Freedom Day Lunch at Hungarian Social Club of Ashford, 2016
RecorderRecorded by
Aniko Szabo
Hungarian-American
Date2016 March 20
MediumBorn digital audio
DimensionsDuration: 5 Minutes, 19 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineConnecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections
DescriptionAudio recording of announcements made during the Freedom Day Lunch held at the Hungarian Social Club of Ashford. Some are general area event announcements, rather than those specific to the Hungarian Social Club or Hungarian community events. Recorded by CCHAP fieldworker Aniko Szabo.
Object number2015.196.1319.1
CopyrightIn Copyright
NotesSubject Note: The Hungarian community in Connecticut is centered in three areas – Ashford, Wallingford, and the Fairfield area. Each of the communities operates a social club, with the Wallingford and Ashford groups being the most active. A history of the Ashford community follows; the Wallingford Hungarian Club is also an important center for the community to hold cultural and historical events, and an annual festival in September.In 2016, Aniko Szabo conducted fieldwork with some of Connecticut’s Hungarians, as a volunteer with CCHAP. Her family had emigrated to Connecticut from Hungary and as a Hungarian speaker, she was able to interview community members and attend events. She collected a ribbon (2015.218.0) worn by members of the Ashford Hungarian Club, and documented the annual March 2016 Freedom Day Dinner with photography and video. Aniko received the following written description of the Ashford Hungarian community and its history from James Reviczky (President of the Hungarian Social Club) in April 2016, as written by Eva Makray Annati in the Ashford Citizen.
“80th Anniversary of the Hungarian Social Club of Ashford - The Hungarian Social Club of Ashford (HSCA) was formed in 1935. You may wonder how so many Hungarians came to live in Ashford. In the early part of the 20th Century, in addition to Hungarians, many Czechs, Poles, Russians, Slovaks, and Slavs also made Ashford home. Since most of these immigrants came to Ashford from New York, it would seem there was a common link. Allen B. Lincoln, in his History of Windham County, credits Vincent Horkey, a businessman from New York, with actively attracting immigrants to the farms in the valleys and on the hills of Ashford. Population was around 500 in 1900; so many farms were not being worked. Hungarians came to Ashford to farm, raising chickens and producing milk; there was one orchard on North Road. Some local roads were named after Hungarian families: Campert, Chatey, Karosi, Seles, and Varga. Some residents may remember shopping at the Ashford Shopping Center (located where Cumberland Farms now stands) and many of us still stop to get an ice cream or hotdog at the Ashford Dairy Bar, both businesses started and operated by Hungarians. People still enjoy fishing and swimming at Ashford Lake, built by Joseph Campert (Raymond Molnar operated the heavy equipment). The stones used to build Knowlton Memorial Hall came from a gravel bank operated by the Varga family.
Twenty-five percent of the founding members of the Ashford Volunteer Fire Department were of Hungarian descent; they elected John Reviczky as the first Fire Chief. Many Hungarians have served on Ashford’s boards and commissions; served in the armed forces during both war and peace; and served in the state legislature and Stephen Reviczky served as Commissioner of Agriculture from 2011-2019.
There were now so many Hungarians in Ashford that they formed the Hungarian Social Club and the Hungarian Reformed Church. The church owned land on Town Hall Road adjacent to the Warrenville Cemetery. When it was sold to Mrs. Mathewson, a small parcel was reserved for a small cemetery where Stephen and Mary Feher are buried. The church bought the house and land on Westford Road later owned by Ralph and Drew Wetzel: the house is just past the A.V.F.D. along the Mount Hope. Church services were held in the building and the Hungarian Social Club held dances and dinners there, too. On July 16, 1936, the Muller house at 316 Ashford Center Road was purchased for $800.00. The dance hall was built later with donated materials and the labor of club members. There are several lists of charter members that have been compiled over the years: the lists range from 12 to 32 so more research is needed to determine who the original members were. Some relatives of founding members of the club still reside in the area and are members of the club. The club has sponsored many dinners and dances. At first, food was prepared at home and brought to the club but by 1957 there was a kitchen. The “restrooms,” however, were still outhouses. Since then there have been renovations to the kitchen and modern restrooms installed. The club has prospered through the hard work and generosity of its members. The interior of the original Muller house was renovated in July and August of 2014 with volunteer labor: 2014 is referred to as the year without a summer.
Dinners and dances are the highlights of the club calendar. Authentic dishes and desserts are prepared by members using family recipes. Over the years many of our neighbors have joined us for good food, lively music, and good conversations. Two events are held annually to commemorate important times in Hungarian history, one being the revolt against the Austrians in 1848 held in March and another in October, marking the 1956 revolution. Every March the club hosts a Freedom Day dinner to honor the sacrifices made by Hungarians in a rebellion against Austria. In 2015, the dinner was held at Knowlton Memorial Hall and many more of our neighbors attended. The Memorial Dinner in October recognizes the sacrifices Hungarians made in fighting Soviet forces in the 1956 Revolution. Many people fled Hungary after the Red Army brutally put down the revolution. Some of the refugees made their way to Connecticut and became members of the club. Joseph Zambo, a state representative from Ashford, was instrumental in persuading the Connecticut legislature to welcome and aid refugees from Hungary. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to another wave of immigrants to come to America and the Social Club.
There were not many commercial dancing venues until the 1960s so dances at the club were well attended by Hungarians and townspeople. Capacity crowds filled the hall and a constable was needed to direct traffic. There were Connecticut-based Hungarian bands years ago, but today the bands come up from New York. There is plenty of Hungarian music which is complemented with American music sung in Hungarian. Dances are always preceded by an authentic Hungarian dinner. Over the years celebrations have included songs and poetry recitations. Some members still wear traditional costumes to events. The club exists as a place where Hungarian culture and traditions can continue in America. Hungarian-Americans at the club are proud of their heritage and welcome our neighbors to experience it with us. Submitted by Eva Makray Annati”
Additional materials exist in the CCHAP archive for this community.
Cataloging Note: This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-245929-OMS-20.
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