The Migl House
 The Migl Homestead as it Currently Looks |
The Migls
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A Short History by Jim Jasek
Homestead History
František and Johana and their five young children arrived in Galveston, Texas, on October 03, 1874, from the village of Poderist (Poderište), territory of Bohemia, in the Austrian Empire. Their five older children, already here in America, paid the ship fares. They settled in the Praha area where František rented a farm from the Jares family. Six years later in 1880, František bought 100 acres of untilled land on Rocky Creek for $6.00 an acre. The land is located three miles south of Praha on the Fayette/Lavaca County Line. They moved into a log barn on an adjacent farm, owned by František and Marie Mikulik, who had just recently arrived in America. They lived with them until their five-room house was built next to a very large live oak tree. In 1886, František bought an additional 60 acres for $10.00. The house was demolished in 1960. All that remains of the house is the stone foundation.
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In 1890, their youngest son, Joseph, married the neighbor Mikulik's daughter, Aloisie. Joseph bought the farm from his father. A three-room house and a barn were built, and a well was dug for František and Johana about 600 feet north of the homestead. All the annual František and Johana Migl Reunions were held at the homestead and the second house until 1901. In 1902, Joseph sold the 160 acres to the Rab brothers and moved to Novohrad where he bought a farm and a cotton gin. František and Johana moved in with their son, Frank. In 1970, brothers Vaclav (Jim) and Benedict (Ben), son of Vaclav and Anna (Migl) Jasek, bought 70 acres of the farm. Anna was the daughter of Joseph Migl. The Jasek brothers did not know at the time that this land was part of their heritage. After 68 years, the property, the first American roots, was back in the Migl Family. In 1990, Ben and his wife, Pam, bought the adjacent land, which includes the live oak tree and homestead location, and built their home next to it. Prior to this, the brothers started restorations of the František and Johana three-bedroom house that had been abandoned for many years and which was in very bad condition. They were determined to restore the house for the future generations. Ben died in 1993' Vaclav still works on the house. |
The arrow points to the location of Poderište in the Cyech Republic |
House History
The house was constructed in 1890 by the family of František Migl. Most of the construction materials were 1 x 12 long-leaf pine boards for the outside walls, beaded tongue-in-grove internal wallboards, tongue-and-groove boards for the flooring, wood shingles for the roofing and, of course, heavier timbers for the framing. The cost of the material for the house was approximately $350.00. The house initially consisted of a front porch, parlor/bedroom, dining room, dirt-floor kitchen, upstairs bedroom for the grandchildren, and a small porch next to the kitchen in the back. In 1902, the land was sold to the Rab brothers.
In the 1920's, an addition to the house was made by the Rabs. The kitchen was replace with a bedroom and the back porch was extended. The kitchen was made a part of the dining room. Also at this time, siding was installed on the outside walls and a lightning protection system was installed. The outside was never painted, just oil was brushed on. Screens on the windows and screen doors were installed until the 1930's when the house was wired for electricity.
In 1970, when the Jasek brothers purchased the land with the house, the house was off its foundation, leaning over with no roofing, windows broken, porches destroyed, and cattle droppings throughout the house and a family of opossums in the attic. The first thought was--let's burn it down. But finding that this house was part of their heritage, they agreed to restore it. Neither one of them lived near the property. They were only able to work on it during their vacations. After a few years, they were able to live in the house during their stays.
In 1987, the brothers divided the property. Vaclav (Jim) got the house in the division. He continue to live in Baton Rouge and with "old age catching up", he knew he would not be "able to take proper care of the house for much longer." "This house, being part of the Migl's heritage, should be preserved for the future generations, "said Vaclav (Jim) Jasek.
In 2000, I decided to donate the house to the TCHCC, after looking into many alternatives. I believe the TCHCC is structured to be functioning for many, many years.
The Migl descendents have agreed to restore the house according to TCHCC guidelines and to move the house to the Center. The Migl's ask that at least one room be reserved for their memorabilia, pictures, immigration papers, book of descendents with possibly a computer, etc. In addition, the family will maintain a committee to make repairs to the house, etc. as needed at the Center.