This was a pretty neat day. Olga took us to Makov No. 8 and the Smejkal family was there waiting for us. Two days ago, Olga had called them and told them of our visit. It was the first they had heard that one of their relatives had gone to America, and they were a bit skeptical until Olga read names and connections from the family tree.
We met Frantisek Smejkal, the man in the center of the photo above, who is 85 years old, his son Jan, Jan's wife, and two of their sons, Jan and Zbynek.
And remember this photo we thought might be of the Novotny family? Well, this is the matching copy that the Smejkal's pulled out of their box of old photos, after Frantisek Smejkal identified his father as the one standing fourth from left, in the back, looking over his father's left shoulder. His father was Frantisek Smejkal, who was Jan Smejkal's brother. So that means that Frantisek (85) and Dad's grandfathers were brothers.
And as if there was any doubt, Jan's wife (we will get her name better tomorrow) pulled out a plate of kolaches as we sat around the table. Now, I guess I already had a feeling that the best kolaches in the world would be the ones I remember eating at Grandma's, but these are definitely in the running for second place.
It's late, I'm tired, and Augusta is waiting to use the computer, so I will save the rest of the story for later.
Wow - it's all we can say. Nan
ReplyDeleteSo after looking over my family tree chart last night with a beer and a magnifying glass and then soaking this all in some more and sleeping on it, I can't keep my excitement to myself. How amazing is it that you are at the house where Grandma's father was born and lived! I have so many questions and can't wait to hear the details. The fact that they pulled the picture out of the drawer that matched the picture that you all have! The fact that Dad has done this twice; on both sides of the family, what a gift to us all, but how he must feel! And one request from the States, we can't wait to see pictures of the Kolaches! We are all remembering the tastes....Love, Nan
ReplyDeleteI think Dad is astounded, although I'm not sure that is the best word, blown away, maybe, that he was able to find the exact same connection, generationally, that he found on the Bals side. And the Smejkal farm, like Lusebrink, is, or was, one of the bigger farms. I'll write more about Makov 8 farm later, though. I'm tired again, but I want to get some photos downloaded to the blog yet tonight. Love and miss you, Jill
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