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Croatians in America - photo collection by Vladimir Novak, part 2
http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9512/1/Croatians-in-America---photo-collection-by-Vladimir-Novak-part-2.html
By Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic
Published on 03/20/2008
 
Mr. Vladimir Novak is well known for his rich collection of photos related to life and work of Croatians in America, collected over several decades in the USA. We continue with the second part of a series of articles. Much of this material is presented for the first time, exclusively for the readers of CROWN.

Croatian Energy, page 1
Contents


Tacoma "Wedding"

 
To nije vjenčanje, već pogrebna povorka Hrvatu Andrew Aronkeu (31 god.), radniku ljevoanice - štrajakšu, kojega je ubila policija. Da bi se naglasio protest, djevojka Stanka Domić zamijenila je u vjenčanici njegovu zaručnica, koja je tada živjela u Domovini, u Pazinu u Istri.

 
It is not a wedding, but a funeral ceremony for Andrew Aronke (31), a Croat smelter strike who was shot by the police. In order to stress the demonstration effect, a young girl Stanka Domich is dressed in a bridal veil insted of his real sweetheart in the Old Country, that lived in Pazin in Istria.



Tacoma Daily News, January 14, 1914. The funeral ceremony of Croatian people was used today to give a striking demonstration which attended the services over Andrew Aronke, Tacoma smelter striker. A young woman, Chilo Stanich, in widow's weeds, headed procession as chief mourner. Directly behind her is Stanka Donich, a young girl, dressed in bridal veil. She is seen in the leading couple, in the accompaning picture. Had the funeral been held in his native land, Austria, his real sweetheart, who lives in Pasin [Pazin in Croatian, at that time in Austria, D.Ž.], might have taken this place. A strange feature of the custom was the appearance of a "widow" in deep mourning heading the funeral of a single man.

Beside Miss Donich is Martin Polich, another head mourner, who is bearing flowers. Miss Donich carries a tray with a Bible and wax flowers on it. Among the other women in procession are Stella Thomas, who helped carry Aronke into a friend's house after a strike was shot, and Powlena [written as Paulina in Croatian, D. Ž.] Mladanich.

During the funeral, the at St. Patrick Church, many of the men who were not religious stayed outside the church for the complete service, in order to honor the men. From the Church they paraded through downtown Tacoma. They were joined in the demonstration by the Hobbes Union. They were having their annual convention in Tacoma at the time. They marched with the Croatians. Also, the parade was led by the Croatian flag. The parade went through the richest residential area, including the Rust mansion.



The above photo and the article published in 1914 by The Tacoma Daily News, Washington, reveals that the Croatian name was well known in the USA, although Croatia at that time was a part of Austrian-Hungarian Empire.





 
The "Blue Flame" in which Gary Gabelich captured the world record in Bonneville, Utah, October 23, 1970.

The best proof o fhow little attention is being devoted to the research and study of the people of Croatian descent is the fact that so few people know that Gary Gabelich, the son of an immigrant from Split, Croatia, living in San Pedro, Claifornia, held the fastest car speed record of 622 miles per hour (1,002 km/h) from 1970 to 1983. Of course, from that time on this record has been found every year in the Guinness Book of World Records under the "Fastest Automobiles".



Gary Gabelich - rocketman, car speed record holder for 13 years.




 
The grand opening of the Croatian Cultural Center of Chicago was on September 24, 1977. This recreational and educational center of 10,000 sq. feet was founded by Vladimir W. Bassich, architect, a group of the Dominican priests, particularly Fr. Francis H. Eterovich and Fr. Ivo Plenkovich. The building is located at 2845 West Devon Avenue and it has a banquet room for 800. a ssocial office, two kitchens, a small museum, reading room, classrooms and a few more basic rooms.





 
Najstarija hrvatska trgovina mješovite robe i mesnica u gradu Aberdeenu (Država Washington) koju je 1911. osnovala grupa od 30 Hrvata zaposlenih u lokalnim pilanama. Za upravitelja su izabrali Jurja Karamatića. Nakon nekoliko goidna Karamatić je isplatio ulagače i i uz pomoć obitelji vodio tu trgodinu sve do duboke starosti od 90 godina.

 
The oldest Croatian Grocery in Aberdeen, Washington, established in 1911, by a group of 30 Croats working in local lumber mills. They selected George Karamatić as their manager. After several years George payed off the investors and with the help of his family ran the grocery until the age of 90.



Encounter of two worlds; photo by Vladimir Novak
 
Los Angeles, 1979 - Encounter of two worlds - each in its own uniform: American policeman and Steve Jovanovich from Metković, Croatia, who never parts from the traditional insignia of his Old Country.


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Croatian Energy, page 2


 
Nalley Marcus (Narančić Marko), rođen u Lici u Hrvatskoj, u svom autu za dostavu: Tacoma, Washington, oko 1926. Počeo je u svom apartmanu proizvoditi i pakirati chips, što je s vremenom razvio u veliku multimilijunašku industriju.


Nalley Marcus (Narančić Marko), born in Lika in Croatia, in his first delivery car in Tacoma, Washington, around 1926. He started making and packing potato chips in his apartment until his business grew in multi-million dollar packaged dollar industry.



Marko Narančić - Marcus Nalley, born in Lika, Croatia



 
Marcus Nalley (1890-1962) as a chef at Bonneville Hotel in Tacoma, about 1918. The Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, in 1931, named him "First Citizen of  Tacoma". The Pierce County Board of Commissioners, just a few months before his death, presented him with its  "Outstanding Naturalized Citizen Award". For more information see an article by Adam S. Eterovich: King of Potato Chips.





 
Immigrant Mother in America, one of the murals by Maksimilijan Maxo Vanka in St. Nicholas Croatian Church, Milvalle, PA., where he created 22 large murals. His work was widely praised by American art critics.

The weekly TIME of July 19, 1937, had the following to say about the Vanka's murals: "...his completed work had gone far beyond Millvale and Pittsburgh, had put the parish of St. Nicholas in a class by itself as harboring one o the few distingushed sets of church murals in the United States".




Michael A. Bilandic, photo by Vladimir Novak
 
Michael A. Bilandic was one of the more influential and highly respected public figures in Chicago, serving as Mayor of Chicago from 1976 to 1979 and later as Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. He was a loyal Chicagoan and proud of his Croatian heritage. Born in 1923 to Croatian immigrants, he died in 2002, at the age of 78. (Photo by Vladimir Novak).



A very important event for the Croatian community of Chicago took place on Friday, March 14, 2003, in the Loop when a main building of the state judicial system was renamed as the Michael A. Bilandic Building.  On this occasion, in the presence of many distinguished city and state officials, family members, and friends of the late Judge Bilandic, the building was dedicated in his honor.

Source: www.stjeromecroatian.org

University of Illinois at Chicago: Michael A. Bilandic Papers


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Croatian Energy, page 3

Photo from around 1900.
Stephen Babare is the first from the left; many thanks to Mrs. Cynthia Babare for this information.

Prvi od mnogih značajnih brodograditelja - Hrvata u Americi bio je Stjepan Babare iz Starigrada. Prvo brodogradilište osnovao je koncem godine 1890, a već 1913. sa sinovima Georgeom i Nickom proizvodi po jedan brod u dva dana. Tko je radio kod Babare u Tacomi, smatran je majstorom toga zanata.


The first notable Croat shipbuilder in U.S. was Stephen Babare from Starigrad. Stephen founded his first shipyard in the late 1890's with his sons George and Nick. By 1913 in their shipyard they produced one ship in two days. Anyone working at the Babare shipyard in Tacoma was considered to be a master of this craft.

Many thanks to Mrs. Cynthia Babare for helping us to correct some inconsistencies in the previous version of the text.


Votive Chapel of Our Lady of Bistrica, photo by Vladimir Novak

Zavjetna kapelica Majke Božje Bistričke u američkom Narodnom Svetištu u Washingtonu, D.C., S.A.D.


Votive Chapel of Our Lady of Bistrica in the National Shrine, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.



Votive Chapel of Our Lady of Bistrica, photo by Vladimir Novak
 
Centuries old Croatian Coat of Arms is at the top. The statue of Marija Bistrica, Queen of Croatia holding the Christ Child, was carved by notable Croatian-American sculptor Joseph Turkalj.



Votive Chapel of Our Lady of Bistrica, photo by Vladimir Novak
 
The mosaic roundels surrounding the statue are the designs of John de Rosen, executed by Venetian Art Mosaic of New York. The seven roundels, viewed from the bottom and proceeding clockwise are: St. Nicholas Tavelić and Bl. Ozana Kotorka; the baptism of a Croatian peasant (A.D. 640, i.e. in 7th century, symbolizing very early christianization of Croatians); Our Lady of Sinj; the Croatian coat-of-arms; Our Lady of Trsat (Our Lady of Grace); King Zvonimir (11th century); and Aloysius Cardinal Stepinac (d. 1960).

The inscription on a mensa of the Portasanta marble altar translates: "Maria of Bistrica, pray for us."

Archbishop Franjo Kuharić of Zagreb dedicated the chapels October 17, 1970.

Source: Our Lady of Bistrica


 


 


Votive Chapel of Our Lady of Bistrica, photo by Vladimir Novak

Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac; Votive Chapel of Our Lady of Bistrica, photo by Vladimir Novak


Croatian King Zvonimir, 11th century; Votive Chapel of Our Lady of Bistrica, photo by Vladimir Novak

 


 


Votive Chapel of Our Lady of Bistrica, photo by Vladimir Novak

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Croatian Energy, page 4


 
The Croatian Cultural Club, founded in 1960, is dedicated to preserving  many of the original customs those ancestros brought with them from the "old country". Members of the Croatian Cultural Club of Joliet, Illinois, are pictured i front of the Club Hall at 1030 N. Hickory St., in 1973.

The club president, Nick Jurjevich (center in dark suit), holds a 1927 picture of the old Croatian Sea Lodge (Hrvatsko More). Founded in 1960, Joliet's Croatian Cultural Club supports a variety of activities such as annual festivals, kolo dancing lessons, a bowling tems, dinners, dances and various philantropic activities in the Joliet area.





The club president, Nick Jurjevich (in dark suit), holds a 1927 picture of the old Croatian Sea Lodge (Hrvatsko More).



 
Founders of the Joliet's Croatian Cultural Club, pictured in 1985 for the Club's 25th anniversary. They are, left to right, Mate Šikić, Louis Zdunich, Sr, and Marko Babić. Šikić adn Babić were a part of the post-World War II wave of immigrants that arived in the U.S. in the 1950s. Their entry into American society was eased and adjusted to the American way of life. Zdunich, himself an immigrant (1920), was responsible for asssisting many of his fellow-Lichans upon their arrival in the U.S.






 
Liberty fundraiser chairwoman, Deanie Gudac, presents certificate of recognition from restoration chairman Iacocca, to Croatian Cultural Club president Joseph Jelinek. Centuries old Croatian Coat of Arms can be seen behind them.





 
The Croatian Pool Hall and Cigar Store, built around 1916 at 223 W. Curtis Street, in South Aberdeen, Washington. It also housed a two-chair barber shop. On the second floor was the hall where the first Croatian lodges were organized, and the hall was also used for dances, with bands like the famous Zorich Family Orchestra performing. The building was torn down in the late 1940s.







 
A poster announcing the play "Ciganin" ("The Gipsy") at the Croatian home in Chicago. It was presented by the drama section of the club "Nada" ("Hope") founded in 1925. They were successful and sometimes they had audience of over 1000 visitors.


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Croatian Energy, page 5


 
The grand opening of the Croatian Lodge Home in 1925 in Aberdeen, Washington. The large hall was jointly owned by the Croatian Fraternal Union Lodges 271 and 323. Important as center for varied cultural activities, the hall boasted one of the finest dance floors in the Northwest. Most of the well-known big bands played there during its heyday. With the changing times and a decline in the Croatian population, the hall no longer sustained its purpose.



Croatian Brass Band


Croatian Band Aberdeen


Interior of the Home of Croatian Lodges, 1925


Dignitaries at the celebration


The flag of the Slavonic Illyric Mutual and Benevolent Society, in possesion of Adam Eterovich; photo by Vladimir Novak.
 
The flag of the Slavonic Illyric Mutual and Benevolent Society of San Francisco, 1857. Underneath the picture are the words: Mother Slavia, Thy Sons. In 1923 the name of the organization was changed to Slavonic Mutual and Benevolent Society. In March of 2004 the Board of Directors of the Slavonic Cultural Center and the Slavonic Mutual and Benevolent Society of San Francisco voted unanimously to change the name to Croatian American Cultural Center.


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Croatian Energy, page 6

Contents

ROSLYN, Washington




 
The main street in Roslyn, Washington, in 1892. At that time this was a strong mining area with mixed nationalities population of 1200, which grew to more than 4000 in 1920's. Around 1910 more than a half of the inhabitants were Croats, mostly miners. Today's population is nearly 800 residents with main industries tourism and recreation. The last of mines was closed in the 1960's.




 
This photo from Roslyn museum "Echos of Our Past" shows a group of  coalminers from this area. In the early days of 20th century a high percentage of the miners were Croatian emigrants.




 
These coalminers on strike from Roslyn are sitting on the Capital steps in Olympia city. In 1932 they were protesting against the working conditions in the Roslyn mines as being unsafe. Union leadership was often in the hands of Croatians and meetings were conducted in their native language, in Croatian.



Gas with electric machines is dangerous to life.



 
U rudarskom mjestu Roslyn (država Washington) oko 1910. godine su više od pola stanovnika bili Hrvati, ugavnom rudari i jasno, svi muškarci. Drugi s lijeva je "mladić Tony Bailey" , za koga se dvije godine poslije ustanovilo da je u stvari malda žena Glorija.

 
In the minig town Roslyn, Washington, around 1910 more than a half of the inhabitatnts were Croats, mostly miners, practically exclusively men. The second from the left is a young "boy Tony Bailey", who turned to be a young woman Gloria, as was discovered two years later.


Gloria "Tony" Baily, a young girl - miner



 
Life was harsh in the mining towns, but even though hazards exsisted and tragedies occured often, Croatians, like other people in the town, enjoyed their life. Pictured is the Roslyn tamburitza orchestra Živila Hrvatska (Hail Croatia) in 1903, composed of men who were themselves mainers.

The photo was taken at the "Echos of Our Past" museum in Roslyn, Washington.



Živila Hrvatska (Hail Croatia), tamburitza orchestra in Roslyn, Washington.


Živila Hrvatska (Hail Croatia), tamburitza orchestra of Croatian miners in Roslyn, Washington.


Živila Hrvatska - Hail Croatia, tamburitza orchestra of Croatian miners in Roslyn, Washington.


Photo by Vladimir Novak

Photo by Vladimir Novak
 
This is one of three large cemeteries for Croatian only in a little quaint mining town Roslyn, located about two hours drive east of Seattle in the State of Wasington. It is maybe the best example of the Croatian pioneer colony in the USA, and a bitter reminder of Croatian contribution to America. One woman married three times and three times lost her husbands to the miners. This cemetery in its silence throughout its eternity simbolizes the inevitable destiny of each individual emigrant.

Adam S. Eterovich: Croatian Cemeteries in Roslyn, Washington



Junque Palace; photo by Vladimir Novak
 
Once a grocery store on the second street in Roslyn, is now Junque Palace, a second-hand store specializing in old stoves, miner's hats, old typewriters, scythes, various tools and age-old necessities. The owners of the Junque Palace Mary and Joe Andlar collected 319 old miner's petroleum lamps ina 40-year period. Photo was taken in 1982.


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Croatian Energy, page 7

Franulovich sisters; Photo by Vladimir Novak
 
Two Franulovich sisters, professional singers performing under name Ruže Dalmatinke (Dalmatian Roses), wearing costumes from their native island of Korčula (Dalmatia, region of Croatia). New Seattle based, they specialize in authentic, traditional Croatian and Bosnian music.





 
Plakat američkog filma iz 1981 o hrvatskoj ribarskoj zajednici u Anacortesu, Washington. Film govori o životu triju sestara rođenih u Hrvatskoj na otoku Korčuli.

 
The placard for the the American TV-film made in 1981 about Croatian fishing community of coastal town of Anacortes, Washington. The film focuses on the life of three sisters born on the Croatian island of Korčula.



 
Sisters Franulovich from Korčula Island have done much to vitalize Croatian culture in the Pacific Northwest, especially in 1981, after a one-half hour film HRVATI (Croatians) has been produced by a five-time Emmy Award winning team.

The film captures the sponatenous dynamism of sisters, their family and other Croatians of the San Juan Islands where they have fished for more than nine decades.

A special documentary of KCTS/9, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.




 
The Vela Luka Croatian Folk Ensemble was founded in 1975 by Maria Petrish, born Franulovich. The energetic ensemble is formed almost entirely by descendants of immigrants from Croatian island of Korčula. With lively dances in authentic traditional costumes, colorfull in its music, there's a special message that goes behind each and every production number.





 
Pictured is Fisherman's Packing Corporation in Anacortes, Washington, in 1938. This very successful corporation was organized in 1928 in Everett by Croats from Dalmatia and 13 boat owners of other nationalities. In 1958 it was the larges fish cannery in the U.S.A. The corporation was sold in 1978.




 
John Plancich with a big salmon in early 1930's. He was the general  manager of Fisheman's Packing Corporation.

This was the largest salmon cannery on the west coast, established in 1928 as a cooperative of 35 almost entirely Croatian purse seining boat owners. They founded the co-op in order to creat a market outlet for their fish. The following year, they were joined by 45 additional purse seining boat owners. In 1933 John M. Plancich became its general manager and secreatry, remaining in that position until the sale of the co-op in 1978. Text by Frank Brozovich, DDS, honorary consul, Republic of Croatia.




Photo by Vladimir Novak
 
Weekly Croatian radio programs in America play a vital role in the maintainance of Croatian communities. The picture shows the editorial staff of The Voice of Free Croatia sponsored by the Croatian Radio Club in New York, founded in 1969 and still on the air. From left Vinko Kužina, John (Ivan) Pintar (1904-1989), Kurnoslav Mašina (1904-1989) and behind them is Miro Gal.



Photo by Vladimir Novak
 
The building of the Croatian Radio Club in New York at 37-18 Astoria Boulevard, Queens. Croatian of Greater New York purchased the building in 1972 where the radio programs originate.



Miro Gal; photo by Vladimir Novak

Miro Gal (1921-1985), one of the founders and speakers of the Croatian Radio Program and longtime president o fthe United American Croatians in New York. Photo was taken in 1984, a few months before his death.




Photo by Vladimir Novak

Steve Bubalo, Herzegovinean construction giant in Los Angeles - an exceptional businessman and patriot digging the streets in Hollywood, 1984. Steve, born in Ljubuški, focused his ambition to develop one o fthe largest and most successful construction firms in California. He did succeed. For his generosity and kindness, croatian Community of Southern California honored him with the Awarad Croatian Man of the Year.



A typical scene of his construction work on the streets of Los Angeles County. Photo by Vladimir Novak.

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Croatian Energy, page 8


 
The fifty storey granite Southwestern Bell Headquarters in downtown St. Louis (in the center of the picture) was built in 1983 by John Klarich Contracting Company. Since 1951 His Contracting Comapny has built over 120 buildings. John Klarić was born near Drivenik, Croatia.





John Klarić, born near Drivenik in Croatia




 
Croatian Moslems came to America in great numbers much like their Christian brethren. Some came prior to the Frist World War, others afterwards, and many came after World War II in search of jobs and freedom. With the increase in numbers, they established their religious and cultural centers, like the Islamic Cultural Center, 1810 N. Phingsten Road, Northbrook, Illinois, near Chicago. Pictured at the center are Muharem Yulfich, left, Ekrem Spahich, and Idris Ibragovich following a service at the mosque.

Text by Ekrem Spahich, USA, founder of the Croatian Philatelic Society.



 
Gravestone marked M.P.O. (Muslimanska Potporna Organizacija or Moslem Benevolent Organization "Džemijtul Hajrije"), organized in August 1916, is still active today, and is headed by industrialist Ilijaš Zenkich of Chicago. Bosnian Moslems built Croatian Islamic Center in Toronto. They share mosques with Moslems of other nationalities in Cleveland, New York City, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. Text by Ekrem Spahich.

 



Two grave markers at the Gary, Indiana Moslem Cemetery located at Oak Hall on 45th Avenue.


The end of Part 2

CROATIA - USA

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