The Wallachian Bell & Belfry

In 1995, the Smithsonian Institution invited the Czech Republic to participate in the annual "Festival of American Folklife" in Washington, D.C. Materials for the belfry were transported by ship from the Czech Republic to Washington, DC where the belfry was first constructed on the National Mall of the United States during the festival, June 23 through July 4. The bell was cast in Halenkov, Czech Republic especially for this occasion by Josef Tkadlec. The strong friendship between Victor Peter of Houston and Dr. Jaroslav Stika, Museum Director of the Wallachian Open Air Museum in Roznov pod Radhostem led to the Czech Republic's decision that the bell and belfry should be given to the Czech Heritage Society of Texas. At the end of the festival, the bell and belfry were disassembled and transported to Runge, Texas where they were stored for 14 months on Mr. Ladislav Zezula's ranch while a search was conducted to select a site for reassembly. The bell and belfry were later moved and reassembled in Praha, Texas in September/October of 1996. On Sunday, November 10, 1996, the bell and belfry were dedicated in memory of the late Victor Alfons Peter. In 2003, the belfry was given to the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center, Inc., in La Grange, Texas by the Czech Heritage Society of Texas and was moved and reassembled at its permanent location at the TCHCC in July of the same year. The Czech Heritage Society will retain ownership of the existing bell, replacing it with a replica to be cast at a later date. The relocation of the bell and belfry from Praha, Texas to the TCHCC was graciously donated by Kana Brothers House Leveling and Moving of La Grange, and Hudec's Service and Supply of Weimar. The Fort Bend County Czech Heritage Society has graciously undertaken overseeing the maintenance of the Bell and Belfry for the upcoming year.