It was the turn of the 20th Century. Millions of Eastern Europeans were coming to America for economic opportunity taking jobs in the coal mines, steel mills, and railroads as unskilled laborers. With technological advancements, some saw the opportunity to move into skilled employment. They brought their religion, language, and traditions with them-their ethnic characteristics-to the new communities where they settled. For Slovaks, in general, the new neighborhoods were mostly located in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The old country was called Austria-Hungary, but many Slovaks did not consider themselves Austrian nor Hungarian. Then a war began in Europe, and the Slovaks had to discover their own identity. Their employers took advantage of them, but they provided the means to experience the American Dream. They became naturalized US citizens and enjoyed the economic boom of the 1920s. Then an economic collapse, and many had to figure out a path to their own recovery. Then another war in Europe, and the Slovak immigrants sent their sons and daughters to fight for their country. They came back and started the baby boom of the 1950s.This is a story of two Slovak immigrant families during the first half of the 20th Century. The Trepak and Borgony families settled in Cleveland, Ohio, and Braddock, Pennsylvania.
It was the turn of the 20th Century. Millions of Eastern Europeans were coming to America for economic opportunity taking jobs in the coal mines, steel mills, and railroads as unskilled laborers. With technological advancements, some saw the opportunity to move into skilled employment. They brought their religion, language, and traditions with them-their ethnic characteristics-to the new communities where they settled. For Slovaks, in general, the new neighborhoods were mostly located in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The old country was called Austria-Hungary, but many Slovaks did not consider themselves Austrian nor Hungarian. Then a war began in Europe, and the Slovaks had to discover their own identity. Their employers took advantage of them, but they provided the means to experience the American Dream. They became naturalized US citizens and enjoyed the economic boom of the 1920s. Then an economic collapse, and many had to figure out a path to their own recovery. Then another war in Europe, and the Slovak immigrants sent their sons and daughters to fight for their country. They came back and started the baby boom of the 1950s.This is a story of two Slovak immigrant families during the first half of the 20th Century. The Trepak and Borgony families settled in Cleveland, Ohio, and Braddock, Pennsylvania.
