{"id":78,"date":"2022-03-17T18:03:08","date_gmt":"2022-03-17T18:03:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/their-paths-are-peace\/?post_type=chapter&p=78"},"modified":"2023-04-28T20:36:59","modified_gmt":"2023-04-28T20:36:59","slug":"slovak-cultural-garden","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/their-paths-are-peace\/chapter\/slovak-cultural-garden\/","title":{"rendered":"Slovak Cultural Garden"},"content":{"raw":"\"\"\r\n\r\n\"\"\r\n\r\nThe <\/span>Slovak <\/span>Cultural Garden, <\/span>modern <\/span>in <\/span>spirit, <\/span>extends <\/span>along <\/span>three <\/span>acres <\/span>of <\/span>Rockefeller Park <\/span>be\u00ad<\/span>tween <\/span>the <\/span>upper <\/span>and <\/span>lower <\/span>East <\/span>Boulevard drives, <\/span>with <\/span>the Italian Garden <\/span>as <\/span>its <\/span>southern, <\/span>and the <\/span>Ru\u00ad<\/span>sin <\/span>Garden <\/span>as <\/span>its northern <\/span>neighbor. Stone steps <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>entrance lead <\/span>to <\/span>a <\/span>large forum with <\/span>two <\/span>wings <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>placement <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>bronze <\/span>busts <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Rever\u00ad<\/span>end <\/span>Stefan <\/span>Furdek (1855-1915) <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>Reverend <\/span>Jan <\/span>Kollar <\/span>(1793-1852), against a background <\/span>of <\/span>privet <\/span>hedge <\/span>and <\/span>European trees <\/span>and <\/span>shrubs. Both <\/span>statues <\/span>are the <\/span>work <\/span>of <\/span>Sculptor <\/span>J. <\/span>Tenkacs. <\/span>A <\/span>sand\u00ad<\/span>stone terrace opens <\/span>on <\/span>to a <\/span>spacious <\/span>oval lawn. <\/span>This <\/span>typically Slovakian <\/span>garden <\/span>was designed <\/span>by <\/span>land\u00ad<\/span>scape <\/span>architect, <\/span>T. <\/span>Ashburton <\/span>Tripp. <\/span>\r\n\r\nSlovak <\/span>Garden <\/span>history began in 1929 when, under <\/span>the <\/span>acting chairmanship <\/span>of <\/span>Joseph Smolka, leaders <\/span>in <\/span>fraternal, <\/span>civic, <\/span>and cultural <\/span>Slovak <\/span>organizations <\/span>conferred with <\/span>City <\/span>Manager <\/span>William <\/span>R. <\/span>Hopkins, <\/span>and with <\/span>Charles <\/span>Wolfram <\/span>and Jennie <\/span>K. <\/span>Zwick, <\/span>at <\/span>that <\/span>time president and <\/span>executive secretary <\/span>respectively <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Cleveland <\/span>Cultural Garden <\/span>Fed\u00ad<\/span>eration, <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>purpose <\/span>of <\/span>inaugurating <\/span>plans <\/span>to <\/span>join <\/span>other nationality groups <\/span>and <\/span>establish a <\/span>Slovak <\/span>Garden. <\/span>The <\/span>Slovak <\/span>Cultural <\/span>Garden <\/span>Association <\/span>was <\/span>formed, <\/span>with <\/span>Judge George <\/span>S. <\/span>Tenesy as <\/span>presi\u00ad<\/span>dent <\/span>and <\/span>Mrs. <\/span>Anna Mokris <\/span>as <\/span>secretary. <\/span>Substantial <\/span>funds <\/span>were <\/span>raised <\/span>by <\/span>donations, song festivals, <\/span>by the Stefanik Singing Society, card parties in halls and private homes, and a colorful Old World Slovak fair held in Stas' Hall. <\/span>\r\n\r\nOn <\/span>October <\/span>23, <\/span>1932, <\/span>the first unit <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Slovak <\/span>Garden <\/span>was <\/span>dedicated.\u00a0 <\/span>With <\/span>the <\/span>aid <\/span>of <\/span>government <\/span>funds, the <\/span>garden\u00a0<\/span>was completed, <\/span>and <\/span>was <\/span>dedicated <\/span>on <\/span>October <\/span>28, 1934, <\/span>with the\u00a0<\/span>unveiling of the <\/span>two <\/span>bronze <\/span>busts. <\/span>The <\/span>bust <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Reverend Furdek <\/span>was <\/span>the <\/span>gift <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>First Catholic <\/span>Slovak <\/span>Union, and that <\/span>of <\/span>Jan Kollar <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Slovak Evangelical <\/span>Union and <\/span>Lutherans <\/span>of <\/span>Cleveland. <\/span>\r\n\r\nReverend Stefan Furdek, <\/span>author and <\/span>educator, <\/span>Cleveland <\/span>Slovak <\/span>leader, <\/span>and <\/span>pastor <\/span>of <\/span>Our <\/span>Lady <\/span>of <\/span>Lourdes Catholic Church, was <\/span>born in 18<\/span>55 <\/span>at <\/span>Trste\u00ad<\/span>na, <\/span>Slovakia. <\/span>While <\/span>completing his theological stud\u00ad<\/span>ies in Prague, <\/span>he <\/span>was selected as <\/span>a <\/span>seminarian <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>request <\/span>of <\/span>Bishop <\/span>Gilmore <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Cleveland <\/span>Diocese. <\/span>He <\/span>was ordained <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>priesthood in <\/span>July <\/span>of <\/span>1882, <\/span>a <\/span>few <\/span>months <\/span>after <\/span>his arrival in <\/span>America. For <\/span>a short <\/span>time <\/span>he <\/span>served <\/span>as <\/span>assistant <\/span>at <\/span>St. Wenceslaus Church, <\/span>then <\/span>was <\/span>appointed <\/span>first <\/span>pastor <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>newly <\/span>organiz\u00ad<\/span>ed <\/span>parish, <\/span>Our <\/span>Lady <\/span>of. <\/span>Lourdes, where his <\/span>ministry <\/span>lasted thirty-two <\/span>years <\/span>-<\/span>until his death <\/span>in<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>1915.\u00a0<\/span>Father Furdek, in <\/span>addition <\/span>to <\/span>his <\/span>pastoral duties, <\/span>or\u00ad<\/span>ganized <\/span>the <\/span>First Catholic <\/span>Slovak <\/span>Union <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>First <\/span>Slovak <\/span>Ladies <\/span>Union <\/span>in <\/span>1889. <\/span>He <\/span>also <\/span>wrote <\/span>several <\/span>books <\/span>of <\/span>outstanding <\/span>literary merit, <\/span>distinguished poems, scientific articles, instructive books and books dealing with entertainment, and a series of readers for Slovak schools in wide present-day use.<\/span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_231\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"315\"]\"Reverend Reverend Kollar[\/caption]\r\n\r\nJan Kollar <\/span>was <\/span>born <\/span>in <\/span>1793 <\/span>in Mosovche, Slova\u00ad<\/span>kia, <\/span>of <\/span>a family <\/span>highly <\/span>respected <\/span>for <\/span>its admirable <\/span>character <\/span>and inspiring <\/span>community services. <\/span>A Luther\u00ad<\/span>an <\/span>minister <\/span>of <\/span>high standing, Kollar <\/span>fearlessly de\u00ad<\/span>fended the <\/span>scholastic <\/span>and language rights <\/span>of <\/span>both <\/span>Lutheran <\/span>and <\/span>Catholic <\/span>Slovaks. <\/span>His <\/span>poetic master\u00ad<\/span>piece <\/span>entitled, <\/span>The <\/span>Daughter <\/span>of <\/span>Glory <\/span>predicted <\/span>liberty <\/span>and <\/span>independence <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>Slovaks. <\/span>To <\/span>his <\/span>credit <\/span>are <\/span>the <\/span>memorable words, <\/span>\u201cWhat <\/span>hundreds <\/span>of <\/span>blundering <\/span>ages <\/span>prepared is <\/span>changed <\/span>by <\/span>a single <\/span>epoch.\u201d <\/span>\r\n\r\nFor <\/span>many <\/span>years <\/span>an <\/span>active <\/span>fund <\/span>campaign <\/span>and <\/span>cul\u00ad<\/span>tural program were <\/span>conducted <\/span>under <\/span>the <\/span>presi\u00ad<\/span>dency <\/span>of <\/span>Peter <\/span>Mokris. <\/span>The <\/span>Slovak <\/span>Cultural Garden <\/span>Association <\/span>also <\/span>has had splendid <\/span>cooperation <\/span>and generous donations from William R. Hopkins, Monsignor F. J. Dubosh, Reverend John Krespinsky, Reverend M. F. Benko, Anthony Stas, James J. Mc Ginty, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Misencik, Mr. and Mrs. George S. Tenesy, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Kulka, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Halko, Florian Zavasky, Mrs. Mi\u00adchael Beno, Zivena Beneficial Society, and Slovak Catholic Union. City Landscape Architect Thomas Jones, Parks Commissioner Sam Newman, and the Mayors and their administrations during the years of Slovak Garden history, are also gratefully acknowl\u00adedged by the Slovak Garden group, which, from 1935 to 1941 raised the sum of $3,000 toward the com\u00adpletion of its garden. Materials were purchased with this money, and labor costs were paid from funds allotted by the Works Progress Administra\u00adtion through the City of Cleveland.<\/span>\r\n\r\nAn <\/span>elaborate <\/span>celebration <\/span>with <\/span>a <\/span>parade <\/span>of <\/span>all <\/span>na\u00ad<\/span>tionality <\/span>groups <\/span>took <\/span>place <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>Slovak <\/span>Garden <\/span>in <\/span>July, 1939, <\/span>when <\/span>it was <\/span>officially <\/span>re-dedicated. <\/span>Dur\u00ad<\/span>ing <\/span>the period <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Second <\/span>World War, <\/span>the <\/span>Slo\u00ad<\/span>vak <\/span>Cultural Garden <\/span>Association <\/span>transferred its <\/span>ac\u00ad<\/span>tivity to <\/span>War <\/span>Bond <\/span>solicitation to <\/span>an amount <\/span>exceed\u00ad<\/span>ing <\/span>$50,000, <\/span>and <\/span>to <\/span>patriotic national <\/span>unity <\/span>programs. <\/span>In <\/span>1942, together <\/span>with <\/span>the <\/span>First <\/span>Catholic <\/span>Slovak <\/span>Un\u00ad<\/span>ion <\/span>and <\/span>the First <\/span>Catholic <\/span>Slovak Ladies <\/span>Union, the <\/span>Association <\/span>sponsored a <\/span>patriotic program during the <\/span>Four <\/span>Freedoms <\/span>Festival. A <\/span>playlet, <\/span>The <\/span>Dawn <\/span>We <\/span>Watch, <\/span>was <\/span>presented <\/span>and attended <\/span>by <\/span>many <\/span>nation\u00ad<\/span>al, <\/span>state, and local officials.<\/span>\r\n\r\nIn 1946, <\/span>the <\/span>Slovaks <\/span>participated <\/span>enthusiastically <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>150th anniversary <\/span>of <\/span>the founding <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>City <\/span>of <\/span>Cleveland. <\/span>In <\/span>the One <\/span>World <\/span>Day <\/span>Celebration <\/span>on <\/span>July <\/span>21st <\/span>of <\/span>that <\/span>year, <\/span>their beautiful parade <\/span>float <\/span>was <\/span>awarded an honorable <\/span>mention <\/span>by <\/span>the <\/span>Sesqui\u00ad<\/span>centennial Committee. <\/span>On <\/span>the following <\/span>day, <\/span>festivi\u00ad<\/span>ties <\/span>continued <\/span>with <\/span>singing <\/span>and <\/span>dancing <\/span>on <\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>International<\/span>Stage <\/span>by <\/span>the <\/span>Stefanik Singing <\/span>Society, <\/span>which <\/span>won <\/span>the <\/span>acclaim <\/span>of <\/span>an <\/span>audience <\/span>of <\/span>200,000 <\/span>people <\/span>The <\/span>first <\/span>One <\/span>World <\/span>Day <\/span>program <\/span>was <\/span>held <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>Slovak <\/span>Garden.<\/span>\r\n\r\nOn <\/span>May <\/span>1, <\/span>1936, the <\/span>Slovak <\/span>leaders <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Slovak <\/span>Academy <\/span>of <\/span>Culture and <\/span>Science <\/span>of <\/span>Slovakia <\/span>planted <\/span>a linden tree <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>Slovak <\/span>Garden, <\/span>when <\/span>Dr. <\/span>Hron\u00ad<\/span>sky, secretary <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Academy, <\/span>stated <\/span>that <\/span>only <\/span>in <\/span>a <\/span>city <\/span>like <\/span>Cleveland <\/span>and <\/span>a nation like the United <\/span>States <\/span>can <\/span>groups <\/span>function <\/span>for <\/span>inter-racial and <\/span>inter\u00ad<\/span>cultural understanding<\/span>\r\n\r\nA <\/span>Four <\/span>Freedoms <\/span>Festival <\/span>held <\/span>at <\/span>Benedictine <\/span>Hall <\/span>on <\/span>August <\/span>30, <\/span>1942, <\/span>was <\/span>attended <\/span>by <\/span>3,000 <\/span>people, <\/span>including <\/span>many <\/span>outstanding <\/span>political and <\/span>cultural <\/span>leaders. <\/span>There <\/span>was <\/span>music <\/span>by <\/span>a <\/span>concert <\/span>or\u00ad<\/span>chestra.<\/span>\r\n\r\nCleveland <\/span>Slovaks played <\/span>a <\/span>prominent <\/span>role <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>Sesquicentennial celebration <\/span>in <\/span>1946. <\/span>The <\/span>Slo\u00ad<\/span>vak <\/span>group <\/span>took a <\/span>large <\/span>and <\/span>hospitable part <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>preview tea given <\/span>for <\/span>the benefit <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Sesquicen\u00ad<\/span>tennial <\/span>committee. <\/span>The <\/span>Slovak <\/span>group float <\/span>in the <\/span>One <\/span>World <\/span>Day <\/span>parade <\/span>for <\/span>July <\/span>25, <\/span>1946, <\/span>was <\/span>awarded <\/span>honorable <\/span>mention. A <\/span>program <\/span>of <\/span>national <\/span>Slovak <\/span>music <\/span>and <\/span>dancing <\/span>was <\/span>later <\/span>viewed <\/span>with pleasure <\/span>by <\/span>many <\/span>thousands <\/span>of spectators. <\/span>\r\n\r\nOn <\/span>March 31, <\/span>1949, <\/span>the <\/span>Slovak <\/span>group <\/span>participated <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>Unesco <\/span>Convention. <\/span>Mrs. <\/span>Anna <\/span>Mokris, <\/span>whose <\/span>faithful <\/span>service as <\/span>recording <\/span>secretary <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Cultural Gardens <\/span>Federation <\/span>is <\/span>well <\/span>known, super\u00ad<\/span>vised <\/span>the <\/span>serving <\/span>of <\/span>delicacies, <\/span>contributed <\/span>by <\/span>24 <\/span>nationality groups <\/span>at the <\/span>benefit tea given <\/span>for <\/span>some <\/span>3,000 <\/span>delegates. Representatives <\/span>of <\/span>these <\/span>groups <\/span>wearing <\/span>their <\/span>beautiful <\/span>native <\/span>costumes <\/span>supplied a <\/span>colorful background. <\/span>Here, <\/span>too, <\/span>the <\/span>Slovak <\/span>contribu\u00ad<\/span>tion <\/span>was <\/span>prominent. <\/span>\r\n\r\nThe <\/span>Second <\/span>One <\/span>World <\/span>Day celebration <\/span>was held <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>Slovak <\/span>Garden on <\/span>July <\/span>20, <\/span>1948. <\/span>Also, <\/span>in <\/span>June <\/span>of <\/span>that <\/span>year, <\/span>the <\/span>Slovak <\/span>group <\/span>gave <\/span>a <\/span>tea <\/span>for <\/span>200 <\/span>Cleveland <\/span>school teachers <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>Slovak <\/span>Garden. <\/span>\r\n\r\nThrough <\/span>the <\/span>years <\/span>prominent <\/span>leaders <\/span>from <\/span>Slo\u00ad<\/span>vakia, <\/span>the <\/span>Reverend Joseph <\/span>Tiso, President <\/span>of <\/span>Slo\u00ad<\/span>vakia, <\/span>and <\/span>a <\/span>group <\/span>of <\/span>scientific <\/span>and <\/span>cultural leaders <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Academy <\/span>of <\/span>Science <\/span>and Culture, have <\/span>visited <\/span>the <\/span>Slovak <\/span>Cultural Garden and planted <\/span>trees <\/span>and <\/span>shrubs. <\/span>\r\n\r\nPresent <\/span>officers <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Slovak <\/span>Cultural Garden <\/span>Association <\/span>are: <\/span>Andrew <\/span>E. <\/span>Zolata, president; <\/span>Mary <\/span>Misencik, 1st <\/span>vice <\/span>president; <\/span>Theresa Krajcer, <\/span>2nd <\/span>vice <\/span>president; <\/span>Tillie <\/span>H. <\/span>Bacik, <\/span>secretary; <\/span>Peter <\/span>Mok\u00ad<\/span>ris, <\/span>treasurer.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThus <\/span>has <\/span>one <\/span>more <\/span>nationality <\/span>group-<\/span>-<\/span>the <\/span>Cleve\u00ad<\/span>land <\/span>citizens of <\/span>Slovak <\/span>descent-<\/span>-<\/span>added another <\/span>link <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>Cultural Gardens <\/span>chain. <\/span>The <\/span>city is <\/span>grateful <\/span>for <\/span>this <\/span>picturesque <\/span>garden, <\/span>and <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>life <\/span>works <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>two <\/span>great <\/span>Slovaks <\/span>who <\/span>are <\/span>honored <\/span>here.<\/span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_232\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"313\"]\"Reverend Reverend Furdek[\/caption]","rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Slovak Cultural Garden, modern in spirit, extends along three acres of Rockefeller Park be\u00adtween the upper and lower East Boulevard drives, with the Italian Garden as its southern, and the Ru\u00adsin Garden as its northern neighbor. Stone steps at the entrance lead to a large forum with two wings for the placement of the bronze busts of the Rever\u00adend Stefan Furdek (1855-1915) and the Reverend Jan Kollar (1793-1852), against a background of privet hedge and European trees and shrubs. Both statues are the work of Sculptor J. Tenkacs. A sand\u00adstone terrace opens on to a spacious oval lawn. This typically Slovakian garden was designed by land\u00adscape architect, T. Ashburton Tripp. <\/p>\n

Slovak Garden history began in 1929 when, under the acting chairmanship of Joseph Smolka, leaders in fraternal, civic, and cultural Slovak organizations conferred with City Manager William R. Hopkins, and with Charles Wolfram and Jennie K. Zwick, at that time president and executive secretary respectively of the Cleveland Cultural Garden Fed\u00aderation, for the purpose of inaugurating plans to join other nationality groups and establish a Slovak Garden. The Slovak Cultural Garden Association was formed, with Judge George S. Tenesy as presi\u00addent and Mrs. Anna Mokris as secretary. Substantial funds were raised by donations, song festivals, by the Stefanik Singing Society, card parties in halls and private homes, and a colorful Old World Slovak fair held in Stas’ Hall. <\/p>\n

On October 23, 1932, the first unit of the Slovak Garden was dedicated.\u00a0 With the aid of government funds, the garden\u00a0was completed, and was dedicated on October 28, 1934, with the\u00a0unveiling of the two bronze busts. The bust of the Reverend Furdek was the gift of the First Catholic Slovak Union, and that of Jan Kollar of the Slovak Evangelical Union and Lutherans of Cleveland. <\/p>\n

Reverend Stefan Furdek, author and educator, Cleveland Slovak leader, and pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, was born in 1855 at Trste\u00adna, Slovakia. While completing his theological stud\u00adies in Prague, he was selected as a seminarian at the request of Bishop Gilmore of the Cleveland Diocese. He was ordained for the priesthood in July of 1882, a few months after his arrival in America. For a short time he served as assistant at St. Wenceslaus Church, then was appointed first pastor of the newly organiz\u00aded parish, Our Lady of. Lourdes, where his ministry lasted thirty-two years –until his death in<\/span>\u00a01915.\u00a0Father Furdek, in addition to his pastoral duties, or\u00adganized the First Catholic Slovak Union and the First Slovak Ladies Union in 1889. He also wrote several books of outstanding literary merit, distinguished poems, scientific articles, instructive books and books dealing with entertainment, and a series of readers for Slovak schools in wide present-day use.<\/p>\n

\"Reverend
Reverend Kollar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jan Kollar was born in 1793 in Mosovche, Slova\u00adkia, of a family highly respected for its admirable character and inspiring community services. A Luther\u00adan minister of high standing, Kollar fearlessly de\u00adfended the scholastic and language rights of both Lutheran and Catholic Slovaks. His poetic master\u00adpiece entitled, The Daughter of Glory predicted liberty and independence for the Slovaks. To his credit are the memorable words, \u201cWhat hundreds of blundering ages prepared is changed by a single epoch.\u201d <\/p>\n

For many years an active fund campaign and cul\u00adtural program were conducted under the presi\u00addency of Peter Mokris. The Slovak Cultural Garden Association also has had splendid cooperation and generous donations from William R. Hopkins, Monsignor F. J. Dubosh, Reverend John Krespinsky, Reverend M. F. Benko, Anthony Stas, James J. Mc Ginty, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Misencik, Mr. and Mrs. George S. Tenesy, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Kulka, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Halko, Florian Zavasky, Mrs. Mi\u00adchael Beno, Zivena Beneficial Society, and Slovak Catholic Union. City Landscape Architect Thomas Jones, Parks Commissioner Sam Newman, and the Mayors and their administrations during the years of Slovak Garden history, are also gratefully acknowl\u00adedged by the Slovak Garden group, which, from 1935 to 1941 raised the sum of $3,000 toward the com\u00adpletion of its garden. Materials were purchased with this money, and labor costs were paid from funds allotted by the Works Progress Administra\u00adtion through the City of Cleveland.<\/p>\n

An elaborate celebration with a parade of all na\u00adtionality groups took place in the Slovak Garden in July, 1939, when it was officially re-dedicated. Dur\u00ading the period of the Second World War, the Slo\u00advak Cultural Garden Association transferred its ac\u00adtivity to War Bond solicitation to an amount exceed\u00ading $50,000, and to patriotic national unity programs. In 1942, together with the First Catholic Slovak Un\u00adion and the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Union, the Association sponsored a patriotic program during the Four Freedoms Festival. A playlet, The Dawn We Watch, was presented and attended by many nation\u00adal, state, and local officials.<\/p>\n

In 1946, the Slovaks participated enthusiastically in the 150th anniversary of the founding of the City of Cleveland. In the One World Day Celebration on July 21st of that year, their beautiful parade float was awarded an honorable mention by the Sesqui\u00adcentennial Committee. On the following day, festivi\u00adties continued with singing and dancing on the\u00a0InternationalStage by the Stefanik Singing Society, which won the acclaim of an audience of 200,000 people The first One World Day program was held in the Slovak Garden.<\/p>\n

On May 1, 1936, the Slovak leaders of the Slovak Academy of Culture and Science of Slovakia planted a linden tree in the Slovak Garden, when Dr. Hron\u00adsky, secretary of the Academy, stated that only in a city like Cleveland and a nation like the United States can groups function for inter-racial and inter\u00adcultural understanding<\/p>\n

A Four Freedoms Festival held at Benedictine Hall on August 30, 1942, was attended by 3,000 people, including many outstanding political and cultural leaders. There was music by a concert or\u00adchestra.<\/p>\n

Cleveland Slovaks played a prominent role in the Sesquicentennial celebration in 1946. The Slo\u00advak group took a large and hospitable part in the preview tea given for the benefit of the Sesquicen\u00adtennial committee. The Slovak group float in the One World Day parade for July 25, 1946, was awarded honorable mention. A program of national Slovak music and dancing was later viewed with pleasure by many thousands of spectators. <\/p>\n

On March 31, 1949, the Slovak group participated in the Unesco Convention. Mrs. Anna Mokris, whose faithful service as recording secretary of the Cultural Gardens Federation is well known, super\u00advised the serving of delicacies, contributed by 24 nationality groups at the benefit tea given for some 3,000 delegates. Representatives of these groups wearing their beautiful native costumes supplied a colorful background. Here, too, the Slovak contribu\u00adtion was prominent. <\/p>\n

The Second One World Day celebration was held in the Slovak Garden on July 20, 1948. Also, in June of that year, the Slovak group gave a tea for 200 Cleveland school teachers in the Slovak Garden. <\/p>\n

Through the years prominent leaders from Slo\u00advakia, the Reverend Joseph Tiso, President of Slo\u00advakia, and a group of scientific and cultural leaders of the Academy of Science and Culture, have visited the Slovak Cultural Garden and planted trees and shrubs. <\/p>\n

Present officers of the Slovak Cultural Garden Association are: Andrew E. Zolata, president; Mary Misencik, 1st vice president; Theresa Krajcer, 2nd vice president; Tillie H. Bacik, secretary; Peter Mok\u00adris, treasurer.<\/p>\n

Thus has one more nationality group-–the Cleve\u00adland citizens of Slovak descent-–added another link to the Cultural Gardens chain. The city is grateful for this picturesque garden, and for the life works of the two great Slovaks who are honored here.<\/p>\n

\"Reverend
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