THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND
noxious fumes are fast killing the trees and will soon make gardens impossible. The houses that were neat and bright have become dingy and ugly, the gullies offer no more mushrooms, the nature lover has nothing left to enjoy, and another removal is in full tide. Similar conditions are approaching also on Quincy Avenue.
It is characteristic of the Czechs in America always to build for themselves. They have never followed in an old neighborhood, but have always built anew, and they are doing it now. The whole south-eastern part of the city is being built up by them. The additions known locally as Corlett, Newburgh City and Mt. Pleasant are very largely the homes of Czechs, as is also a considerable district out Buckeye road, and the Washington Park district, which is not yet in the city. The county highways to Bedford, to Brecksville, to Warrensville and to Chagrin Falls are lined with the homes of Czechs whose business interests are still in the city. These new houses are the equal of those in any middle class section of the city, and it is the testimony of salesmen that the Czech never scrimps in the equipment of his home. On the contrary, he usually takes his wife with him to choose fittings and furnishings, and makes the first consideration, not the price, but that “the missus” shall be suited.
At the first the building of a home must have been very difficult for these immigrants, who often worked for as little as seventy-five cents a day. But they were fortunate in having so many skilled trades represented among their numbers. The mason helped the carpenter, and the carpenter helped the mason in exchange and cooperation took place among them as among the earlier American pioneers. The ownership of a home was one of the things the Czech had come to America for, and a home he would have.
Savings and Loan Associations.
Since 1896 the native thrift and foresight have found a helpful vehicle in savings and loan associations, which are incorporated under the laws of the state of Ohio. The very names of these organizations are suggestive: “Vcela,” (the bee); “Mravenec,” (the ant); “Oul” (the hive).
Vcela, the oldest of these, was incorporated in March, 1896, and in twenty years had loaned over $10,000,000 on Cleveland real estate. Its present capital is $2,000,000, and it has $1,000,000 outstanding in loans. Its office is at 5733 Broadway, and it is beginning the erection of a fine office building at the corner of Broadway and Portage avenues.
Mravenec was started a year later on the west side, and in 1918 changed its significant Czech name to the “Federal Savings and Loan association.” Its office is in the Bohemian Sokol Hall at 4310 Clark avenue, and its present capital is about $1,150,000.
The Cech Savings and Loan association is located at 3132 West 41st street. It was organized in 1907, and has capital to the extent of $700,000.
The East End Building and Loan association, organized in 1911, with capital of half a million dollars, is at 8506 Quincy avenue.
The Atlas, at 5454 Broadway, organized in 1915 has outstripped most of the older ones and now has $1,750,000 as capital.
Other younger organizations are: The Progress Building, Savings and Loan Company, 4963 Broadway; “Oul” Building and Loan Association, 5638 Broadway; Capital Savings Building & Loan Association, 5209 Fleet avenue, with a branch on Buckeye toad; “Hospodar Savings and Loan Association,
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