Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-06-03
a THRIFTY COLONY.
The History Of Bohemian Settlement o,
Ioug Island.

Il Is perhaps needless 70 REMIND lhe
reader that there are some four
hundred and forty-seven thousand
acres of waste lands in Suffolk county,
Long Island They are now covered
with stunted pines, scrub-oak and IN
derbrush. II tilable, these barren
acres are advantageously situated Tor
the experiment of colonization The
question as TO their possible fertility
has been answered both ways; and II Is
rapidly appearing If not already
demonstrated, that those who denied
their productiveness under proper cul-
tivation have been IN error. Years ago
Gov. John a Dix called the attention
of the New York State Agricultural
society 10 these lands He said: "a
most extraordinary delusion has pre-
vailed in regard 10 the producti7eness
Of the central portion Of this district
nong Island)-a delusion natural
enough 10 those who know II only by
description, for one OF the historians OF
the island pronounced il vast, barren
plain, with a soil so thin and graTeLy
that il cannot be cultivated BY any
known process And yet the surface
soil Of the whole region, with some In
considerable exceptions, consists Of
rich loan from twenty 70 thirty inches
in depth, easily cultivated and made
highly productive without imnoderate
manuring."
Since Coz. Dix wrote, many success
full experiments in cultivation OF these
lands have confirmed his Judgment
None Of these can have more interest
for the sociologist than that Of the
Bohemian colony, situated midway
between Ronkonkona and Sayvile, II
what Is now fertile garden spot that
bursts Unexpectedly on the view-an
oasis in dense and dreary wilderness
OF dwarted oaks and prolific under
brush This community was formed
score Of years ago under circumstances
the most unpromising. Near the pict-
uresoue little lake called Ronkonkoma,
50 deep that local legend pronounces il
unfathomable, and whose outlet has
never been discovered, lies Lakeland, a
hitherto wild track Of scrub and turze,
on which il was proposed to establish
colony. Among those who were in
duced to purchase land there, in the
DAYS when romaLt ;cally worded adver-
tisemeats described il as an Eden were
three Bohemian families who had ar
rived II this country but short time
before. The heads OF these families
were John Kertochvil, Joshua Wavrs
and Joseph Houla- They were honest
credulous folk, unfamiliar with the
wiles Of the boomer" and they pur-
chased their land unseen on his repre-
sensations. But when in the waning
autumn they and their wives and little
ones beheld Lakeland lis only har-
vest trost-tinteG- sun-G-ied, c-inkling
leaves their hopes sickened, and
they would have returned 10 New
York Il they could But they were
without means 10 support themselves
in the city. Hence, Indifferent where
il might be found, they sought more
promising territory toward the south
and after wandering distance Of three
miles they knel; in the woods TO i'm
plore divine direction By common
consent they were moved 70 choose
the spot where they thus knelt as the
center Of their settlement The men
p,od5ed back 70 Lakeland, and thence
laboriously brought their personal
effects, the more important OF which
were q canvas tent and q cooking stove.
When shelter was thus secured, and an
attempt made 70 kindle fire, II was sor-
rowtully discovered that there was not
a match in the colony; and all Bo-
hen!a laughs TO this day when the
story IS told OF John Kertochvil seizing
his musket and firing TIE charge into
the crate, thus providential!y kindling
the fire while running the risk Of blow
Ing the precious stove to pieces
The men found work on the Great
South bay near By, or on the farms Of
the southside gentry; and before long
each family dwelt in its private hut
and men and women unitedly labored
20 clear the land and prepare It for a
crop. The narrative Of their strug-
gle would be monotonouS Enough
that It was successful Gradually their
numbers were reinforced by other fam
lies OF their cOuntrymen, until there
are now ftty-two houses and two hun
dred and fifty settlers In the colony.
PRETTY little dwellings they are, too,
surrounded by trim gardens and patches
Of land yielding crops Of corn, potatoes,
and other vegetables as bountiful as
can be found anywhere. The area Of
Bohemiaville IS thirteen hundred acres,
three hundred Of which are under cult
vation A commodious school building
and a public hall evidence the progress
sive spirit Of the villagers some OF
whom are Old Catholics and others
Hussites Both sects have neat chapels,
the HUSTLE element espousing the
forms Of episcopacy under the superin-
tendence of Rev. John 81. Prescott,
rector of St AIMS Episcopal church,
Sayville. Although English IS alone
taught in their schools, they cling TO
the customs of tatherland, while all
ardeatly cherish the memory Of John
Huss, statue Of whom they are about
70 erect in the center of the village
Harper's Weekly.
The Home Beautiful"
Fair Countess-I wish 10 get some
rugs. something real artistic and asthet-
&c, you know, but can't afford 70 pay
very high price.
Homes. Dealer Right this way.
Here, madam, are some antique Tur-
kish rugs just II from the factory.
Take them homo s-paa- ia-o With