The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-14

Al the request recently OF a num-
her OF the citizens OF New Bohemia.
accompanied Mr.. II. +. Stratton, or
Petersburg, and Mr.. Samuel Nicholson
nj Crewe, Virginia, on a trip through
the Bohemian Colony, situated on the
Norfolk and Western Railway. east
OF Petersburg.
This settlement extends over some
three or four counties in this neigh
borhood including Prince George.
Dinwiddie Chesterfield. Sussex and
Surry with their main settlement at
New Bohemia. a station on the Nor
folk and Western Railway. about five
miles southeast OF Petersburg.
We were most kindly welcomed by
Rev Leo Stefl. who il rector -
Christs Church and counsellor and
friend TO all those in his congrega-
ton With him was MIR. John Il,
Kolar. "A leader among the Young men
In this section Others among thu
prominent bohemian farmers and bas-
mess men are Joseph Wagner. Joseph
Machat Paul Kutchen, Frank kvas-
nicka. ]. V. Hanzlik, j. II, Skalsky
and w. J, Zajic
These gentlemen entertained us most
agreeably at the hotel clubhouse ana
in their homes. We went with them
1.-The community Immediately surround
Ing New Bohemia.
These people. notwithstanding their
short residence here-few of them
having lived in Virginia more than
five or ten years--have accom- piiShed
wonders in the building up OF our old
Southern farms and the erection of
good houses and ut-buiidings there
on. Mr.. W. J. Zatic Is one OF the
progressive young merchants in this
community; he has just completed
IAN attractive bungalow and is intre-
ested in many enterprises. Mr.. J. b.
Skalsky is another up-to-date ner-
chant at New bohemia and has just
com pleted a very large modern resi-!
dence and hotel for the entertainment
and comfort of those who come TO
visit or locate permanently in this
colony.
Mr. Emanuel kvasnicka is one OF
the leading farmers in this section
He Is cuuivating a farm OF several
hundred acres. on which he has re-
Gently erected comfortable home and
"A number of new outbuildings. His
Implement sheds house two large
threshing machines, peanut picker.
self binder, clover hullcr. rakes. NOW
ers, wagons, cultivators, plows and
other implements galore. He has one
or two engines that furnish power
on the farm and on the road. The
farm Is well stocked. having several
fine teams Of Percheron mares and
geldings, hogs, cattle. sheep and poul-
try.
There are many farms in Prince
George ard surrounding counties
owned by these thrifty. honest. high
class Bohemian people. They have
How 49, f,.1
tunities Virginia offers to any INDUS
ltrious family or group OF families. who
are willing to work faithfully and
who want to acquire n comfortable
home.
The first settlement in this colony
were made by a few Bohemian and
Slovak families from Europe and
Northwestern States of this country.
some twenty-five years ago. While
these early corners had but little
money and were without friends in
the neighhorhood. by the exercise OF
good Judgment. frugality and uncon-
querable persistence in the acquiring
and cultivation of their farms, they
ihave become the foremost citizens OF
this community and many OF them
control properties that are worth from
100000 10 $4,000. or more.
| In the beginning, there was consid
cradle antipathy In this section to new
comcrs, who were known locally as
foreigners" They found II difficult
/ to secure credit and did not command
1.-THE confidence of the native popula-
ition The reason for this was that
the Virginia people did not know the
true worth of these Bohemian pio.
neers and. they, therefore, had te
struggle against heavy odds. Their
unbounded energy, indomitable pluck
and constant good will. combined with
their absolute honesty has won the
battle for them against what were
considered heavy odds Today the
colony enjoys the fullest confidence
of all the people of Southwestern
Virginia In the city of Petersburg
the merchants claim that the Bo-
hemian Is the safest customer Of all;
that his word Is absolutely as good
as his bond While no race is more
I loyal to its ancestry and traditions
than are the Slavonic races of Eu-
rope. nevertheless these people have
become patriotic and loyal to Ameri.
cans. They are respectful of our
Southern traditions ard are as eager
to help build up the community: are
las practical and persistent In thcil