Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol4, 1920.pdf/167

forms us, became “like a city of Bohemia.” Meadow and woods gave place to streets, some of which still retain typical Czech names like Svoboda and Praha. These streets were built up with small, neat cottages, each with its own yard and garden, very comfortable and homey according to the standards of the time. For almost 40 years this district has been the Czech center of Cleveland. Stores, banks, national hall, and churches have helped to concentrate interest in this neighborhood, centering at Broadway and East 55th streets. The city, crowding on Croton street, made that district undesirable to the Czechs who were left there, and many moved out and built up a new settlement on a new edge of the city, which they called the “east side.” This is in the neighborhood of Quincy avenue and East 82nd street. The west side Czechs also moved from “Brooklyn” to “Cuba,” west of the creek at West 41st street, where their principal residence district is now on West 41st and neighboring streets, between Clark avenue and Dennison avenue.

Great changes have taken place in all these districts in the last ten years. Business follows the Czech in Cleveland, and each of these centers is feeling its pressure. This is greatest in the Broadway district, which is now a wedge between two great arteries of the steel industry. Heavy smoke and noxious fumes are fast killing the trees and will soon make gardens impossible. The houses that were neat and bright have become dingy and ugly, the gullies offer no more mushrooms, the nature lover has nothing left to enjoy, and another removal is in full tide. Similar conditions are approaching also on Quincy Avenue.

It is characteristic of the Czechs in America always to build for themselves. They have never followed in an old neighborhood, but have always built anew, and they are doing it now. The whole south-eastern part of the city is being built up by them. The additions known locally as Corlett, Newburgh City and Mt. Pleasant are very largely the homes of Czechs, as is also a considerable district out Buckeye road, and the Washington Park district, which is not yet in the city. The county highways to Bedford, to Brecksville, to Warrensville and to Chagrin Falls are lined with the homes of Czechs whose business interests are still in the city. These new houses are the equal of those in any middle class section of the city, and it is the testimony of salesmen that the Czech never scrimps in the equipment of his home. On the contrary, he usually takes his wife with him to choose fittings and furnishings, and makes the first consideration, not the price, but that “the missus” shall be suited.

At the first the building of a home must have been very difficult for these immigrants, who often worked for as little as seventy-five cents a day. But they were fortunate in having so many skilled trades represented among their numbers. The mason helped the carpenter, and the carpenter helped the mason in exchange and cooperation took place among them as among the earlier American pioneers. The ownership of a home was one of the things the Czechs had come to America for, and a home he would have.

Since 1896 the native thrift and foresight have found a helpful vehicle in savings and loan associations, which are incorporated under the laws of the state of Ohio. The very names of these organizations are suggestive: “Včela”, (the bee); “Mravenec,” (the ant); “Oul” (the hive).

Včela, the oldest of these, was incorporated in March, 1896, and in twenty years had loaned over $10,000,000 on Cleveland real estate. Its present capital is $2,000,000, and it has $1,000,000 oustanding in loans. Its office is at 5733 Broadway, and it is beginning the erection of a fine office building at the corner of Broadway and Portage avenues.

Mravenec was started a year later on the west side, and in 1918 changed its significant Czech name to the “Federal Savings and Loan association.” Its office is in the Bohemian Sokol Hall at 4310 Clark avenue, and its present capital is about $1,500,000.

The Čech Savings and Loan Association is located at 3122 West 41st street. It was organized in 1907, and has capital to the extent of $700,000.

The East End Building and Loan association, organized in 1911, with capital of half a million dollars, is at 8506 Quincy avenue.

The Atlas, at 5545 Broadway, organized in 1915 has oustripped most of the older ones and now has $1,750,000 as capital.