[Tracie Prokop-Hutchinson]

I grew up in Hungarian Settlement, a settlement just outside of Albany, Louisiana, where my great-grandparents, Frank and Mary Koles, raised 8 children and this land is still in the family.
The land was originally owned by the Breckenridge Lumber Company, who sold it to the settlers, who cleared the land to grow crops, especially strawberries.
I enjoyed listening to my grandmother and her sisters sitting around, talking in Hungarian. I soon learned key words and picked up on what they were talking about.(giggles)
I learned at an early age how to prepare wonderful Hungarian dishes, both meals and desserts.
We still celebrate Hungarian culture twice a year. The Hungarian Festival in May, at the Hungarian Presbyterian Church, and The Hungarian Harvest Dance in October. Both events give everyone the chance to experience the foods, and see the dances performed live, by both young, and young at heart!
We have had a book published about our little settlement, The Story of Arpadhon, by Royanne Kropog, and also have the Arpadhon Hungarian Cultural Society, with members both older and young.
Hungarian Settlement, Louisiana, has also had the honor of being the largest Hungarian Settlement in America.

Topic

[Michelle Gnesda]

The only thing I knew about being Hungarian- was my grandmother’s influence. Loved her cooking, her accent and her. Anything else I did or learned was on my own.

[Jacqueline Campo]

I grew up in szekszard and went to grade 1 there.
>My parents left in 1956 and hoping there are some people out tere that had the same experience

[Lajos Kriso]

Yes, we moved in the early ’60s. Now there is a Magyar csoport in Hiram. The Kossuth Haz in Washington DC tries to keep the culture alive here. We have a Bazaar in Nov and a Feszitval in Aprilis. But it is still not like Buckeye utca was!!!

[Veroniva Horvath]

Thank you for your message. As families moved out of the neighborhood, the Hungarian culture was left behind. It wasn’t their fault. These were the children who got married and were having children of their own. The places they moved to were multi cultural, however, like anything else, when a person is not around people who share their own culture, unfortunately, the culture is left behind. Now, we can only remember what used to be. But, we who love our culture can still keep it alive in our own way. We still eat Hungarian as much as we can. We still buy Kolbasz and Hurka and szallonna and paprikash krumpli. Cucumber salad, shredded zucchini with dill, palacsinta, stuffed cabbage and who could forget fank!

[Lajos Kriso]

You have said it much better than I ever could…..only Hungarians will understand growing up in the Magyar heritage!

[Veroniva Horvath]

We lived on Buckeye Road as well. It was a cultural experience that most people would not understand. Everything was Hungarian, the food, the clothes you wore, how you worshiped, how you thought. I miss it very much.

[Lajos Kriso]

I grew up on Buckeye Rd in Cleveland. At the time it was the largest Magyarok community outside of Hungary. And only now do I realize what a prize it was! I wish there were such a place in Amerika today!

I feel that I am different in some way than many other Americans. But when I am around other Mayarok I have a diffent feeling – like being with an extended family member!

[Author]

Replies