Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-09-07
Protivin, How Do You d.!

L. sOssssssS saw
Well, What do you think Wonders
will never cease. The editor of the
New Era recently made q wonderful
i discovery that entities him to niche in
history along with Christopher Column
bus. Captain John, Smith and Doc Cook.
This editor, frank E. Howard, was
sorn in Howard Center, Howard County,
Iowa. The county was not named after
I us, but before us. 1t was named in
honor OF brave soldier, General ]. A.
Howard, Of Indiana But that s another
story. We were born in this county
some forty odd years ago and during
most of that time have lived within a
radius Of twenty miles from the south
east corner of the county, yet not until
Sunday, August 26th, in the year OF our
Lord one thousand nine hundred and
seventeen did we plant our ponderous
number Fights in the aforesaid s. e. OF
c. On that eventful August morning
we arose, took a bath, put on clean
shirt and after lowering for moment
over Hoover breakfast, we piled into
an automobile and drove one mile south
from Elma and then turned and headed
due east, just the opposite direction
from the trip taken by C. Columbus q
few years ago. We were bent on
4 exploration and feared not for the future
or for posterity as we hurried leisurely
along over a strange road past scenery
that our eyes had never lamped before.
Like the famous Dago who discovered
America because it was right in his
road, we too met with success after we
had ridden almost twenty miles, for 10
and behold, we bumped right into .
picturesque country town nesting on
the side of hill. We scratched our
think tank searching name for the
place, but soon discovered it bore the
good Bohemian name Of "Protivin. =
Ten we became aware that we were
not the first white man to set foot in
the town. There were hundreds there
ahead of US. In fact the whole country
side seemed to have turned out. The
main street for maay blocks was lined
on both sides with automobiles and
they were not all Fords either. The
last mass was just over in Holy Trinity
church and happy, prosperous and
contented look ing crowd Of townsfolk
and farmers was pouring from its
doors. In q few moments the main
drag" was like bee hive on May
morning. There were more people and
more automobiles in sight than you
could see in q good county seat town On
. Saturday afternoon.
We pulled up at the Klimesh Auto
Co. 3 garage and shook hands with the
genial manager, J. D. Bouska, who
handed US the keys to the city and told
Us to make ourself at home until he
found time to show US around. It wa
several hours before he found the time.
Before we left town we discovered
that this man Bouska 10 president Of
the school board, manager Of the gar
age, manager Of the Protivin Telephone
4 Company: he runs the electric light
plant and 10 one of the managers of the
picture show. He owns fine farm
west of town and drives by it occasion
ally, but his principal business is the
selling Of automobiles. Owing to the
backward spring he has sold only SO
cars 50 far this season, but could sell
more if he could get the cars.
! Protivin is just over the draft age, 81
years, and has a population of 225.
The:most imposing building in the town
is Holy, Trinity Church erected ten
years ago at cost of about $35, 600.
The next building to attract attention
is "Beseda hail." q regular city opera
house with large stage and fine scenery,
large auditorium equipped with COM
| Portable seats, balcony and q picture
machine. The basement IS fitted up
for club rooms, dining room and kitchen.
The building is constructed Of cement
blocks and is very substantial. The
Bohemian Savings Bank building is
another citified looking structure, also
built of cement. We were informed
that the complete working plans fol
the Church, Beseda Hall and the Bank
were drawn up by the local Catholic
priest, Rev. r. Lakomy, man greatly
beloved by his people. The stranger is
invariably informed: Father Lakomy
made this town what it is. To him
belongs the credit for our success. y
And the testimony is impressive because
of its evident sincerity.
Protivin has very good electric light
1 system. The plant is located in the
rear of the Klimesh auto garage and
furnishes direct current for the whole
town. Day service is maintained by
means Of batteries. The Protivin Tele.