My Slovak heritage is very important to me and something that I am very proud of. Over the years, I have enjoyed listening to my Grandma and Grandpa Roman reminisce about stories of my ancestors and family traditions while gathered around the holiday dinner table.
There is one particular story that has made a lasting impression on me and is also one that exemplifies the incredible bravery and perseverance of a young girl whom I would come to know as my twice Great Grandmother, Anna Nemergut. In November 1906, at the young age of 15, she left behind her entire family in the tiny farming village of Plavec, Czechoslovakia and set out on her own on a voyage to the United States of America on the Steamship Oldenburg in search of opportunity. Thirteen days later, she arrived in the Port of New York and went to live with her mother’s uncle, Stefan Gala, on Pembroke Street in Bridgeport, CT. …show more content…
Despite having the same surname, they separately migrated from the same village in Czechoslovakia, but were not related. They married and eventually purchased a small farm in Stratford, CT where they raised ten children. My great grandparents were extremely resourceful and carried their farming knowledge and traditions some 4,302 miles with them to America. Their farm was self-sustaining with a milk cow, pigs, chickens, fruit trees, a garden and a well to draw water. Every Sunday and holidays the entire family would gather together at the farm for a meal and fellowship. In the late 1950’s, they sold their farm and land to the Diocese of Bridgeport to make way for St. Mark’s Catholic Church. In addition, a parcel of land was donated to the Town of Stratford and in exchange a street, Nemergut Drive, was named in recognition of their generous
There is one particular story that has made a lasting impression on me and is also one that exemplifies the incredible bravery and perseverance of a young girl whom I would come to know as my twice Great Grandmother, Anna Nemergut. In November 1906, at the young age of 15, she left behind her entire family in the tiny farming village of Plavec, Czechoslovakia and set out on her own on a voyage to the United States of America on the Steamship Oldenburg in search of opportunity. Thirteen days later, she arrived in the Port of New York and went to live with her mother’s uncle, Stefan Gala, on Pembroke Street in Bridgeport, CT. …show more content…
Despite having the same surname, they separately migrated from the same village in Czechoslovakia, but were not related. They married and eventually purchased a small farm in Stratford, CT where they raised ten children. My great grandparents were extremely resourceful and carried their farming knowledge and traditions some 4,302 miles with them to America. Their farm was self-sustaining with a milk cow, pigs, chickens, fruit trees, a garden and a well to draw water. Every Sunday and holidays the entire family would gather together at the farm for a meal and fellowship. In the late 1950’s, they sold their farm and land to the Diocese of Bridgeport to make way for St. Mark’s Catholic Church. In addition, a parcel of land was donated to the Town of Stratford and in exchange a street, Nemergut Drive, was named in recognition of their generous