WILBER CZECH MUSEUM
By Irma Ourecky

Senator Joe T. Vosoba, with the endorsement of Governor Frank Morrison called a meeting on April 7, 1962 of Wilber citizens. 150 attended. The purpose of the meeting was to present a program to organize a Nebraska Czech Society to renew Czech Festival Days which had not been held since 1937.

The program would be coordinated with a statewide program to attract tourism to Nebraska. Later a meeting was held at Wilber Sokol Hall. About 350 attended from Crete, Brainard, Fairbury, DeWitt. Dwight, Dorchester and Milligan. Joe Seacrest of Lincoln Journal was on the Governors tourism board spoke on preservation of Czech culture, Hotel Wilber and a Museum were one of the objectives. Dr. Vladmir Kucera, a Czech refugee spoke on preserving the language. Mayor Elect Walter Baer stated there were limitless possibilities for the future of Wilber, which included a Museum, revival of Czech art, music, foods, customs, costumes and dance. Much publicity was done and the First Czech Festival was held August 3 -4, 1962 with a theme "Our Czech Heritage". About 20,000 visitors came.

A Czech Museum Committee was formed and museum donated articles brought by the visitors were housed in temporary quarter, a small brick building that was the weigh station of the Farmers Elevator.

In July 1965 Mr. and Mrs. Milo Stasny purchased a back building at 102 W. 3rd from Mr. and Mrs. Robert Weber and deeded it to Nebraska Czechs of Wilber as a gift for Czech head quarters and a Czech Museum.

Possession was taken by August 1st and interesting artifacts were displayed. The duck, dumpling and sauerkraut and desert of kolaches were served to visitors of the 4th Annual Czech Festival August 7 - 8, 1965. Breakfast was served from 7 to 10 a.m.

A dedication ceremony was held August 8, 1965 of the Czech Museum and also a Historical marker on the intersection of highways 103 and 41 which declares Wilber the Czech Capitol of Nebraska.

The Czech Museum was formerly a furniture store, with a pressed tin ceiling; the second level to the north was a funeral parlor. The Nebraska Czech of Wilber built wide steps into the basement poured a cement floor and also painted walls and carpeted upstairs.

The first level has three model pioneer rooms; kitchen, parlor and bedroom all furnished with antique dishes, furniture, curtains and accessories, a souvenir sales department and desk along the west wall. The east wall has three large divisions with 4 shelves each housing beautiful imported Czech dolls and one cabinet of other dolls.

The south windows show a room of antique furniture; a quilting set up with volunteer quilters who sew the tiny stitches on customer's quilts. Once a year, during the Czech Festival, a quilt made and quilted by the group is raffled off to help the Museum fund. A 1930 rug-weaving loom is at the entrance. Rag Rug weaving is demonstrated daily. The rugs are sold to also help the Museum Fund. All volunteers help to meet expenses by these projects and gift shop.

The museum is open daily 1:00 to 4:00, 7 days a week or by appointment.

Next to the desk on the west wall are jewelry store cupboards that were donated. The top part shows Czech glass pioneers dishes, vases and much more.

The second level, which was a Funeral Parlor also, has glass cupboards that were moved from the first floor. They contain quilted quilts and on the wall are many old, large, beautiful frames that hung in the parlor. Wreaths in the frames are made of yarn, feathers and hair for the eye to see. Mannequins are scattered around in costumes from the old country, a large map of Czechoslovakia, showcase of hats and much more.

The basement level houses model grocery store, meat market, dentist office, beauty parlor, school room, stuffed birds and animals, showcase of guns, blacksmith shop, and many showcases of a variety of antiques.

We have a meeting room on the street level, which is used for cards, lunches, and meetings and as a Senior Center.

Our town welcomes bus tours for an all day outing. The day begins with coffee and kolache at the museum, a visit at the Czech Bakery for a demonstration on kolache baking, a meat market tour to see how the sausages are made, the drug store and flower shop who both give tours and have Czech souvenirs to offer. Dinner at a cafe, a window and screen factory all within 2 blocks and of courses a Museum tour. By 3 o'clock most are ready to buy souvenirs and leave for home.

The museum is open 1:00 to 4:00 7 days a week. We demonstrate quilting and rug making.

We invite you to come and see our collections.

For information call Irma Ourecky at home in the mornings (402) 821-2485 or the museum phone 821-21183 or write to her at P O. Box 652 Wilber, NE 68465

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