Bohemian Hall abrim with Czech history and community

Serving as a place for not only plays, but also musical performances, the stage at Bohemian Hall sports reversible panels. Emil Piler, of Weyerhaeuser painted them for $157.37. The kitchen and stage were added in 1929, but previously, the kitchen was located in the now closed-off balcony at the other end of the hall. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

For 118 years, the Zapadini Cesko Bratrska Jednota (ZCBJ)/Western Fraternal Life Association (WFLA) Bohemian Lodge 141 has been part of the Czech heritage and history in Cadott. As of 2022, the hall is the only remaining building standing in Wisconsin, attached to lodges.

The Bohemian Hall’s story began at the end of the 19th century, when a couple brothers in Eau Claire, took out advertisements in Czech newspapers in southeastern Wisconsin, saying there was good land and fellowship in the Cadott area, which would bring good families.

That appealed to Czech/Bohemian free-thinkers, in search of a better life. The brothers promised that they would donate part of the land they were developing for a cemetery and a secular meeting hall, which was not so common back in the homeland or in southeast Wisconsin.

“So, I think that was attractive for a lot of people,” said Frank Smoot, Chippewa County historian.

Built by volunteers, the hall became a place for weddings, funerals, birthday and anniversary parties, and school events.

“It’s a remarkable achievement,” said Smoot. “It promised to be a place where the community could gather for all kinds of reasons.”

In the late 1800s to early 1900s, Czech natives came to the area for four reasons, with the main one to acquire land, but also because of religious freedom and political freedom. Many were draft dodgers, who didn’t want to fight for the prince of Habsburg.

“A lot of them had thoughts of going back,” said lodge member Joann Parks, adding that many of the Czechs enlisted in World War I to fight for their homeland’s freedom, which is reflected in old photos and paintings hanging in the hall. “That’s how my grandfather became a citizen, because he fought in World War I. These things tell the other story of why they came.”

When the lodge was started, members held elections to fill the regular positions, such as president and secretary, but they also had a keeper of the keys, property managers and even appointed someone to start the fire in the hall prior to meetings. There was also an inner guard, who stationed himself at the inner door with a hole in (that is still there), to admit members.

The home office would send a password and unless members knew it, they didn’t get in. When it came time to vote to allow someone to join the lodge, ballots were cast by placing either a white marble or a black marble in a box. If you received black marbles, you didn’t get in, which is where the term black-balling came from.

This went on for a decade, where some were not accepted, but in February of 1914, all but one black marble went missing and the lodge was forced to be more welcoming to new members.

“They lost their marbles,” laughed Parks.

Looking back on minutes of the past century, many occurrences seem fairly normal, such as donating funds to those in need or purchasing something for the hall. However, some verged on the hysterical and puzzling.

One such report in December of 1923, read that the lodge agreed to pay grave diggers $10. Anyone who thinks that is too high, can dig the grave themselves, but must pay the grave digger $1 for showing them the location to dig.

Another entry read that they voted to allow the grass around the hall to be mowed for hay, while in 1933, it was suggested they start an English speaking lodge.

“And they voted against it,” said Parks. “They said the time wasn’t right yet.”

The hilarity continued, as in 1957, Alice was kicked by a cow. It was also noted in September of 1963, that 600 meetings had been held since the lodge’s inception.

“But then in December, they postponed the next meeting, because of the Pike Lake Ice Fishing Contest,” said Parks.

In yet more meeting minutes, it was reported that in 1965, the lodge president broke his toe while hunting, while another addressed important matters. Since there’s no further business and the Packers game is on, the meeting will end.

As the years passed, things changed as the world did, which was proven when the lodge stopped singing during meetings, after the 1980s. Whether it was God Bless America or Happy Birthday, the lodge lifted their voices in song of some sort, eventually adding My Wild Irish Rose and When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.

“In 1995, that was the last recording of them singing the Czech national anthem,” said Parks.

Some changes weren’t all bad, though. “In 2019, we elected our first female president,” said Parks.

Lodge 141 has always been more progressive than others, as it was one of the first fraternals that allowed women in. When the early wave of Bohemians came to the East Coast, the men worked in factories and mines, and the women were housewives.

“The next wave that came, came because there was advertising of cheap land, farm land,” said Parks. “Here, a woman on the farm is an equal partner.”

Now that it is the only remaining hall in the state, it’s even more important that the lodge continue its storied history, especially since it saw a decline of events and attendance several decades ago. Recognizing the value of their center for community and history, members rallied around and restored the hall, which caused a revival of use for annual events.

“It was felt a place like this, should not go away,” said Smoot.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="367"] After a period of decline several decades ago, the Bohemian Hall went through a restoration, which included refinishing the dance hall floors, and adding a railing around the front and side entrance. In 1992, the hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]   [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="243"] Built 20 years before, in 1927, the Bohemain Hall was the gathering place for Czechs to enjoy some leisure moments, amid the hard workdays of the time. Although little is known about it, there was a lodge that was located kitty-corner across the road from the Bohemian Hall, known as Lodge 18. The two merged in 1929.[/caption]   [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="243"] Not everyone knows it’s there, but a trap door on the stage leading to the basement fascinates lodge member Joann Parks. “They say that the guy would hold the cue cards for the actors and the audience couldn’t see him,” said Parks, but the bar is also downstairs. “My thought, is this was built during prohibition.” Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_157408" align="alignnone" width="300"] Poppy accents abound in the structure, since they are a large part of Czech tradition, with poppy seeds a must in cooking. Many Czech artifacts are on display at the hall, including a poppy seed grinder. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]