My great great uncle, Father Joseph Dostal, was the pastor of St. Wenceslaus church from 1898 to 1903. He was the first Dostal to arrive in America. The Czechs decided to build the church following a disagreement with the Germans. The Germans had constructed St. Clement's church about a mile from town. But they denied the recent Czech immigrants the opportunity to worship in the church. So the Czechs decided to build a church of their own in the Spring of 1860. The 70 families who lived in the area helped with the construction. Even the women and children assisted by carrying stones in their aprons and mixing mortar. The limestone was hauled from nearby quarries by oxen. On September 28, 1860, the first mass was said in the church, which was dedicated to St. Wenceslaus, king and martyr of the Czech people. Between 1869 and 1880, the parishioners built the two wings and the sanctuary. They also added the church towers, which house the bells that were donated by Joseph Spielman and other parishioners. The four bells are between four and six feet tall. In 1876, a new pipe organ was installed. The organ was from the Pfeffer Company in St. Louis. It is estimated that the organ cost the parishioners $1,300. It is the same organ that Dvorak played during his visit. The organ was recently remodelled at a cost of $45,000 and rededicated on August 25, 1996. In 1889 the stain glass windows were installed. The windows on the north side of the church were made in Ohio and are less complex than those on the south side. The windows on the south side were made in Europe and are considerably more ornate. It was in this church on September 12, 1899, that Father Joseph presided over the wedding of his brother, Hynek, and his girlfriend, Anna Brzorad. The two had met while attending a funeral in Prague. Anna was born on January 6, 1876, in Bohemia. Her mother had died the previous year on January 29, 1898. A cemetery surrounds the church. The oldest section is located on the southeast section of the church property. Here you will find the tombstones of Joseph Spielman and his wife. Many of the early settlers' graves are marked with cast-iron markers. These were made locally by Charles Andera Sr. who also crafted the alters in the church. He lived in a house on south Main Street. The house was torn down during Father Joseph's time. The wood from the house is used for the present day funeral home and post office. Andera was a carpenter, wood carver, furniture maker, coffin maker and photographer, as well as the manufacturer of the iron cross grave markers. Andera began making the crosses in 1875. They were first carved in wood; then a plaster form was made. Finally, they were sent to a foundry to be cast. They range in size from two feet to 10 feet tall. The smaller ones sold for between $15 and $22. Records indicate he shipped them across the United States. Andera's metal grave markers have been located in such diverse states as Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Texas, Michigan, and even Alaska. Previous Chapter | Next Chapter | Home