Historical Marker

SPJST Moravia Cemetery

Historical marker location:
Hallettsville, Texas
( 11 1/2 miles north of Hallettsvile, Texas on FM 957)
Marker installed: 2011
Marker size: 27" x 42"

IMMIGRANTS FROM NORTHEASTERN MORAVIA (CURRENT CZECH REPUBLIC) SETTLED IN THE AREA PRESENTLY KNOWN AS MORAVIA, TEXAS. MORAVIA WAS FOUNDED BY JAKUB HOLLUB AND HIS SON-IN-LAW IGNAC (J. E.) JALUFKA WHEN THEY ESTABLISHED A STORE IN 1881. THEY NAMED THE COMMUNITY AFTER THEIR HOMELAND OF MORAVIA. A TOWN QUICKLY GREW WITH A BLACKSMITH SHOP, A GIN, A SCHOOL, STORE AND MORE. SPJST LODGE NO. 23 NOVA MORAVA WAS ESTABLISHED AS A CHARTER MEMBER OF SPJST (SLOVANSKA PODPORUJICI JEDNOTA STATU TEXAS), A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CZECH FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION, IN 1897. THE FIRST MEMBERS OF THE LODGE CONSISTED OF IMMIGRANT FARMERS, STOREKEEPERS AND TEACHERS WHO MET AT THE MORAVIA HIGH SCHOOL. THE GROUP BUILT A LODGE HALL IN JANUARY 1914 AND, IN 1922, DECIDED TO ESTABLISH A CEMETERY. ON MAY 8, 1922, SPJST LODGE NO. 23 PURCHASED ONE AND A HALF ACRES OF LAND FROM FRANK BLAHUTA.

THE FIRST BURIAL IN THIS HISTORIC CEMETERY IS THAT OF WILLIE TROJCAK, WHO WAS ONE-AND-A-HALF WHEN HE PASSED AWAY ON SEPTEMBER 10, 1923. SEVERAL VETERANS FROM WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II AND THE PERSIAN GULF WAR ARE BURIED HERE. THE CEMETERY IS BORDERED BY PASTURES AND A FENCE, AND INCLUDES GRANITE AND MARBLE HEADSTONES ORIENTED IN A FEET-TO-EAST POSITION WITH NATURAL VEGETATION. ORIGINALLY, THE CEMETERY WAS ESTABLISHED AS A BURIAL PLACE FOR MEMBERS OF LODGE NO. 23 AND THEIR FAMILIES BUT NOW ANYONE MAY PURCHASE A LOT. BURIALS INCLUDE CATHOLIC AND NON-CATHOLIC MEMBERS. SPJST MEMBERS PROVIDED FUNERAL AND BURIAL SERVICES TO ITS MEMBERS IN THE CZECH LANGUAGE. THE BURIALS HERE PROVIDE A HISTORY OF SPJST LODGE NO. 23 CZECH-MORAVIANS AND THEIR FAMILIES

As one of the most visible programs of the Texas Historical Commission (THC), historical markers commemorate diverse topics in Texas history, including: the history and architecture of houses, commercial and public buildings, religious congregations, and military sites; events that changed the course of local and state history; and individuals who have made lasting contributions to the state, community organizations, and businesses.

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Texas random facts
Lavaca County, located in southeast Texas, has a rich and diverse history dating back to its settlement in the early 19th century. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Karankawa and Tonkawa people, who thrived off the land's natural resources. European settlement began in the 1820s, following the arrival of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred colonists.

In 1846, Lavaca County was officially established by the Texas state legislature and was named after the Lavaca River, which runs through the area. The county quickly developed as a center for agriculture, with cotton becoming the primary cash crop. Many plantations were established, and slavery played a significant role in the local economy, impacting the social and cultural dynamics of the region.

During the Civil War, Lavaca County supported the Confederacy, with many of its residents volunteering for military service. The county experienced the effects of the war firsthand, including economic hardships and infrastructure damage. In the post-war years, the cotton industry faced several challenges, including the boll weevil infestation and the Great Depression, which led to a decline in agricultural dominance.

In the 20th century, Lavaca County transitioned into a more diversified economy, with the growth of oil and gas exploration. The discovery of oil in the early 1900s brought prosperity to the region, attracting new residents and businesses. Today, Lavaca County continues to be primarily rural with a strong agricultural heritage, while also benefiting from the contributions of the energy industry. The county's deep-rooted history and ongoing development make it a unique and historically significant part of Texas.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Lavaca County, Texas.

  • 1846 - Lavaca County is established by the Texas legislature, carved out of parts of neighboring counties.
  • 1849 - The first county seat is established in Hallettsville.
  • 1852 - The oldest known courthouse in Lavaca County is built in Hallettsville.
  • 1856 - The county's first newspaper, the Lavaca Democrat, is founded.
  • 1861-1865 - Lavaca County residents support the Confederacy during the Civil War.
  • 1867 - St. Peter's Lutheran Church, the oldest continuously active Lutheran congregation in Texas, is established in Hallettsville.
  • 1873 - The Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway extends its tracks into Lavaca County.
  • 1881 - A new courthouse is constructed in Hallettsville to replace the original courthouse.
  • 1922 - The area around Lavaca County experiences a significant oil boom, leading to increased economic activity.
  • 1936 - The current Lavaca County Courthouse, a Classical Revival-style building, is completed in Hallettsville.
  • 1942-1945 - Many Lavaca County residents serve in World War II.
  • 1997 - The Lavaca County Courthouse is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
  • 2010 - Lavaca County celebrates its 150th anniversary since its establishment.
  • 2018 - Lavaca County continues to be a predominantly rural area with a strong agricultural industry.