Evolution of Our Ethnic Community in New York City
THE BOHEMIAN NATIONAL HALL AND THE SOKOL HALL
“The strength of our ethnic life at the Lower East Side was initially maintained by inn keepers of Czech origin favored by the immigrants, most notably the August Hubáček, Svoboda and Wokal inns at the East Fifth Street. In the back rooms, behind the bar with beer taps, there was a modest exercise equipment used by Sokols on Sunday afternoons. ”
In 1884 the inn of Mr. Hubáček was purchased by twenty Bohemian societies and after reconstruction, supported by a loan from Sokol of $2,500, it became the first Bohemian National Hall at 525 East 5th Street.
At that time the Hall witnessed numerous theater performances, society meetings, dances and weddings. The Sokol Drama Club was founded in 1888 at the inn of A. Kopta at the East 2nd Street. Its first performance, Vrátný z Karlína, was staged at the Bohemian National Hall at the East 5th Street and it yielded a net profit of $46 and 70 cents.
The Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Society (BBLA) was founded in 1892 as an umbrella organization for several ethnic societies and lodges. The relation between Sokol New York, the Bohemian National Hall on the Lower East Side and later the BBLA was essentially cooperative but not without frictions. Initially, Sokol was a member of the board of the Bohemian National Hall, being a partial property owner. Later, Sokol became one of the founding members of the BBLA.
An essential role of these constituent organizations was to erect a spacious and representative Bohemian National Hall at the Upper East Side where in the course of years most of the ethnic community moved. The space at the Czech pubs and at the original Bohemian National Hall became inadequate to satisfy the requirements of the growing community. Sokol and other organizations fully supported the project for a new construction by frequent fund raising, exhibits and theater performances (one theater performance in 1891 contributed $100 for the new Bohemian National Hall). A concert in 1892, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Sokol NY at the Central Opera House on the 65th Street, was attended by the newly appointed director of NY Conservatory of Music, Antonín Dvořák and his family. This event raised $200 for the new Bohemian National Hall.
A disagreement between Sokol and the Board of the former Bohemian National Hall flared up during planning the new Bohemian National Hall. Sokols insisted on including a large gymnasium at the new Bohemian National Hall for their exercise. Even before, the roots of disagreement were related to Bohemian National Hall board members who were unwilling to grant Sokols enough space and time for exercise at the former Bohemian National Hall.
Sokols insisted on selling the former Bohemian National Hall and from the proceeds and from fund raising, to erect a new building at the East 73rd Street.
In March 1894 the Board of Sokol NY voted 142 against 42 in favor of the construction of a Sokol Hall on East 71st Street, independent of BBLA. In 1894 Sokol NY decided to assess each member to contribute $50 toward the Sokol building fund, payable in four years. The building lots cost $13,500, the excavation and rock removal another $8,500. After an initial estimated building expense of $52,815, considered at that time an enormous amount, the new Sokol NY Hall was festively opened to the public in November 1896, after a ground breaking only in June of the same year.
The new Bohemian National Hall of 1896 by William C. Froehne, an architect who previously designed the German American Rifle Association Building at the Saint Marks Place at the Lower East Side, was a representative cultural and social center for the large Bohemian community. Situated at the East 73rd Street and after substantial reconstruction in the 1990s, it is now again the pride of our ethnic community and of the Czech government.
Construction cost of new Bohemian National Hall in 1896 was reported as $150,000. In addition to the large ballroom on the fourth floor, it had a restaurant, two bars, and in the basement a bowling alley, a shooting gallery and a large safe.
Theater performances, dance activities, weddings and exhibits contributed to a sound annual income. The building was also used as a staging area by various ethnic societies for the street parades in Manhattan. In 1899 the building was already considered too small and an addition to the east was obtained. Further expansion occurred in 1914 when a movie theater annex, connected with the main building on East 73rd Street, was acquired on the East 74th Street.
