C.S.P.S.125

Since 1887

Chronology of Czech and Slovak Sokol Minnesota of the West End,
St. Paul, Minnesota

Adapted from the Commemorative Program of the
125th anniversary of our C.S.P.S. Hall

June 13, 1882: F. C. Pícha, J.J. Hájek, Jan Strafelda, F. Kobilka, F. Kohout, V. Veverka, J. Walla (Vala), V. M. Hajek, W. Smrčka, and M. Kopajzl organized the first Sokol association in Minnesota. Walla becomes the first physical education director.

hayek1882: J. J. Hájek,
first Sokol president

1885: Society adopts the name Sokol Žižka after the Czech Hussite general Jan Žižka.

1890: Sokol Žižka dissolved 1900: Czech-American Sokol of St. Paul reformed as Česko-Americké Jednoty Sokol

1906: Unit joins the American Sokol Organization; President F. H. Dvořák welcomes the women’s auxiliary as the “beginning of the real advancement of the Sokol.”

First Sokol women's class1908: First women’s
gym class.

1915: District of Minnesota Sokols formed; first Slet at Harriet Island.

1920: New Prague Slet

1922: reorganized as Telocvična Jednota Ján Neruda then T.J. Sokol St. Paul; rejoined the American Sokol Organization (ASO)

1930: Twelve Sokol units of the Northern District of the American Sokol Organization. Slets and competitions in Minneapolis 1927, St. Paul 1930, Rice Lake WI 1935, Chippewa Falls WI 1936, and Pine City 1938.

1931- present: Sokols make their way up to Pine City to build their camp on Cross Lake. 2012 will be the 81st annual Sokol Camp Booya.

1932, 1938: International Slets in Prague with Minnesota participants.

1932: First Festival of Nations; Sokol St. Paul charter participant

first festival of nations1933:  Sokol at the
Festival of Nations.

1939-45: Sokol St. Paul joins Czechoslovak relief efforts after the Nazi occupation. Through the war years, Mens Physical Director Frank “Tati” Verner keeps fitness programming viable often with only three young children.

1950: English replaces Czech in monthly meeting minutes

1958: Northern District drops to four units: Pine City, Hopkins, Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Only St. Paul has an active gym program

1962: Northern District joins the Western District of ASO

1966: Sokol St. Paul hosts the First Western District Slet at Highland Park High School; others annually within the organization

1978: Unit renamed Sokol Minnesota and takes ownership of the C.S.P.S. Hall

N E Sladek1982: Sokol centennial. President Dr. N. E. Sladek: “The future viability of our organization depends on our ability to visualize and keep in focus, in this country and in these times, meaningful and clearly defined goals. We must consistently re-evaluate our raison d’être to ensure that we are meeting the needs and desires of our membership.”

1989: First Czech and Slovak Festival in the West End

1996: First Czech Slovak Cultural Day Camp for children.

2002: Sokol Minnesota’s 125th Anniversary celebration

2005: Sokol Minnesota’s membership reaches, and maintains, 325 members, an historic high.

Sokol Meetingroom2012:  Sokol Meetingroom
Our Website histories:

Early "Bohemian" immigration | Establishing St. Paul's C.S.P.S.  | CSPS Hall's chronology |
Histories from the C.S.P.S. Centennial 1987 | Czech and Slovak Sokol Minnesota chronology |
History from the Sokol centennial 1982 | Immigrant philosophical convergence | Circa 1892 flag |
1908 photograph of 58 Sokol fitness members