from Dinwiddie and Baltimore. Blake Richardson is the lone male in the background. 
This is Josef Blaha, who because of his courage to immigrate and settle in Virginia in 1889 and his influence upon others back in the old country, he and his family unknowingly paved the way to our reunion this year, exactly 120 years later. Thanks Josef and Kristina! 
Do you know whose grandma, great grandma or great great grandma this is? Hint: Look within. Send me your guesses! 
My Mom,Virginia; My Dad,Frank; My two brothers, Frank Jr. (Sonny Boy), Ronnie and me. Circa 1941.
Teti and Sissy - after all, there are "girl things" to do on the farm.
and one more......
This is the area that was so severely damaged in the flood in Iowa. The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (before the 2008 flood) Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They are in the process of rebuilding this invaluable museum and library. Donations are appreciated. You can visit their website at: 
The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (before the 2008 flood) Cedar Rapids, Iowa