History

Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center History

In December 1995, representatives of the Czech Heritage Society of Texas requested a called meeting of the Texans of Czech Ancestry (TOCA) to submit rationale for the development of a statewide library and museum to preserve the heritage of the Czech people.  Czech Heritage Society representatives further asked if TOCA would spearhead such a project because they felt that a coalition of Czech-founded organizations such as TOCA (Texans of Czech Ancestry), with its broad base of members, could initiate such a project.

TOCA voted to spearhead the project of a statewide library and museum to promote the heritage and culture of the Czech, Moravian, and Slovak people. 

At subsequent TOCA meetings, various proposals were discussed and planning committees were organized to discuss the type of facility needed to address the various aspects of Texas-Czech heritage and the best type of location needed to accommodate such a facility.

Eventually, an interim board for the center was elected with representatives from nine incorporated Czech organizations serving on the interim board: the Catholic Union of Texas (KJT); Czech Ex-Students Association of Texas (CESAT); Czech Educational Foundation of Texas (CEFT); Czech Heritage Society of Texas (CHS); Czech Heritage Society of Travis/Williamson Counties; Farmers Mutual Protective Association of Texas (RVOS); American Sokol Organization Southern District; and the Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas (SPJST).

A statewide request was sent out asking for any communities interested in such a facility to present a proposal. Proposals were received from the cities of Ennis, Temple, Caldwell, and La Grange. After thorough examination of each of the proposals, including meeting in the cities themselves with city officials, the interim board, in 1996, selected the site of La Grange. Some of the reasons for the selection of La Grange included the location and the amount of land offered and the fact that Fayette County is so historically significant in Texas-Czech history.

On March 24, 1997, the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center was officially incorporated and the interim board then became the official board for the organization.

The Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center has evolved from a single desk housed in the La Grange area Chamber of Commerce Office, to a one-room office in a professional building in La Grange, to its present on-site location in the meticulously restored early Texas-Czech farmhouse, the Kalich House.

The Kalich house was donated to the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center by Peggy and Jonathan Kalich in memory of their family and was moved onto site by Kana Brothers Movers; it has been lovingly restored by volunteers from throughout the state. The Kalich House now serves as the official TCHCC Visitors’ Center, Gift Shop, Library, Display Area, and Office until funds become available for the construction of the planned state-of-the-art museum/archives facility. The master plan of development also calls for among others, a living-history village, an immigrants’ wall, memorial paving stones, and an historical timeline telling the story of the Czechs and of their immigration to Texas.

Another major component of the TCHCC is the Sanford Schmid Amphitheater. An LCRA challenge grant of $200,000.00 for an amphitheater along the banks of the Lower Colorado River was matched by area resident, Mr. Sanford Schmid.  With two grants from Union Pacific Railroad totaling $19,000.00 and the support of numerous Texas Czech organizations and individuals as well as an additional challenge donation by Mr. Sanford Schmid, the 404 seat capacity amphitheater is available to rent for musicals, plays, and concerts. The Amphitheater stage, two dressing rooms with restrooms, a prop storage room, and a tech room make up the approximately 5,500 square feet of space. An concession and restroom building was completed in 2005.

In July of 2003, a Wallachian Bell and Belfry were donated to the TCHCC by the Czech Heritage Society of Texas and were moved on to the TCHCC site.

An additional farmhouse was restored and donated to the TCHCC by the Migl family. It was moved to TCHCC by the Kana Brothers in 2004.  The Migl family is continuing their restoration process on the Migl House. 

A recent addition is the newly restored Hoelscher Haus, home of the Polka Lovers Club of Texas Museum.

Other buildings moved to the site that are being restored are the Bucek building and double log cabins. 

Finally, the TCHCC continues to work closely with other Texas Czech organizations toward the development of the planned Museum/Library/Archives facility to be built in the near future.