Let Not The Light Of Freedom Be Extinguished! 91003 ’ '3 ' 0 N019N IHSyM *M‘N 'IS H1917 3££tr IN HOME 1083Z *W Ny3f j OMOVINA SLOVENIAN MORNING NEWSPAPER erving m Ohio ano nationwide over 150 000 American Slovenians Vol. 96 — No. 38 (USPS 024100) AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, SEPTEMBER 22, 1994 ISSN Number 0164-68X 50C Little Slovenia at big cultural crossroads by Robert F. Drinan National Catholic Reporter I was both exhilarated ar apprehensive as I flew out ( Jubljana, the capital c ovenia, after some days ( ecturing and preaching in thi jfcw country, which broke o Irom Yugoslavia in 1991. ?ave first John F. Kenned ecture at the University c Ljubljana on the occasion c e May 29th birthday of tf a,n president. The recei eath of Jacqueline Kenned nassis made the occasio °re memorable an meIancholy. 1 spoke at a universit tarted by the Jesuits in 161 n conducted by them unt Pnie ordered the dissolutio tue Jesuit order in 1773. •story tends to overwhelm ^ to this tiny natio ,h)c^ on Austria and Ital AUs(r.’ after belonging t ed h,a f0r decades, was sen bee ^ toe Nazis and the teDuhr6 °ne of the si yu lcs ihat made up Tito’ the °S aV'a‘ ®ut 'be language RomaCnU,tore’ and the dee SIqv .^atb°bc faith of th shalrfui'ans remained un since o,6' In the three year tionh °Ven'a obtained its na has se°0d’ toe Catholic churc ^elf'Crw!f"j SUrge of faith ani time c tldence. For the firs not afnCe 1941> Catholics ar faith- t0 Pr°fess thei etJ fmJ toar °f being exclud °Pporti PUblic office or othe lar8e 1 tleS is g°ne- But, i toitted mber remain as com a*most S°nlalists’ opposed t( industry3 Privatization o Mass and. eoncelebratet high , a Pfest'gious Catholii Vear af,°0‘that reopened las *^1 wk" e'n8 elosed sinci ?cbo0| Cn the Nazis seized th< 'nto and turned i seientif:arniy barracks. Th. fncmtv 1C .equiPment, th. toosph’!ndfthe Catholic at SChOol *3, °f that secondar3 teacher, 'tupressive. The la3 Urged applauded when : Opiate aStUdentS t0 COn toHgious Hf V?Cation to th( [''story ofhto- * c,ted the lonf yrsuUnesfahH Clstercians, the AtoericaUder!tS> dressed in ?eakitig am6 JeanS and ^n8lish L arnaz,ngly good n9"’ ^'ichTh^ t0 WeIco-e a A0t expect rey Pr°bably did Vt'can rom a visiting 1116 toree dioeec^c Slovenia operate a seminary with 80 students and have quiet hopes that the political rebirth of Slovenia will bring a rebirth of the church, which through the centuries in Slovenia has had more than its share of martyrs and saints. But church leaders see the realities of what communism and secularism have done to the strong, traditional Catholicism of the Slovenian people. There are now more abortions than live births. The new constitution, after a great struggle over abortion, states “persons shall be free to decide whether to bear children.” The government is also required by the constitution, to create the conditions necessary to “enable parents to freely choose whether or not to bear children.” The constitution does, however, outlaw the death penalty. The new Slovenia still requires that marriage be performed by a civic authority. Although “the state and religious groups shall be separate,” all religious groups “shall be guaranteed freedom of activity.” The constitution seems to be silent on tax exemption for church-related entities. At the magnificent school where I lectured, teachers’ salaries are paid by the government. The right to divorce, implicit in the new constitution, seems to be exercised in Slovenia with numbers comparable to nations in Western Europe. The problems of the church in Slovenia are comparable to those in the other newly liberated nations of Eastern Europe. But the problems in Slovenia seem even more complicated because this new nation with only one-third the territory of Switzerland and one-third of Switzerland’s population seems vulnerable to attack by other Balkan nations or to a communist retaking of the government. Some in Slovenia openly state that things were better under the communists and that the new coalition government has few friends in the Balkans and little to sell to the West. Slovenians with a wide variety of socialist leanings are not pleased with the explosion of the market economy, the growth of personal fortunes or the introduction of a stock market. Some communists and some Catholics (who (Continued on page 2) (L to R) The Sajnovics: Josephine, Stan Jr. and Stan Sr., in front of their colorful farm sign which features both breeder chicKens and turkeys, the two kinds of poultry they raise. The Sajnovics of the Stanrika turkey farms by Alice Gibb, photos by Stephen Harding Canada’s Who’s Who of the Poultry Industry Stanley and Josephine Saj-novic are two people who have tested the courage of their convictions and triumphed. The couple, who founded Stanrika Farms in Sebright, Ontario, have combined their convictions with hard work and a little daring to create a farming operation for the Nineties. They produce thousands of turkeys and breeder chickens annually in a beautiful landscape just a few miles northeast of Lake Simcoe. The Sajnovics were born in Slovenia, the area of Yugoslavia closest to the Austrian border. After the Germans retreated from Slovenia in World War II, young men like Sajnovic were drafted into Communist dictator Joseph Tito’s military police. In 1946, Sajnovic was expected to sign a Communist Party membership. Instead, he deserted and fled to Europe. For three years, he worked with the Allied forces in Austria and Italy to try to prevent the Communists from taking control in Yugoslavia. When it became obvious this was a losing battle, Sajnovic decided to emigrate. While many of his close friends settl- ed in the United States or Canada, Sajnovic, a custom furniture cabinet-maker by trade, headed for Australia. He wanted to be, he says, “Far away from the troubles in Europe.” While a teenager, and working as a partisan against the Germans, Sajnovic had met a teenager named Josephine. The couple corresponded for 10 years, while Josephine studied to be a doctor. At the end of her third year in university, she went on vacation near the Austrian border, planning to flee into the neighboring country. Instead, she was captured by the Communists and thrown in prison. Her crime was not only attempting to escape, but also having connections with Sajnovic, a known anti-Communist. Saj-novic’s own parents and sisters had also been jailed because of Stan’s opposition to Tito. Josephine remained cool “She told them I have finished my three years of university, but I have two to go and I would be foolish to leave all that behind,” her husband recalls. The Communists released Josephine; she immediately returned to the border and escaped into Austria. After a decade-long separation, she contacted Sajnovic. In February, 1956, they were married in Melbourne, Australia. Sajnovic was then working as a cabinetmaker, supervising 30 co-workers. Josephine, who had studied English at university, found work almost immediately at a car dealership. She soon discovered, however, that something about the climate created recurring headaches and other health problems. The young couple decided to visit fellow Slovenians living in Canada. The Canadian consul in Australia warned Sajnovic, “Don’t go to Canada planning to get a job because there aren’t any.” Nonetheless, the Sajnovics were smitten by Canada and decided to rent an apartment in Toronto. Determined to prove the consul wrong, Sajnovic got out the telephone book, and noted the addresses of custom furniture companies in the city. He set out on foot and at the first furniture company, asked if he could see “my friend, the manager.” Sajnovic told the manager, “I have my hands, I have my head, I have my own tools.” Despite the fact that the company had just laid off staff, the manager was intrigued by Sajnovic’s story. After quizzing him about his roundabout route to Canada, the manager told Sajnovic he could start work the next Monday. When Sajnovic returned to the apartment, he announced, “I found a job.” His wife replied, “So did I.” For six years, Sajnovic worked as a custom furniture maker while Josephine worked in the head office of an insurance company. The couple gradually noticed that Toronto seemed to empty out on weekends. They discovered the reason was that many of their co-workers fled to cottages north of the city. The Sajnovics decided perhaps they should look for an older cottage they could fix up. Instead, their real estate agent called to say, “There’s a farm for sale up near Orillia that I think you should see.” Sajnovic’s initial response was, “What the hell would I do with a farm?” The agent insisted, however, that they should at least visit the farm, which had been abandoned for ten years. They discovered that the farmhouse, although solidly built, had been heated by a woodstove, that there was no running water, and an outdoor privy. The house, Sajnovic recalls, “was like a blacksmith’s place, we had to scrape the dirt off the floors.” (Continued on page 3) AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, SEPTEMBER 22, 1994 2 Slovenia. (Continued from page 1) quote the papal encyclicals on the social order)'agree that the capitalism emerging in Slovenia is irreconcilable with fairness to both rich and poor. The constitution itself is ambivalent on this question, since it denies the possibility of ownership of property for foreign persons or corporations. Multinational corporations are reluctant to invest in a country with this type of restriction. I met with the drafters of the constitution, members of the 90-person parliament and judges who now have life tenure. The ideological consensus among the political leaders would seem to be frail. But their determination to make their experiment work is granite. Slovenians have suffered too much for too many centuries to squander this unique opportunity present at this shining moment in history. Slovenia now has membership in the United Nations and in the Council of Europe. It has political institutions that merit the worldwide praise they are reeceiving. But Slovenia, the smallest of the 22 post-communist countries, has such limited resources that one wonders whether it can survive without being linked to the five other nations in the former Yugoslavia. But the people of Slovenia are determined to seize their moment of destiny. The prayers of the faithful written by the ninth-graders at the Diocesan Classical High School where I spoke were moving in the aspirations they expressed for themselves and for their country. Meeting them and the faith-filled people of Slovenia will rank as one of the greatest spiritual experiences I have had in a long time. Jesuit Fr. Robert F. Drinan is a professor at Georgetown University Law Center. Thanks to Carl Virant for submitting this article. KSKJ closes 100 year with Mass, The Ohio Federation of the American Slovenian Catholic Union (KSKJ), a fraternal benefit society formed in 1894 will sponsor its closing ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 9 with a Mass and banquet dinner saluting its 100th year. The Mass will be at noon in St. Vitus church, 6019 Glass Avenue, Cleveland. The banquet will be held in St. Vitus auditorium immediately after the Mass. Secured parking will be provided. The closing theme is “Celebrating our faith, family, and financial responsibility. Auxiliary Bishop A. Edward Pevec, vicar general for banquet the eastern region, diocese of Cleveland, will be the principal celebrant. He will be assisted by local clergy and laity of the diocese of Cleveland. The dinner will be prepared by Mrs. Julia Zalar and her efficient and courteous staff. A centennial cake will be made by the famous baker, Mrs. Ann Tomsick. Keynote speakers will be Mr. Eugene Kogovšek, national president of KSKJ, Mr. Anthony Mravle, national secretary/treasurer of KSKJ, and Rev. Joseph Yelenc, TOR, national spiritual director of KSKJ. For tickets call Joseph Hočevar at (216) 881-9586. Tickets must be purchased in advance: Tickets are $20. 300,000 Winners A Day. Join iNlhE Winning. All Ohio Lottery players are Sut)|ect to laws and regulations ot the Ohio Lottery Commission For more information call our Customer Relations Department |?16| 787 3200 during regular business hours Joe Skrabec hosts ‘This Morning’ crews According tp a recent article by Mary Marv in 'The Plain Dealer Cleveland Mayor Michael Whaje’s assistant press secretary Joe Skrabec showed CBS’ “This Morning” site selection committee around the city a few weeks ago. As a result, the southwest quadrant of Public Square was the backdrop for the nationwide television show which was broadcast between 7 and 9 a.m. on Sept. 8 and 9. Skrabec also made arrangements for a crew to look at mining operations at AKZO Salt Co., better known locally as the “salt mines.” Sunday, Oct. 16 Newburgh, Maple Hts. Pensioners Club family-style dinner, dance at E. 80 St. Slov. National Home. Serving at 2 p.m. Ron Stark playing. Donation $14.00. For tickets |0d jOHNM^Ct^s THE BEST OF MERCINA: AMISH HUMOR/AMISH ART? IT MAY BE FUNNY TO THE AMISH. BUT YOURS TRULY IS NOT SO SURE THAT OUR SLOVENIAN GOVERNOR. GEORGE V. VOINOVICH. WOULD Bt LAUGHING. AN AMISH FARMER IN WILMOT. OHIO. WANTED TO HAVE SOME FUN WITH THE PASSING "ENGLISH" (ANYONE NOT AMISH] MOTORISTS. WHEN SPREADING THE MANURE ON THE SNOW-COVERED FIELDS ON JANUAR/ 2d. HE GUIDED HIS TEAM OF HORSES IN SUCH A FASHION THAT HE SPELLED THE NAME "OHIO" IN LARGE BLOCK LETTERS ON HIS TEN ACRE FIELD. USING FRESH MANURE AS THE MEDIUM. WITH THIS WEEK'S THAW. THE "AR1 WILL DISAPPEAR. WHAT WILL HE THINK OF NEXT*? AMISH HAVE A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR. WILL BE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL HEADLINE IN THE SAME FIELD ON U.S. 62. TWO MILES WEST OF "DOWNTOWN" WILMOT. PERHAPS*)' WILL SEE BIRTHDAY GREETINGS THERE NEXT COMMENTS: P.O.BOX 88807. CV. OHIO 44188-0887 OR C21 B) 871 -8478 call 663-9064 or 663-6957. @ SIMS miicic 21601 EUCLID AVE 481-8800 CM CM CM «5r c. .A- ▲ ! £ C HA NOON ROAD EUCLID W CHRYSLER • PLYMOUTH 20941 EUCLID AV 692-3900 TOLL FREE 1-800-688-SIMS (7467) EUCunzfA*^ TRAVEI"" Whether you like your winters hot or cold... Let us help you plan your winter get-away now! HOT COLD Corporate ■ Leisure ■ Groups ■ Cruises 22078 Lakeshore Boulevard ■ Euclid, Ohio ■ 44123 216-261-1050 ■ FAX 216-261-1054 ■ 800-659-2662 STOP PAVING HIGH CHECKING FEES. GET 100% FREE CHECKING AT METROPOLITAN' COMPARE! METROPOLITAN YOUR BANK ATM Card FREE ATM Transaction Fees FREE at Green Machine Monthly Fee NONE Per Check Charge NONE Per Deposit Charge NONE Free Checks 50 Balance to Open $100 Don’t Wait, Stop I.\ Now! \sk hm\ \mi can gd 1 It 11 c hec king w ith interesi, tool METROPOLITAN • Bainbridge • Chesterland • Cleveland.... .543-2336 • Cleveland Hts.................371-2000 .729-0400 • Euclid........................731-8865. 486-4100 • Pepper Pike .................831-8800 Shaker Hts..... South Euclid... Willoughby Hills. METROPOLITAN SAVINGS BANK OF CLEVELAND • MEMBER FDIC 752-4M1 1.944-340° Stanrika turkey farms (Continued from page 1) Despite its primitive condi-t'°ns, the Sajnovics decided Jey could upgrade the farm-°use and make money resell-lng it. Josephine, by now the m°ther of baby son Stan Jr., Q fered to stay at the farm °unng the week, while her husband kept his cabinetmak-'ug job in Toronto, joining 'hem on weekends. Intending to keep some thickens, and a cow, °sephine asked her husband 0 huild her a shed. Then she eJlled 0r'Hia Co-op, and ask-' em to send out someone °test the farm’s soil. When e visitor spotted the shed, he "ggested Josephine could earn some extra money by fl|Slng turkeys in the shed, dav Ci0'0p wou*cl supply the feed° ^ tUrkey cI1'cks an -ru , chased The coupIe pur' coir Sonie old feeding l9g'Pnient and fans, and in turu, ue8an raisin8 9,000 J broilers a year. muti ter tWo years of corn-had h8’ ^osepbine said, “You for etter build another barn stay atlcI then you can th^home.” The Sajnovics 6ut 8 1 'bis plan was sound tfagV invited the locai "—° visit, he admired the beautiful landscape and fresh air, but told the Sajnovics they had nothing he could accept as collateral for a loan. Determined to build their barn, Stan borrowed from friends. He also found work as an apprentice patternmaker in an Orillia foundry, a job he held until he was able to finsih the first barn. Even after deciding to farm fulltime, Sajnovic returned to his old Toronto job, helping to produce custom furniture for the Canadian embassy in Pakistan. This short-term work allowed him to buy a car for Josephine, and a color television for the family room. The Sajnovics’ hard work and risk-taking paid off. Today, Stanrika Farms Ltd. is an impressive-looking farming operation that involves three of the four family members. Stanley Sr. is president of the company, Josephine is secretary-treasurer and son Stan Jr. acts as production manager. As his father once did, Stan Jr. also holds an off-the-farm job, working part-time in another area of the poultry industry - the Swiss Chalet restaurant in Orillia. “The way we are set up now, everyone has his own job on those two farms. Whenever we do the jobs, the time doesn’t matter, as long as it’s done.” Today, the farm includes three occupied barns — one houses 10,000 turkey poulets, raised Daughter Erica works for an international investment banking firm in the Kitchener area. Mere she poses, in Slovenian costume with one of the five musical instruments she learned how to play while a teenager. to 11 weeks of age and a two-story barn for breeder pullets, raised to 20 weeks of age. The newest barn, located close to the concession road, holds turkeys which will be raised to the heavier 16-week age. All the buildings, with the exception of the frame of the latest barn, have been built by the Sajnovics. The original shed, which started the family in the poultry business, was just dismantled earlier this year. Also, for some years after purchasing a second farm, the Sajnovics raised 1,000 hogs. The pigs, Sajnovic says, paid for the construction of their last barn. The family also grows barley as a cash crop but purchases all their poultry feed. When he recalls life on the l!> flHKC j 21pER or uk. ifcSr Excel Automatic • Air Conditioning • Power Steering • Interval Wipers • AM/fM Cassette • Rear Window Defroster • Low Mileage Plm 4 ,i"' *8,695 #9182 24 Elantr • p°wer Brakes • Tinted Glass • Rear Intor^Y\*7° D,d*c* • 1 mieo watt • Kear ^ ^interval Wipers • Body Side Molding • Digital Clock 8745 *169 PER . *$9995 leu $1000 rebate Less $250 Rebale => $8745. Plus Tax & Title. Inc. waiver of 2/ yr724,OOO tVIO. mile maintenance coverage. With approved credit. Tax, Title down. 86 montbs at 8.99 APR j PIK£ HYDRO HI 9M^,MON- & THURS. TILL 9 • TUES., WED., FRl., & SAT. TILL 6 ^ l^entor Ave.. MPntnr 357-7533 942.3191 942.3191 farm in the 1960s, Sajnovic says, “The first five years were very, very tough. The price (for turkeys) was what anyone offered you. There was so much production on the market that you worked for next to nothing.” Sajnovic was ready to give up more than once and said to his wife, “Let’s pack up the children and our suitcases, all we have to lose is our mortgage.” But Josephine held firm. “No, we have worked too hard, we are going nowhere.” Looking back on the days before supply management, Sajnovic says, “Now 1 am glad I listened to her.” When visitors praise the family’s operation, Sajnovic responds, “We are proud of what two heads and four hands can do.” One advantage of locating their farm north of the traditional poulty area, is that diseases have never been a pro- 3 blem. The Sajnovics, however, still clean out culls, or any unfit birds they fear might trigger an outbreak of disease. At first, they burned the carcasses in an incinerator, but this created a fly problem in the summer months. Eventually they asked a neighbor to bring over his backhoe and dig a hole in their bush. They threw in the carcasses and covered them with lime and sand. When Stan Jr. returned later, the hole was empty. Wolves and coyotes had quite happily cleaned up every carcass. “The wolves are trained now,” laughs Stan Jr., “so they just wait around the hole until we throw something in. They cry if we leave them nothing and sing us a song if we leave them something.” The wolves now leave neighbors’ livestock, like (Continued on page 4) Closing Centennial Observance American Slovenian Catholic Union (KSKJ) 100th Anniversary Mass and Dinner Sunday, October 9,1994 St. Vitus Church and Parish Auditorium 6019 Glass Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44103 Auxiliary Bishop A. Edward Pevec, Principal Celebrant Solemn Mass: Noon Dinner: 1-15 • 1:30 p.m. (est. start time) Tickets: Call Joseph Hočevar (216) 881-9586 Donation: $20.00 for dinner ticket Reserved table: eight per table Must purchase tickets in advance — No sales at the door W • Private Garden Apartments • No Endowment or Entrance Fee • Planned Activities • Transportation • 24 Hour Emergency Pull Cord • Free Laundry Facilities • Nutritious Meals Call us today for a lunch and tour 261-8383 25900 Euclid Ave. Euclid, Ohio 44132 *If you sign a lease and move in by the end of the year, you will receive $1,000 off your 4th month’s rent. AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, SEPTEMBER 22, 1994 AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, SEPTEMBER 22, 1994 4 Stanrika turkey farms (Continued from page 3) goats, alone and at night, they provide a free serenade for the family. If the elder Sajnovics worked hard to establish the farm, their children have been guided by the same principles. The saying, “Listen, Behave and Work” was the basic philosophy in his home, says Stan Jr. Both he and his sister Erica played a very active part in the farming operation until they went away to school. They also maintained a demanding round of extracurricular activities that sometimes kept their mother acting like a “taxi driver.” Erica, with a talent for music, took both piano and accordion lessons and played the trumpet, clarinet and saxophone in high school. Both children studied figure skating and skied. While studying languages at the University of Waterloo, she also edited the school newspaper. After graduation, she used her skills as a translator to work for a computer software company in Kitchener. Now she works with an international investment banking firm. After high school, Stan Jr. attended the University of Guelph, where he earned an associate diploma in agriculture. During his university studies, he also worked for Guelph veterinarian and poultryman Dr. Lloyd Weber. “Then Dad offered me the job at home.” When he returned to the farm, Stan realized that with everything automated in the barn, electricians’ fees were biting into the farm profits. So while remaining as farm production manager, he also took his electrical technican’s diploma at Georgian College, in nearby Barrie. Now he handles the wirng problems on the farm. (To Be Continued) ‘Friends ’ Fall Brunch As we approach the Fall Season we are also getting closer to the Annual Fall Brunch which is presented by the “Friends of the Slovenian National Home Inc.” The brunch will be held in the St. Clair Slovenian National Home on Sunday, Sept. 25. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m., with continuous serving from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Admission is $9.00 for members; $11.00 for non-members and $3.50 for children under 12. Reservations can be made by calling Gerrie Hopkins at 361-5115 or Stanley Frank at 391-9761. Reservations should be made by Monday, September 19. We are happy to announce that entertainment will be furnished by the fabulous Jerry Suhar. You will be in for a pleasant surprise at this very talented entertainer. If you are not a member of the “Friends” as yet we would like to have you join our organization. It is easy to become a member. Just call Stanley Frank at 391-9761 and we will be glad to send you an application. Annual dues are $15.00 for Single Membership and $25.00 for Family or Group Membership. The sole purpose of the “Friends” is to maintain and preserve the finest Slovenian Auditorium in America. This is made possible as a result of your membership dues and continued financial support. Please help us keep the dream and spirit of our forefathers alive and strong in preserving this Cultural Landmark. —Sylvia Plymesser Glasbena Matica ’s Fall Concert News Here is the news you have been waiting for: Glasbena Matica’s fall concert is set for Sunday, October 16, at the Slovenian National Home, 6417 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. First, the audience will be treated to a delicious dinner to be prepared by Sophie Mazi and her excellent crew; the concert, filled with music from Mozart to Andrew Lloyd Webber will follow; then for all the dancers in the crowd, the Johnny Vadnal Orchestra will play. The festivities begin at 2 o’clock. Our patrons will be happy to learn that all of the above can be had for a mere $17.00 CARST-NAGY Memorials 15425 Waterloo Rd. 481-2237 “Serving the Slovenian Community.” per person. If you wish to make ticket reservations, please call the following numbers: 946-0002 during the daytime hours and 261-0435 for the convenience of evening callers. Please note, too, that all Glasbena Matica members have tickets to sell. Musical director is Tom Weiss. Do come; you’ll be glad you did. Fall Dinner The annual Fall Dinner sponsored by St. Mary (Collin-wood) Altar Society will be held in the school cafeteria on Sunday, Oct. 2 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Roast pork or roast chicken will be served. Donation is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets can be purchased in the rectory, from Altar Society members or by calling 531-8855. Take-out dinners are also available. RE-ELECT JUDGE MARTIN PARKS LAKE COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS EXPERIENCED / QUALIFIED: * Common Pleas Court Judge for 8 years - Administrative Judge, General Division * Graduate of John Carroll University and Case Western Reserve Law School * Elementary and Secondary Education at St. Mary's - Painesville, St. Mary's - Mentor, and Riverside High School * 18 years of law practice prior to assuming judicial duties * Past President of the Lake County Bar Association * Former Solicitor, Village of Grand River ENDORSED BY: * Lake County Bar Association - Voted "HIGHLY RECOMMENDED" * Ohio Education Association * Ushers & Ticket Takers Union * Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #116 Paid for by the Committee to Re-Elect Judge Parks, Robert L. Lewis. Treas., 5840 Heisley Road, Mentor, Ohio 44060 _______A Joe (Jože) Zevnik Licensed F uneral Director ^/7 an (^o±lc Finest Funeral Facility in Northeast Ohio FUNERAL HOME 944-8400 28890 Chardon Road Willoughby Hills, Ohio 44094 Visit Us At A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY Private garden apartments No endowment or entrance fee 24 hour security Planned activities Free transportation 24 hour Emergency Pull Cord Free Laundry Facilities Nutritious Meats Call Today for a Brief Tour and Free Lunch 25900 Euclid Avenue • Euclid, Ohio 44132 (216) 261-8383 A Very Nice Place to LW t J4 PSWA - 60 Years of Accomplishments by Florence Unetich Sixty years of “good deeds” *s a milestone to celebrate. That’s just what the Progressive Slovene Women will do during a banquet on Saturday, October 8th at the Slovenian Workmen’s Home, 15335 Waterloo Road, Cleveland. Dinner will be served in the lower hall from 5 to 6:45 p.m. The program at 7:15 will in-elnde entertainment by two ^ell-known duets: Cecilia °lgan and brother Joe alencic, and the Jadran °ngbirds Florence Unetich and Angela Žabjek. Dancing t0 the Fred Kuhar Orchestra w'll follow. p Shtce its founding, the A has taken an active Part in the Slovenian com-jnimity ancj gjven generously ° many causes in the Greater ■"Iceland area. Its “60 Years ccomplishments,” include enerous donations to Humanitarian causes such as atural disaster relief; schools f mentahy retarded children adults; shelters for °meless and/or abused C 0l^en and children; various n s for medical research and Stance; and support for aternal and cultural ?rSanizations. ofTpWo Primary beneficiaries Pen , generosity are the c. P£ of Slovenia and the Medic Honie f°r fhe Aged, ment SuPplies and equip-SuPplies for deaf children, braille equipment and supplies for the blind, books and periodicals for libraries, schools and universities, as well as tons of clothing were sent to Slovenia following WWII. In the years since, many requests have been received for particular needs for hospitals, or emergencies such as the 1990 flood and the refugee problem resulting from the Bosnian War. The PSWA has responded to most such requests. PSWA has been involved with the Slovene Home for the Aged since the very First organizing committee was formed in the mid-fifties. Members canvassed neighborhoods to raise money, held numerous strudel, potica, krofe sales and other fundraising activities. They have served on the Board of Trustees, volunteered in various capacities and still do. Monetary support for the Home has been a constant, coming from the National Board as well as from individual Circles 1 and 7, based at Slovenian Workmen’s Home, No. 2 based at Slovenian National Home and No. 3 based at Slovenian Society Home. Even today, despite its small and mostly aged membership, Circle 2 bakes poticas twice a year to raise funds for their charitable donations - principally SHA and the Slovenian National Home. Circles 3 and 1 also bake twice annually, Circle 7’s main fund-raiser is a card party. Circle 3 and 7 members also volunteer weekly - one on Mondays, one on Wednesdays, to hold bingo parties for the residents. For the past several years, PSWA has also been one of the underwriters for Tony Petkovsek’s Public Radio Slovenian Hour which airs Sundays on WCPN 90.3 FM at 12 noon (pre-broadcast Saturdays WELW, 1330 AM, 1 p.m.) Please come and celebrate with us. Show our devoted members, who have unselfishly given many hours and much energy to assist their fellow humans, that their efforts are truly appreciated by our community. Tickets may be purchased from the Polka Hall of Fame, or by calling Delores Dobida at 951-1694, or from members. Coming Events... ‘Ave’ singers coming to US In late September and early October the mixed Slovenian singing choral group “Ave,” will visit and perform in the United States and Canada. Ave members hail from the Cook a Hour«: Moo. Pri. capital city of Ljubljana, in the independent and sovereign country of the Republic of Slovenia. Ave has been in existence for 10 years. Its choral director is Mr. Andraž Hauptman. Mr. Hauptman is a professor and instructor in piano and also a voice instructor at the Voice Academy in Ljubljana. There are 20 singers in the group. Ave has toured Slovenia plus other countries in Europe including Austria and Italy. This will be their first official tour to North America. The concert in Cleveland will be held on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. in the Slovenian National Home, 64th and St. Clair. The singers will present a mixture of traditional, religious, national, and some contemporary songs. The local Cleveland Slovenian singing men’s choral group Fantje na Vasi has graciously allowed usage of its traditional early fall date for this performance. Cost for the concert is $10.00. For additional information please contact Dr. Mate Roessman at 486-8862. Saturday, Sept. 24 Hamilton-Wentworth Slovenian Cultural Society Slovenian Choir and Soča Slovenian Folkloric Dance Company concert, Bockhold Hall, Indianapolis, Ind., at 7 p.m. For tickets (which include chance on free round trip air fare to Ljubljana), call (317) 244-4816 or (317) 925-8717. Sunday, Sept. 25 Annual Fall Brunch “Friends of the Slovenian National Home Inc.” Serving from 12 to 2 p.m. Entertainment by Jerry Suhar. Friday, Sept. 30 Dance at West Park Slovene Home, 4583 W. 130 St., music by Casuals. Saturday, Oct. 1 Concert with “Ave” from Ljubljana at Slovenian National Home on St. Clair. Alpine Sextet plays for dancing. Donation $10.00. Sunday, Oct. 2 Upstairs Downstairs Benefit Dance sponsored by George Knaus from 3 - 9 p.m. Euclid Slovenian Society Home featuring Joe Toriskie, Del Sinchak, Joe Luzar, Frank Stanger, and Walter Ostanek. Call (216) 481-9300. Saturday, Oct. 8 P.S.W.A. 60th Anniversary Banquet, Slovenian Workmen’s Home, 15335 Waterloo Rd. Dinner 5-6:45, program 7:15. Fred Kuhar Orchestra. Donation $15. For tickets call 481-6247. Sunday, Oct. .9 St. Mary’s School Alumni reunion with noon Mass followed by dinner in St. Mary’s School Cafeteria. For tickets contact church rectory or Jennie Schultz 481-0339. LOOKING FOR TONY CARUSO? WE FOUND HIM AT HIS TONY'S OLD WORLD PLAZA BARBERSHOP 664 E. 185th HAIRCUTS $3.00 MON.-FRI. 7:3 OAM-5:3 OPM SAT. 7:3 0AM-5:00PM 531-6517 8 am-4 i 289.0836 ^ARK PETRIČ ^lified Master Technician p ® '^i^Autornotive Service Foreign & Domestic General Auto Repair 3343oLakel(m. <216) 942-5130 *n BIVd" Ea5tlake' Ohio 44095 / LOCATED IN REAR "Our family !Has ‘Been Dine to Serve You Since 1903” I — Serving Slovenian Families /or 90 Years. — , Grdina-Faulhaber Funeral Home <■ - a' • ■ 17010 Lakeshore Blvd. Cleveland, Ohjo 44110 TO . T| 531-6300 . I j For tanker lalonaauoe nil Don FnaikJiker—FaacrnJ Director Preplanned Funeral Arrangements Available _______________•Facllltia* Available Trwoupnout Norihaasl Ohio • Sunday, Oct. 9 St. Clair Rifle and Hunting > Club annual Clambake on the ^ club grounds. Call 942-4025 s: for further information. Sunday, Oct. 9 AMLA Clambake (steak or bake) at AMLA Recreation Center. Music by Johnny Vadnal Orchestra. .<*iu'*i>wR*riMiiU'iuwMMir.iu uar.i fro *. 'I IŠKA DOMOVINA, SEPTEMBER 22, 1994 AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, SEPTEMBER 22, 1994 6 From Slovenia to America Slovenia at political crossroads Editor: We look forward to receiving the “Ameriška Domovina” every week; it is so interesting reading all the news and informative articles. Your latest issue Aug. 18 with the 75th Anniversary of Col-linwood Slovenian Home edition brought such fond memories of our family who arrived in Cleveland on the steamer “Buengerja” in November, 1924. My father had a home in Slovenia and thought he’d take his family and our mother to live there. I was the oldest at 9 years, sister Molly 7-1/2 years, brothers Joe4, Bernie 1-1/2 years — all small. After six months (he was from Novo Mesto), (mother from Metlika) knew it was the wrong thing — but we left my grandparents who cried and knew they’d never see us again. Originally we were from Ely, Minn, where my father worked in the Iron Ore Mines and lived in company houses -$8.00 a month rent. Heading back we drove to Cherborg, France but found there was a quarantine and we were given innoculations against the disese. We stayed there two weeks. My father was at that time 36 years old and trying to decide whether or not to head for California or back to the mines in Minnesota. My mother helped in this. She had sisters, cousins and friends in Minnesota. So we went towards there. My father had a first cousin (Mrs. Josephine Svete) and her husband (Mike Svete) who lived on Daniels Avenue in the Collinwood section of what is now Cleveland. She asked us to stop and visit them on our way back to Minnesota. We never made it. That night the folks talked my parents into staying in Cleveland. Work was available. The next day Mr. Svete took my father to the New York Central Railroad and my father got a job. Mrs. Svete was a charwoman at old Collinwood High School and got my mother a job. My sister Molly and brother Joe started mid-semester at Memorial School. We lived on Waterloo Road for about six months in a 4-family house right across from “Zalar’s Bakery.” As we lived upstairs, we knew when the fresh Vienna Bread was baked as the aroma wafted towards us and one of the kids would go and buy a couple of loaves for 8C each. In May of 1925 — with $25.00, my father bought his first home on Trafalgar Avenue. It had a nice lawn in front, only four large rooms, but we were happy — it was ours. No company houses, no Al Koporc, Jr. Piano Technician (21ft) 481-1104 steamships. My brother Joe thought that the ship “Paris” we traveled to Europe on was our home. So all the articles in your special edition of the 75th anniversary of Collinwood Slovenian Home just tugged at my heart as I read of all those people who never minded working day and night to build the Collinwood Slovenian Home and other homes as on Saranac Avenue. I really hadn’t intended to write so much. I just wanted to donate $25.00 to the Ameriška Domovina in memory of my parents, Joe and Katherine Champa, daughters Mary and Molly, Joseph and Bernard (sister and brothers still living.) Thanks for the memory. Mary F. Kralic (Champa) Chardon, Ohio Donates $300 in memory of Mollie Postotnik Thanks to Daniel J. Postotnik of Cleveland, Ohio who very generously donated $300.00 to the Ameriška Domovina in memory of his wife, Mollie R. Postotnik. Shrine festival The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, 21281 Chardon Rd., Euclid, Ohio is holding its annual fall festival and bazaar on Rosary Sunday, October 2. The bazaar area (inside) will open after the 9:30 a.m. Mass and will close at 3:45 p.m. before the Candlelight Rosary Procession at 4. Benediction will follow. St. Ann dining room will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fast food and sandwiches, pizza and beverages will also be available outdoors. 55th anniversary Happy 55th anniversary to Fran and Adolph Kotnik of Cleveland. They celebrated this happy occasion on September 16 with their friends by visiting the Amish Country. In Memory Rose Žnidaršič of Cleveland donated $25.00 to the Ameriška Domovina in memory of her husband, John Žnidaršič. Preschool extends enrollment St. Vitus Slovenian School announces that registration for preschool, three and four year olds, has been extended. Children must be three years old by October 1st. For more information call 585-1495. Friday paper Next week’s Ameriška Domovina (American Home) newspaper will be printed on FRIDAY, Sept. 30. The president of one of Slovenia’s largest political parties presented a broad picture of current-day Slovenia and the political landscape at a private gathering and dinner sponsored by the Slovenian American Council on Monday, September 19. A public presentation and session was arranged for the following day, Tuesday, September 20 in the parish auditorium of St. Mary’s church in the Collinwood section of Cleveland. Marjan Podobnik, president, and Tit Turnšek, vice-president, presented the viewpoints and activities of the political party “Slovenska ljudska stranks (SLS) (Slovenian People’s Party). The SLS is considered a moderate-to-right of center party on the broad political spectrum in Slovenia. SLS adheres to the basic principals of the right to property, religious practice, a true and democratic society, and due process of law. Its philosophical guidelines are based on Christian values and principles. In dramatic contrast to many of the other presidents of the various political parties in Slovenia, Mr. Podobnik is the youngest person to hold this political position at age 35. The main long-term objective of SLS, according to both Mr. Podobnik and Turnšek, is to form a coalition of like-minded political parties, much as was the case of the former “DEMOS.” The principal reason is that no one political party in Slovenia has any semblance of a majority, meaning no one party has a large enough base or grass roots support to effectively govern Slovenia. Two recent surveys/polls bring home this point. In fact, the largest so-called political party in Slovenia today could be referred to as “Know-Nothings.” The two polls are even more interesting because they were conducted by the voice of the former Communist Party and a left-of-center newspaper “Delo” and “Republika.” The results of 775 telephone survey calls conducted by Delo on the sole question of which political party would you vote for today if (national) elections were held, were: 31.5% (I Don’t Know); 18.3% (Liberal Democrats Slovenija); 9.3% (I Won’t Vote); 8.9% (Slovenian People’s Party); 8.9% (None of the Political Parties); 7.4% (Social Democratic Party); 7.2% (Slovenian Christian Democrats); and 4.5% (Associated List, aka Slovenian Communist Party). The remaining percentages were distributed among other parties. Of interest was the low ranking of the perceived “intellectuals” party. That is, “Democrats.” They received only 1.7%. Mr. Dimitrij Rupelj is one of its major spokesmen for them. This sample was conducted on August 30. In the telephone survey and sample conducted by the “Republika” on September 8 with a model of 505 samples, the results were as follows: 26.2% (I Don’t Know); 21.4% (Liberal Democrats); 16.3% (I Won’t Vote); 7.3% (Slovenian People’s Party); 7.04% (Slovenian Christian Democrats); 5.8% (Associated List); 5.4% (Social Democrats); and the remaining for other parties. If Mr. Podobnik is successful in the strategy to form a coalition then the SLS must be listening to the Slovenian people. From the numbers indicated here, there is a trend today in Slovenia as has been apparent in the USA for more than a decade, of indifference to political parties. Nearly 50% of those surveyed indicated not knowing or not willing to vote. And this is only after a little more than four years of free elections. Mr. Podobnik and those of the SLS, are committed to reforming a more than corrupt system in current Slovenia where the former beneficiaries of the political system (i.e., Mr. Kučan and his associates) should provide the documentation of how much and who benefitted personally at the expense of the Slovenian country for nearly 45 years. The reason for forming a coalition is the coming elections in 1996 and the national elections in 1997. Mr. Podobnik indicated that with a proportional system as it currently exists in Slovenia, the only effective way to have a stable and responsive government is to have a strong coalition that could address a host of national concerns, ir- respective of party affiliation, and more local concerns that may be peculiar to one or more political parties, but not necessarily to the whole coalition. The numbers in the two surveys also indicate a certain loss of confidence in both the Christian Democrats and the Associated List: the former for a series of mishandlings in the government and the latter for desiring to keep its former power despite its smaller numbers. One change in Slovenia was the announcement last week by Foreign Minister Lojze Peterle to resign his office effective in early October. A withdrawl of the Christian Democrats at this time from the coalition of Christian Democrats, Liberal Democrats and Associated List would most likely lead to a vote of confidence, as is the case in a parliamentary system of government which Slovenia has. The results could be a dissolving of the current government with new elec-tions. The other possibility w'oul be to have the government stay in office but with a less effeC' live operation and a loss o credibility with the Slovenian people. It seems that the likely choice of Mr. Školč as the new PreS1 dent of the Slovenian Par*ia ment was something ‘vlr' Peterle could ot live with. ^r' Školč was one of the advpc*^ who voiced the opinion f°r Slovenia to stay in the former Yugoslaiva during Sloven'3^ independence drive. Mr. Sk is supported by ^anej Drnovšek, prime minister,3n Mr. Milan Kučan. The next few weeks 1 Slovenia should be interesting--Stane J. KuMr Diary of submariner (Continued from last week) Time was slowly running out. The glances exchanged between the two officers were quickly interpreted by the crew in the control room that the chances of getting off the sea bottom were becoming slimmer and slimmer. Our fears were confirmed when the order to fire the rocket alerting the minesweeper of our plight was given. We knew we had enough fresh air to last us at least 15 hours. There was enough compressed air left to blow the tanks and float the submarine to the surface. Whether the rocket was faulty or too weak to penetrate that much water, or the lookouts on the minesweeper were not (they said they were) on guard, nobody got in touch with us. After waiting another 15 minutes it was decided to “see-saw” the submarine out of the mud. The port tanks, then aft, then port, then port, then aft tanks were blown alternatively followed by ballast tanks being blown - all at once. Nothing happened. . The Captain, who until t emed to be observing ^ ddenly commanded. ‘ . otors full speed ahead. ^ I tanks. Yet, nothing :ned for a time that see^[ long as one’s hen, we could feel herstr ra^P’ gurgle, vibrate, ape and claw, :ak the suction seal id, and, in the next1110111 : was free, sailing tb*"0 ^ ; water with the greates ’e‘ ntlv 3l,c* Poday, she rose gent y s at the persicope dep ^ time. Not one plane ^ n throughout the & ^ on. We had no news- , lio receiver dealt wit ffic only. It was rather ng to meet a local n ^ in Mitar Berberovtc, a to one of our sa^frS’Otot s passing by in his at. He parted with the . it he had heard from ° ^efe said that five Plane* ad' >t over Tivat; our troop 30 kilometer5 • FOR Freedom AND Justice Ameriška Domovina 1 3 AMERICAN IN SPIRIT FOREIGN IN LANGUAGE ONL1. SLOVENIAN MORNING NEWSPAPER AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA (USPS 024100) Thursday, September 22, 1994 Vesti iz Slovenije Iz Clevelanda in okolice (Ta rubrika je bila pripravljena že v sredo popoldne) Lojze Peterle naznanil svoj odstop kot Podpredsednik vlade in zunanji minister — zrok naj bi bila izvolitev Jožefa Školča za Predsednika parlamenta — SKD se še niso odločili glede izstopa iz Drnovškove vlade Predsednik Slovenskih krščanskih de-m°kratov Lojze Peterle, ki je v vladi dr. Ja-*!eza trnovška služil kot podpredsednik vla-'n hkrati zunanji minister, je izjavil, da bo ° stoP*l °d vladnih funcij s 1. oktobrom. Po ^Pričakovanem odstopu mag. Hermana Ri-Cnika 5. septembra, ki je bil predsednik ar amenta, je to drugo veliko presenečenje nisoOVenSk° ^avnost’ katerih posledice pa še Takole je Slovenec dobesedno poroča SMf^0 S0*30t0 (izpod peresa novinarke Bi teki-6 ^arne^e) 0 dogodku v parlamentu pre 1 Petek, ko je bil za predsednika parla enta izvoljen Jožef Školč iz vrst LDS: »Čeprav so poslanci večine opozicijskil rank (SDSS, DS, SLS, SND) skupaj s Slo vie*111! kr^anskimi demokrati bojkotiral zb ra . je volitve za predsednika državnegi ral°ra’ ^°^ei(u Školču, ta je znova kandidi na Predlog Liberalne demokracije Slove 2an‘ d°biti potrebno število glasov ral ^^asovalo 47 poslancev iz vrst Libe ni p6 dem°kracije in Združene liste, odločil So hili glasovi iz Slovenske nacionalni ke (tkim. Jelinčičeva stranka). slatv^rna^U po rijegovi izvolitvi, ko so po tnoju^heralnc demokracije s šampanjcen žavnee * 12v°litev novega predsednika dr Sl°ve a 2bora, je Lojze Peterle, predsednil na preHkla krščanskih demokratov, naslovi Pistpo Sednika vlade dr. Janeza Drnovški d°g0^v katerem mu je sporočil, da zarad dnijj- rt°vV v ZVez* z volitvami novega predse za zu rzavnega zbora odstopa kot ministe ne gre Je zadeve, pri čemer je poudaril, d: jal na vZ>f°*-*.za Ponudbo odstopa. Kot je de Šnjj tre erajšnji tiskovni konferenci, je zdaj vlade. ) ^tek enak kot ob rušenju Demosov« Zdaj bo^1 sem odšel kot gospod in tud I)rediagaran^e *1':,era*n*bl demokratov, ko sc SkrŠčan !.Svoje8a kandidata brez dogovon WektjjQ 1-ni*- dern°krati, je presodil kot ne ^ s° Dr ' 1Z!^eva*sko in vzvišeno ter dodal n^0^35110 0Pozoriii koalicijske part 116 bo J ne razkazujejo svoje moči, saj tc |‘NiStllo ;r*oglo k stabilizaciji razmer **’^abo n3-!!1^^6111 v ^DS, vendar smo upa 0r'entacijJ1 H°Va z®odb>a šla v smeri sredinski e’ a do stranka znala preseči dvo polne politične razdelitve. To se ni zgodilo in njihove zgodbe o liberalni in sredinski LDS je konec,« je dejal Peterle ter opozoril, da je ravnanje LDS povsem v nasprotju z ravnanji sorodnih strank v zahodnoevropskih državah, kjer so nasprotniki liberalcev komunisti in nacionalisti. Kaj to pomeni za koalicijo, bodo odločili na politični koordinaciji, ki naj bi bila v torek prihodnji torek, medtem pa bo Lojze Peterle odšel na krajši dopust. Njegov odstop dr. Janeza Drnovška očitno ni preveč razburil, saj je v sporočilu za javnost zapisal, da vlada ne glede na odstopno izjavo Lojzeta Peterleta deluje še naprej normalno, prav tako državni zbor, kar naj bi potrdilo tudi včerajšnje glasovanje za predsednika državnega zbora. Predsednik vlade in predsednik LDS pričakuje, da bodo krščanski demokrati še naprej sodelovali v vladni koaliciji, pogovori z njimi pa naj bi potekali v prihodnjih dneh.« Tako Slovenec preteklo soboto. V telefonskem pogovoru z viri v Ljubljani v sredo (21. sept.) popoldne, je bilo poudarjeno, da stvari se še niso kaj dosti izjasnile. SKD se še niso odločili glede bodočih korakov. Odstopil je pač le Peterle, trije drugi ministri v Drnovškovi vladi naj bi nadaljevali na svojih mestih, pa tudi Peterle odhaja šele s 1. oktobrom. Kaj se bo iz nastale situacije izcimilo, ob tem poročanju še ni jasno. Šest opozocijskih strank podpisalo sporazum o skupnem nastopu na območnih volitvah Pretekli petek so predstavniki šestih strank iz desnega krila slovenskega političnega spektruma podpisali sporazum o skupnem nastopu na prihajajočhi območnih volitvah. Stranke so se obvezale tudi glede nadaljnjega pogajanja o političnem zavezništvu na volitvah za državni zbor, ki naj bi bile (če ne bodo predčasne) leta 1996. Na sporazum so pristali Slovenska ljudska stranka, Socialdemokratska stranka Slovenije, Zeleni Slovenije, Narodni demokrati, Liberalna stranka in Slovenska nacionalna desnica. Iz dopisa Igorja Kršinarja v Slovencu preteklo soboto naslednje: »Janez Janša, predsednik SDSS, je v pogovoru z novinarji dejal, da so se opozicijske stranke zavzemale za to, da bi sporazum podpisali tudi Slovenski krščanski demokrati. Ker se to ni zgodilo, bodo SKD obravnavali kot stranko na o-blasti. Izrazil je pripravljenost za sodelovanje s posameznimi občinskimi odbori SKD, če bodo ti podpisali sporazum, ki ga vodstvo njihove stranke ni hotelo podpisati.« Ri&HNiKoVo DBDiŠj Koncert zbora »Ave«— V soboto, 1. oktobra, bo komorni zbor AVE iz Slovenije podal svoj koncert ob sedmi uri zvečer v Slovenskem narodnem domu na St. Clairju. Vsi vljudno vabljeni! (gl. str. 8) Seja— Klub upokojencev v Nev-burgu-Maple Hts. ima sejo v sredo, 28. sept., ob 1. uri pop. v SND na E. 80 St. To bo zadnja priložnost za rezervacijo vstopnic za banket. Zahvala— Oltarno društvo sv. Vida se prav lepo zahvaljuje vsem, ki so prišli na kosilo preteklo nedeljo, vsem, ki so pomagali pri delu v soboto in nedeljo, z vabili v časopisju in na radiu, ter Sheliga Drug Store, za natis nakaznic. Prav lepa hvala tudi darovalkam dobitkov. Srečni dobitniki pa so bili sledeči: Theresa Manfreda, David Ose-nar, Maria Kinzal, Cilka Žakelj, Anton Oblak, Marge To-matz in Evelyn Buncic. Novi grobovi Anna Novinc Dne 20. septembra je v Slovenskem domu za ostarele umrla 93 let stara Anna Novinc, rojena Kren v Clevelandu, vdova po Josephu, mati Josepha Arthurja in Raymon-da, 4-krat stara mati, 10-krat prastara mati, sestra Johna, Franka, Anthonyja, Frances in Agnes (vsi že pok.), članica Kluba upokojencev v Euclidu in Woodmen of the World. Pogreb bo iz Želetovega zavoda na E. 152 St. jutri, v petek, zj. ob 8.45, v cerkev sv. Pavla na Chardon Rd. ob 9.30, od tam na Vernih duš pokopališče. Ure kropljenja so danes pop. od 2. do 4. in zv. od 7. do 9. Darovi v pokojničin spomin Slovenskemu domu za ostarele na 18621 Neff Rd., Cleveland, OH 44119, bodo s hvaležnostjo sprejeti. Josephine Svet Umrla je Josephine Svet, rojena Mavec, vdova po Tonyju, mati Tonyja ml. in Edwarda, 8-krat stara mati, 3-krat prastara mati, sestra Franka in Helen Skok. Pogreb bo iz Želetovega zavoda na E. 152 St. danes zj. ob 8.45, v cerkev Our Lady of Perpetual Help ob 9.30, od tam na Vernih duš pokopališče. Družina bo hvaležna za darove v pokojničin spomin American Cancer Society. Joseph D. Kastelic Dne 17. septembra je umrl Joseph D. Kastelic, mož Dore roj. Bonito, oče Josepha, Janice Weiss in Laurie Jazbec, 4-krat stari oče, brat Johna. Po- uiulje na str. 11) Kosilo Oltarnega društva— V nedeljo, 2. oktobra, vabi Oltarno društvo fare Marije Vnebovzete na svoje kosilo. Serviranje bo v šolski dvorani, nakaznice imajo članice, dobite jih tudi v župnišču, lahko pa pokličete 531-8855. Cena kosilu je $10, za otroka pa $5. Marjan Podobnik govoril— Pretekli torek zvečer je v šolski dvorani pri Mariji Vne-bovzeti govoril Marjan Podobnik, predsednik SLS, z njim je bil tudi strankin podpredsednik g. T. Turnšek, srečanje pa je povezoval dr. Mate Roesmann. Gosta sta predstavila svoje poglede na slovensko sedanjost in bodočnost, stališča SLS, nato pa odgovorila na številna vprašanja. V dvorani je bilo več kot sto poslušalcev, z menda le dvema ali tremi izjemami pa vsi iz vrst povojnih priseljencev in njih potomcev. Podajanje in odgovori na vprašanja so bili zanimivi in bi bilo želeti več takih srečanj ob obiskih političnih osebnosti iz Slovenije. Slov. šola naznanja— Slovenska šola pri Sv. Vidu podaljšuje vpis otrok za mali vrtec. Vpišejo se lahko otroci, ki so rojeni 1. 1990 in 1991, torej tri in štiri leta stari. Otroci morajo dopolniti tretjo leto starosti do 1. okt. Za podrobnosti, pokličite 585-1495. Klub upokojencev SP— Klub upokojencev Slovenske pristave bo imelo mesečno sejo v sredo, 28. septembra, ob 1.30 popoldne, na Slovenski pristavi. Članstvo lepo vabljeno, da se te seje udeleži. Daljši članek o Klubu boste našli na str. 9 današnje Ameriške domovine. Pozdrav iz Avstralije— Naša naročnica ga. Anica Tašner je na obisku Avstralije. Takole piše: »Vam in vsem či-tateljem Ameriške domovine pošiljam lepe pozdrave iz Južne Avstralije naročnica iz Westchestra, 111. Anica Tašner« in dodaja, da je Adelaide prekrasno mesto. Martinovanje— Štajerski in prekmurski klub priredi svoje martinovanje v soboto, 22. okt., ob 6.30 zv., v SND na St. Clairju. Igral bo Alpski sekstet. Za vstopnice, pokličite 731-5826 oz. 261-5277. LILIJA sporoča— Veseloigra »Svojeglavček«, ki jo je Dram. društvo Lilija napovedalo za 13. avgusta na Slovenski pristavi, pa je bila zaradi neurja, ki je divjalo nad Clevelandom in okolico, odpovedana, bo podana v nedeljo, 13. novembra, v Slovenskem domu na Holmes Ave. Podrobnosti bodo pravočasno objavljeni. AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA 6117 St. Clair Ave. - 216/431-0628 - Cleveland, OH 44103 AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA (USPS 024100) James V. Debevec - Publisher, English editor Dr. Rudolph M. Susel — Slovenian Editor Ameriška Domovina Permanent Scroll of Distinguished Persons: Rt. Rev. Msgr. Louis B. Baznik, Michael and Irma Telich, Frank J. Lausche, Paul Košir NAROČNINA: Združene države in Kanada: $25 na leto za ZDA; $30 za Kanado (v ZD valuti) Dežele izven ZDA in Kanade: $35 na leto (v ZD valuti) Za Slovenijo, z letalsko pošto, $ 1 10 letno SUBSCRIPTION RATES United States and Canada: U.S.A.: $25 per year; Canada: $30 in U.S. currency Foreign: $35 per year U.S. or equivalent foreign currency $ 1 1 0 per year airmail to Slovenia Second Class Postage Paid at Cleveland, Ohio POSTMASTER: Send address change to American Home, 61 17 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103-1627 Fax (216) 361-4088 Published every Thursday No. 38 Thursday, September 22, 1994 Za napredek in blagor narodov Od sobotnega do nedeljskega večera, 10. in 11. septembra, seje uresničeval veliki sen katoliškega hrvaškega naroda: obisk papeža Janeza Pavla II. Vsa sredstva družbenega obveščanja, od radiotelevizije do poslednjega časopisa, revije, glasila, so sporočala: sveti oče z nami in med nami! Njegov prihod je naznanjalo tudi nad 3000 velikih plakatov, ki jih je mladina prilepila na stene in reklamne deske ob zagrebških ulicah. Na njih je bilo izpisano geslo praznovanja 900. obletnice ustanovitve zagrebške nadškofije. Ko je prispel na zagrebško letališče, je poljubil zemljo kot v vseh 61 deželah sveta, kamor je doslej pripotoval ta glasnik Kristusovega miru in sprave med ljudmi. To je bil poljub trinajstim stoletjem pokristjanjenja, poljub devetim stoletjem zvestobe zagrebške (nad)škofije Cerkvi, vsemu hrvaškemu katoliškemu svetu včeraj in danes, vsem mučencem, svetnikom, blaženim, živim in mrtvim, poljub miru in ljubezni vsem ljudem dobre volje. Svetega očeta sta na letališču pričakali vodstvi Cerkve in države. Pozdravil ga je predsednik Republike Hrvaške dr. Franjo Tudman; v stolnici, kjer je skupaj z duhovniki, revoniki in redovnicami imel večerne molitve, je kardinal Kuharič papežu predstavil Katoliško cerkev na Hrvaškem, predvsem zagrebško nadškofijo, njeno podobo včeraj in danes; prav tako na hipodromu, kjer se je pri papeževi maši zbralo okrog 600.000 romarjev z vseh krajev Hrvaške. S svojimi osrednjimi nagovori (letališče, stolnica, hipodrom) je papež ob bežnih posegih v zgodovino devetih stoletij zagrebške nadškofije poudarjal tesno povezanost te krajevne Cerkve z vesoljno, svetniške vzore hrvaškega naroda (Tavelič, Mandič, Kažotie, Križevčanin...), med njimi tudi kardinala Ste-pinca, ta »najsvetlejši lik«, in brez števila drugih »sinov in hčera te dežele, ki so izpričali svojo vero in pogum tudi v najnovejšem času, ko so se v imenu človekovih pravic in dostojanstva upirali jarmu ateističnega komunizma«. Edinost, mir, sprava, razumevanje, odpuščanje so besede, ki so oblikovale temeljno sporočilo svetega očeta v dveh dnevih bivanja v Zagrebu: zbranim v stolnici, diplomatskemu in državnemu zboru v dvorih predsednika Republike, članom hrvaškega Sabora ob oltarju na hipodromu, množici romarjev, vsemu hrvaškemu ljudstvu doma in po svetu. »Mir z vami« Romar sprave, papež, vam kliče...« Vsem mestom, pokrajinam, družinam, posameznikom. »Mir je mogoč tam, kjer si ga ljudje iskreno želijo!« Kjer molijo i.i ustvarjajo kulturo miru. »Ta kultura ne izključuje zdravega domoljubja, otresa pa se skušnjav nacionalističnih pretiravanj in izključevanj!« Na hipodromu je poudaril: »V teh krajih, ki so danes v tako veliki preizkušnji, mora vera spet postati tista moč, ki ze-dinja in prinaša dobre sadove - kot Sava, ki izvira v Sloveniji, teče skozi vašo domovino, potem ob hrvaški in bosanskoher-cegovski meji, v Srbiji pa se izliva v Donavo. Donava je druga velika reka, ki povezuje hrvaško in srbsko deželo z velikimi deželami vzhodne in zahodne Evrope.« Podoba iz narave vabi k strpnosti, miru, sožitju tudi narode, ki živijo ob Savi in Dravi. »Napredek in blagor narodov na Balkanu imata eno samo besedo: Mir!« je poudaril papež. Nedeljska maša je bila osrednje dogajanje, slovesno v molitvi in pesmi, ljudski in zborovski. Okrog 50 (nad)škofov, med njimi več kardinalov, okrog tisoč duhovnikov somašni- Ob gostovanju komornega zbora »Ave« EUCLID, O. - Ob pričakovanju koncertnega nastopa »Ave«, ki bo v soboto, L oktobra, ob sedmih zvečer, v Slovenskem narodnem domu na St. Clair Avenue, objavljamo v naslednjem razmišljanje pevca in člana zbora »Ave« ob letošnjega desetletnici tega zbora. M.R. Ko sedim za računalnikom in iščem idejo, kako ustvariti brošuro ob Avejevem jubileju (plod razmišljanja je zdaj že v vaših rokah), se moja misel najprej spotakne ob vprašanju, kaj me je bilo prignalo in kaj me še vedno tako magično privlači pri Ave. Pri tem pevovodji, ki bi ga na trenutke najraje utopil v žlici vode, saj se mi zdi najkrivičnejše bitje na svetu, a se mi naslednji trenutek zdi, da kar vidim avro zame nedosegljivega, pa hkrati čisto človeškega, ki ga obdaja. Kaj me privlači pri skupini mladih deklet in fantov, s katerimi bi včasih najraje kar fizično obračunal, tako sit sem jih — ko pa, na primer, čez minuto stojimo drug ob drugem na odru in se počutim kot del dobro namazanega stroja (ki ima, v nasprotju s tistimi pravimi, dušo), se mi zdi, da bi bilo brez Ave moje življenje dolgočasno, če ne kar prazno? Gre za željo po uspehu, potovanjih, nastopanju, za ljubezen do lepega, popolnega petja, za golo trmo, češ, »če sem zdržal štiri leta, bom še to, pa naj izgubim službo, naj se svet podre...«, ali kaj povsem četrtega? Morda je imela prav novinarka, ki je v naslov intervjuja z nekaterimi pevci vpletla izraz Avemanija. Ogromno jih je že prišlo in odšlo, od vsega začetka, vztraja le Andraž. Napori so izjemni. Trde vaje, neusmiljen ritem dela, povprečno en nastop na teden, večkrat v letu celodnevne sobotne in nedeljske priprave, snemanja... Utrip zbora je zelo blizu profesionalnemu; vsak pevec pa poleg petja pri Ave redno opravlja še študijske ali službene dolžnosti, poje pri vsaj še enem zboru ali ga celo vodi. Vilenica 1993 Od laskavih priznanj in nagrad se ne da živeti, zato kaj takega zdržijo le redki. In ko po več zaporednih dneh intenzivnega skupnega petja ali po naporni turneji po tujini nekdo reče, »kaj, šele čez dva dni se spet vidimo?« se prešerno zasmejemo, in naš smeh je podoben smehu zasvojencev... Ave nikoli ni bil velik zbor in medsebojni odnosi so zato izredno pomembni. Vsakega prišleka čakata dve avdiciji: tista formalna, kvalitativna, in tista človeška. Avejevci so namreč neusmiljeno iskreni. Kdor bo v to dvajsetčlansko družino vstopil zviška, se bo hitro znašel »spodaj«, in šele, ko se bo dokazal tudi kot človek, bo zares sprejet kot enak med enake, čeprav med sabo tako različne. Vsak zase je poseben »kam-peljc«; šele 26-letni Andraž s svojimi muhami, pa hkrati neverjetno zanesljivostjo in za vrhunskega pevovodjo včasih kar nenavadno družabnostjo, Jože, kateremu kljub solističnim načrtom ni neznana prav nobena narodna, vedno razpoložena Polona, »skesanka«, ki jo je Ave po daljšem premoru spet pritegnil, prijazna Andreja, nadomestila je svojo sestro Ano, Martina, za Tamaro najstarejši »del inventarja«, priljubljeni Blaž, po svoji krivdi ali ne »dežurni strelovod«, pa notranjsko-primorska fantovska naveza... Ko smo skupaj, razlik ni, je samo Ave. Pred časom mi je neka prijateljica prišepnila, da smo se ji na odru zdeli »visoki«... Ni res. Če Ave kdaj deluje oddaljeno, je to zaradi posebne zaverovanosti, pa ne vase, ampak v glasbo, ki jo izvaja. Že na vajah je nadpovprečno veliko pozornosti posvečene vsebini, besedilu, izrazu. Na odru ni več treme, je samo še tista skladba in poslušalci, ki jo sprejemajo... Da so pevke in pevci tega zbora predvsem ljudje, pa bo znal povedati marsikdo. Slovenski izseljenci v Nemčiji, na primer, ki nas po koncertu in predbožičnem rajanju skoraj niso pustili domov; občinstvo v Toursu, ki nam je skoraj enoglasno dodelilo svojo na- kov; peli so združeni zbori mestnih zagrebških župnij ob spremljavi orkestra hrvaške vojske. Med pozdravi v različnih jezikih ob koncu maše je bil tudi slovenski: »rysem navzočim slovenske narodnosti izrekam prisrčno dobrodošlico, z željo, da bi bili v svoji deželi ustvarjalci razvoja, utemeljenega na pristnih človekovih vrednotah.« _ w . ]Z (Družina, 18. sept. 1994) grado; gospa Zinka iz belgiJ' skega Maasmechelena, katere mož je, samo nekaj minut P° res lepih trenutkih v dvorani slovenskega izseljenskega dru štva, izdihnil na rokah enega naših pevcev; znanstveniki po membne slovenske ustanove> ki jim je naš »pokoncertni na stop« po imenitni slovesno*1 dodobra razvezal grla in du °> ali še mnogi, ki jim je skriva) obrisana solza po kateri od za petih pesmi ostala kot dokaz-da pri Ave ne gre le za nast° panje, ampak za (raz)dajan) -za pravično delitev od Bog danega smisla za lepo med vajalci in poslušalci. Resje, pa naj se sliši šetaj^ »solzavo«: naj večja na^raII1 vsakemu Avejevcu je, ko nekje v šesti vrsti opa2* 0. oči, najsi bo v koncertni J ^ rani na Dunaju ali v cer Zelšah pri Cerknici. in polne dvorane so dokaz trud, odziv občinstva je na^ da za ljubezen — do petja-glasbe in do Ljudi. ylJ Ob desetem rojstnem dd^ te pevske skupine bi rad v nu Avejevcev zaželel An ^ in Ave — kot pojmu ^ ko uspeha in ljubezni ^ ^ glasbe, do tistih, ki j° U^<)I)C jajo, sprejemajo. V LJUBEČ SPO^ OB 15. OBLETNI^; ODKAR SE JE ZA Vs ^ POSLOVIL OD NAS ' ^ LJUBLJENI MOŽ iN Jože Tornih ^ ki je umrl 25. septembra O, ko bi mogli moč ki bi prinesla nam naza obličja Tvojega mil^0 / tfy. in blagodejni Tvoj sM? ^ Zvesto Te bomo vsi lju na Te nikoli pozabili- ■ v miru božjem Ti aj! v raju večno srečo uz‘ Tvoji žalujoči: Cilka — zena Janez - s>n Marjanca - nce Dori - snahaestra Štefka Demšar ter ostalo sorods^ |99^ Richmond Htš., O-- ^ Pristavski upokojenci poročajo! ^EVELAND, O. — V koledarju Ameriške domovine je za ; °ktober najavljeno, da Klub upokojencev Slov. pristave priredi »Koline«, na SP. Kaj je že res leto okoli? Tako hitro je minilo. Pomladi res nismo imeli, ker je po dolgi in hudi zimi ar naenkrat pritisnila poletna vročina. Zdaj pa je že jesen tu aj. Nič ne zamerimo Bogu, da nam ne daje slovenskih po-m adi; da nam le ohrani lepo jesen! Jesen je lepša od pomladi, ker je polna barv, polna sušte-aja istov, polna simbolov, kot bi vsa priroda govorila o vsem, ar nas muči in veseli v življenju. O strahu pred smrtjo, o skrbi garanja, dolgočasnosti življenja. Pa zasije sonce, sije dan za •mm, sije kar cele tedne in v naših srcih se porodi veselje in Pravimo, »saj ni tako hudo na svetu«. Dokler imamo luč na •m u, ki nam sveti in nas greje, smo lahko radostni, veseli, a o lepo bi bilo šele življenje, ko bi nas grelo sonce ljubezni e sebojnega razumevanja in družabnosti. Naš klub je bil letos kar agilen. Vsak mesec smo imeli s anek na Pristavi. Avgusta smo imeli naš vsakoletni piknik, ,Je ze^° dobro uspel, saj smo poklonili Pristavi čez tisoč Dik^810 ^0*arjev> to J6 &sti dobiček našega piknika. Na mku smo p05astjjj naga zasiužna člana Jako in Julko sjac. Naj se ob tej priliki zahvalim Ameriški domovini, dr. 1 anu Pavlovčiču in g. Pavletu Lavriši, da vedno objavljajo nase Prireditve. War^ tem ^CtU Sm° tUt^ tr* en°dnevne izlete in sicer v okop60’ Pa'’ V Put"in'Bay» in v prelepo »Amish country« v za v'clvDoverja. V molitev priporočamo naše bolnike: g. Jane-aršek, go. Francko Kristanc in g. Jako Mejača. 28 ^SC ^ane kluba vabimo na naš mesečni sestanek v sredo, se, Sei)temi)ra> °b 1 -30 popoldne na Slov. pristavi. Pogovorili pr, 0"10’ kako bomo čim lepše pripravili naše koline. Vse naše del' 6 JC Pa prisr^no vabimo, da pridejo na naše koline v ne-dn \ 0kt°bra. Serviralo se bo od ene do četrte ure popol-• Mariji Pomagaj na našem Orlovem vrhu se pa priporoča- 0 za lepo vreme. U.F. Ob 40. obletnici KRESA '«WELAND' °' ■ Na Slo-tje J Pbstavi je bilo vse pole- nedelin živallno- Nedeljo za Potng So vrstili pikniki v šolam, /^'Čtiim društvom, najbolj 7 fani' Mogoče je bilo ga je D an'rn*Vo na pikniku, !"Uk"W"^EsmladinaPle' vala 4o ipjta skupina prazno-Biia iP ?^0 svojega obsto-Sti> Pa Zo °ba velike aktivno-Leta pa s Pet malega zastoja. 80 zopet poprijele in pripravile kar lep spored. Nastopilo je precej mladine v raznih skupinah. Bili so prvošolčki, malo starejši, pa še večji, vsak s svojim parom, s cvetlicami, z balončki, s slovensko zastavo in še mali prizor, kako kljub neznanju jezika najdeš prijateljico. Na koncu programa so vse vaditeljice dobile prav lepe košarice cvetja v spomin na ta praznik. Zelo lepo! Vsak obiskovalec tega popoldneva je imel tudi priliko si ogledati povečane fotokopije v barvah o štiridesetletnem delu plesne skupine KRES. Od prvih vrat v dvorano do drugih, vBLAG SPOMIN Otekle LOUIS MAJER Umrl 22. septembra 1963. 2emlia kr'je Te 'n brezi?0 Te ljubili 9odaj 'zgubili. blaring _ 6 le ze> Počivaj v miru, dragi, nepozabni nam. V nebesih večno srečo uživaj vekomaj. Žalujoči: Žena — Helen Hčerka — Ivanka por. Yuko Zet — John vnukinji - Elizabeth in Victoria °Velty- Ohio , 0Stal° sorodstvo v Sloveniji • 22- septembra 1994. Nekaj nezapisanih poletnih misli so bila kot harmonika postavljena stojala, na njih pa od začetka do zdaj razne skupine v različnih odtenkih. Videl si nasmejane obraze, veselo mladost. Se par slik z letošnjega taborenja je bilo dodanih. Veliko delo si je naložil Metkin oče, profesor Edi Gobec, in ga zares dobro izpeljal. Hvala! Ni bila velika, mogočna prireditev, bila pa je prisrčna, da smo vsi veseli odhajali z mislijo: Hvala Ti, dobri Bog, ko deliš med nas različne talente, ki se nam razdajajo in plemenitijo. Povrni jim s svojim blagoslovom, da bodo te talente še naprej gradili in nas navduševali. Udeleženka Knjižnica Slovenske šole pri Sv. Vidu se zahvaljuje CLEVELAND, O. - Slovenska šola pri Sv. Vidu se želi zahvaliti vsem sledečim, ki so darovali slovenske knjige, kasete ali videokasete naši knjižnici. Počasi se naša skromna knjižnica obnavlja z vašo pomočjo. Letos se lahko tudi starši in stari starši izposojajo iz knjižnice, ki je v sobi 304 v šoli in bo odprta vsako učno soboto od 9. do 9.15 in od 11.15 do 11.30 dopoldne. Se enkrat, iskrena hvala sledečim: Angela Bolha Ivanka Makše (Kanada) Družina Anna Jesenko in “The Slovenian American Heritage Foundation” Meta Novak Marija Burgar Frank Coffelt Bernarda Ovsenik Maria Škrabec Janez in Ivanka Košir Anton in Cecilija Žakelj Zalka in Jože Likozar Kati Likozar Cup Odbor staršev V BLAG SPOMIN 19. OBLETNICE NAŠE LJUBLJENE MAME, STARE MAME in PRASTARE MAME « i'* /v.,, I. Josephine Cimperman ki je preminula 28. septembra 1975. S cvetlicami Ti grob krasimo, in molimo za dušni mir, da enkrat srečno se združimo, tam, kjer je večne sreče vir! Žalujoči: Sin: Louis Hčer: Rose Snaha: Mary Cimperman Vnuki in vnukinje Cleveland, O., 22. septembra 1994. NEW YORK, NY - V zgodovini filozofije naletimo na filozofa, ki je rekel: Cogito, ergo sum (Mislim, torej sem). No, po zadnjem kroniškem zapisu sv. Cirila na Osmi se še nisem nič javil v Ameriško domovino. To bi dozdevalo mnogim, da me ni več med živimi, in da je tudi sv. Ciril na Osmi preminul, kot je slovensko-hrvaška fara Gospodovega rojstva v San Franciscu. In vendar sem mislil v tem času tako na sv. Cirila kot na AD in še na mnoge druge stvari. Torej sem še bil in še danes sem, ker mislim in pišem spet kroniko sv. Cirila, tokrat nekaj v drugačni obliki. Kot že dve leti, tudi letos me pred tretjo julijsko nedeljo ni poklical Jože Grom naznanjajoč mi: Tone, za nedeljsko mašo ob našem jezercu te bosta pobrala Hribarjeva. Tudi John Hribar je med tem šel za Jožetom prek meje skrivnostne dežele našega življenja. Vdovi Mariji se letos ni dalo iti. Ni se počutila dobro. Tako sem bil v popolni negotovosti glede možnosti biti navzoč pri tej — letos edini — poletni maši župnije sv. Cirila v naravnem templju Gospodovega stvarstva. Kličem sem, kličem tja. Povsod dobim sporočilo: ne. Pa zavrtim še tel. številko domačije Ivana Kamina. Tod mi reko: da. In tako sem Ivana in Barbi čakal pred hišo že precej časa pred njunim prihodom. Stanujem v petnadstropni stanovanjski hiši. Ko sem se pred 40 ZAHVALA WICHITA, Kansas - Za Karmeličanke v Sori na Gorenjskem sem prejel sledeče darove: Martin Globočnik, Denver, Colo., $100; N.N., Kansas, $500; N.N., Kansas, $300. Za Koroške študente pa sem dobil sledeče darove: Bart Starc, Arizona, $40; Victor Novak, Kalifornija, $1000. Vsem darovalcem prav prisrčna hvala v imenu staršev, študentov in sester. Fr. John Lavrih 6900 E. 45th St. N, Apt. D2 Wichita, Kansas 67226 leti vselil vanjo, je bila to najlepša stanovanjska hiša v Ridgewoodu, 48-stanovanj-ska. Tedaj so bili v večini stanovalci Judje. Tudi lastniki so bili Judje. Vsi so odšli, razen enega. In začuda piše se: Potokar. Potomec Judov iz Slovaške. Je oskrbnik zdaj skoraj opuščene sinagoge v sosednem bloku. Kakšna sprememba v teh 40 letih, tako v tej stanovanjski hiši in v Ridgewoodu, pa pri sv. Cirilu kot tudi v Ameriki! Če bi jo zdaj obiskal dr. Milan Vidmar, bi spet ugotavljal kot pred 60 leti v svoji knjigi: Med Evropo in Ameriko, da je to »dežela na kolesih«: stalno gibanje, naseljevanje, priseljevanje, preseljevanje, spreminjanje, napredovanje — in pa tudi propadanje. V naši hiši smo medtem imeli italijansko in portoričansko dobo. Zdaj so lastniki Kitajci. Stanovalcev je precej iz Azije, zlasti iz Indije in Pakistana. Dve družini sta mohamedanski, drugi pa so večinoma Sikhi. Osebno se z vsemi dobro razumem, ker so mirni in vljudni. Lahko bi rekel, da so skorajda bolj človečanski, kot smo mi, kristjani. Ko sem na omenjeno tretje-julijsko nedeljo pred hišo čakal na Kaminove, pride iz nje lepa družina Sikhov. Vsi oblečeni v narodne obleke svoje dežele. Kot po navadi se vljudno pozdravimo. Vprašam jih: Kam v teh jutranjih urah v taki obleki. Povedo mi, da se peljejo s svojim avtomobilom v New Jersey v svoj tempelj k skupni molitvi. Pri njih je to tudi njihova skupna meditacija. Torej nekakšna skupna molitev Stvarnika, v katerega verujejo kot Edinega, hkrati pa osebna meditacija. V njihovem verovanju, vestvu, ki izhaja iz hinduizma, igra ljubezen veliko vlogo. Od te družine sem dobil tudi knjigo: Internal and External Threats to Sikhism. V njej se govori o prinicipih njihovega verovanja, tudi veliko o odnosih do hindujskih vernikov. Pomislil sem na sedanje odnose med Judi in kristjani, ko (dalje na sir. 10) Office Hours By Appointment Phone (216) 261-1133 RICHARD J. ZIRM, D.P.M. Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery of the Foot and Ankle 26250 Euclid Ave., Suite 819, Euclid, Ohio 44132 Crobaugh Funeral Home Gregory M. Danaher 22595 Lake Shore Boulevard Embalmer & Funeral Director Euclid, Ohio 44123 (216) 731-4259 ŠTUDIJSKI DNEVI DRAGA 94 Slovenci in prihodnost JANEZ JANŠA — I. del — V nadaljevanjih objavljamo sicer zelo dolgo predavanje bivšega slovenskega obrambnega ministra Janeza Janša na letošnjih Studijskih dnevih Draga. Govor je podal v nedeljo, 4. septembra. Najbrž ni slovenskega izobraženca, ki se ne bi zavedal pomena vsakoletnih študijskih srečanj na tem mestu, katera že skoraj tri desetletja, kot je dejal na Dragi 88 G. Alojz Rebula, skušajo »dešifrirati znamenja na slovenskem nebu«. G. Rebula je takrat še pripomnil, da bi bila kaka večja ambicija iluzorna. Morda je bila ta ambicija leta 1988 skromna, v kar pa dvomim, toda danes, po vzpostavitvi samostojne slovenske države in delni demokratizaciji, je zagotovo težiščna. Nobene nadaljnje pozitivne spremembe, ki so nujne, niso možne brez tega, da bi uspeli pravočasno razložiti znamenja, ki se kažejo na slovenskem nebu. Tudi iz tega se da izluščiti potrebnost takšnih srečanj, ki v novostarih časih dobivajo dodaten pomen in težo. Drago lahko brez lažne skromnosti postavimo ob bok vsem tistim ključnim dogajanjem, ki so v desetletjih totalitarizma pomagali, da se je v zavesti Slovencev ohranila misel resnice in tudi drugačnosti in da je ta misel napredovala. Ustanovitelj Drage Jože Peterlin je sam zapisal, kaj ga je gnalo v ta projekt. »Čutimo, kako je narod čudežna duhovna enota in celota: v njej je ena duša in eno srce, v njej je skupna trpka preteklost in skupno svetlo upanje; v njej zveni skupna žalost in prekipeva skupna radost. Ta smeh in jok sta razsejana od tod do morja, po Krasu, odmevata v Brdih in svetli Gorici, v revnih vaseh pod Matajurjem in segata v vasi pod Sv. Višarjami in dalje za jezera po Koroškem, se komaj zaznavno čutita do Djekš in Svin planine in se razživita in v zmagoslavju zapojeta pod Triglavom in v Beli krajini. In tudi preko morja segata do ameriških tovarn in argentinskih pamp, do učilnic in predavalnic univerz, na katerih Joseph L. FORTUNA »GREBNI ZAVOD (l6 Fleet Ave. 641-0046 iderni pogrebni zavod jbulanca na razpolago podnevi in ponoči I CENE NIZKE PO VAŠI ŽELJI! Janez Janša poučujejo naši ljudje in se večkrat tujina diči z deli njihovih rok, segata do neznanih krajin, kjer slovenski duhovniki oznanjajo evangelij.« Ko sem ob priprava tega predavanja prebiral zbornike dosedanjih srečanj v Dragi, sem v njih našel mnoge odgovore, katere so oziroma ste nekateri udeleženci že včeraj dajali tudi za danes. Nov čas, ki je nastopil po demokratizaciji in osamosvojitvi v letih 1990 -1992, namreč še ni tako nov, kot bi se to komu zdelo. Ko govorim o sedanjem političnem trenutku v Sloveniji in o naši prihodnosti ne morem mimo dveh ugotovitev: 1. — Bolj ali manj hrupnega razpada dveh socialističnih imperijev, Sovjetske zveze in Jugoslavije, padec Berlinskega zidu in združitev Nemčij ter propad enostrankarskega socializma v vzhodni in srednji Evropi so konec osemdesetih in v začetku devetdesetih let dvajsetega stoletja oznanili konec V BLAG SPOMIN OB 9. OBLETNICI SMRTI NAŠE DRAGE MAME, STARE MAME, PRASTARE MAME in SESTRE Leopoldina Žitnik ki je umrla 24. sept. 1985. V božjem vrtu sladko spava, kjer nežne cvetke valove, naša ljuba, zlata mama, za trpljenje več ne ve. Srčna ljubljena nam mama, šla prezgodaj si od nas, dobra, skrbna si nam bila, kako brez Tebe dolg je čas. Žalujoči ostali: Ivan in Dušan — sinova Poldi Bojc — hčerka in družina Cleveland, O., 22. septembra 1994. stare in začetek nove dobe v velikem delu sveta. Medtem ko so ocene o minulem obdobju hladne vojne in blokovske delitve več ali manj enotne, pa prihodnost še ni tako jasna. Veliki optimisti, ki so razglašali novo vladavino prava in človekovih pravic, so potihni- li. Danes lahko nedvoumno ugotovimo le, da vse tisto, kar je simboliziral padec Berlinskega zidu, še ne predstavlja spremembe same v celoti, temveč šele začetek sprememb. Mnogi dogodki, ki so sledili, so to dejstvo že potrdili. Kljub temu pa so danes na obzorju znani šele bolj medli obrisi novega svetovnega reda. V kolikor lahko sploh dobesedno govorimo o tem, da tak red prihaja. 2. — Enako bi lahko trdili za Slovenijo. Prve svobodne volitve in osamosvojitev sta zakoličila spremembo, ki ji ni para v dosedanji slovenski zgodovini. Toda samo zakoličila. Sprememba se je začela s prelomnimi dogodki v svojem bistvu šele dogajati. In za ta čas, ki ga živimo, je v Sloveniji značilno: Največji problem v tem trenutku na Slovenskem, ko se vzpostavljajo lastninske, politične in druge osnove za naslednja desetletja, je vprašanje izhodiščne, startne pozicije. Vprašanje enakih možnosti in vprašanje pravil igre. Ce pogledamo ekonomijo, potem lahko vidimo, da je lastninska zgradba daleč od pravičnosti in daleč od tistega, kar je v interesu nacionalnega gospodarstva. Nekdanji u-ravljalci družbene lastnine so se že dodobra prelevili v njene privatne lastnike. Ob tem celo nekateri ekonomisti zvenečih imen zagovarjajo tezo, češ da je prav, da imajo največ lastnine najbolj sposobni. Vodilni politekonomski ideolog LDS dr. Bogomir Kovač javno razglaša, da je osnovno vodilo v tem času profit. Drugo ne šteje. Vendar stvari tudi z vidika gole koristi ni tako preprosta. Ni nujno najboljši gospodar tisti, ki je spretno ter uspešno manipuliral in kradel v prehodnem obdobju, temveč prej tisti, ki je do lastnine prišel s trdim poštenim delom in umnim gospodarjenjem. Tisti, ki je na hitro obogatel, praviloma hitro zapravi za luksuz, ali pa iz strahu pred javnostjo spravi kapital v tuje banke, kjer koristi drugim. • Na eni strani je tako ozek sloj nekdanje vodilne garniture, ki je imel desetletja privili-giran dostop do informacij in znanja, preko službe DV ( = Državna varnost oz. tajna policija, op. ur.) pa tudi do osebnih podatkov podrejenih in ostalih sodelavcev in sokraja-nov. Danes izkorišča status, pridobljen v nelegitimnem sistemu, za osebno bogatenje in poslovanje preko zasebnih podjetij, medtem ko tista podjetja, za katera so bili desetletja odgovorni, propadajo, saj mnogi nekdanji poslovni partnerji kupujejo pri novih pod-(dalje na str. 11) Nekaj nezapisanih poletnih misli (nadaljevanje s str. 9) mi kristjani izhajamo iz judovskega verovanja vse do Kristusa. In potem maša slovenska, tam ob jezeru, ko nam Tone Babnik bere mašno berilo od Jeremije 23. poglavja, vrst 1 do 6. Bral nam je tudi tole: »Gorje pastirjem, ki pogubljajo in razpršujejo ovce moje paše, tako govori Izraelov Bog... Vi ste moje ovce razpršili in jih razkropili ter jih niste iskali. Zdaj kaznujem na vas vaša hudobna dejanja... Postavim jim pastirje, ki jih bodo pasli...« Menim, da se za razlago in razjasnitev teh svetopisemskih misli smem nasloniti na nedeljsko misel za to nedeljo v julijski Ave Maria, koder je zapisano: »Jeremijeva beseda govori o položaju, ki je nastal v Palestini po tem, ko je Nebu-hodnezar izselil potomce Davidove dinastije in postavil namestnika, kralja po svojem MALI OGLASI FOR RENT Off Babbitt. Double, up. 2 bdrm. Carpeting & appliances. $375 per month plus security. No pets. Call 261-2363. (36-39) FOR SALE — By Owner $139,900 481-2255 Euclid. Imoeccable cond. Light brick ranch. 3 bdrm. 1-1/2 baths. 2 car plus garage. Full basement. Family Rm. Deck & covered patio. Beautifully landscaped wooded lot. Many amenities. Must be seen to be appreciated. 1740 Sherwood Blvd. on Cul-de-sac Excellent location (to Sept. 29) okusu. V tem času je večina poklicnih prerokov in kraljevih svetovalcev, ki jih je navdihovala ostrina tradicionalne narodne zavesti, zahtevala ponovne zveze z Egiptom in nasilno osamosvojitev. Jeremija graja takšno držo, ki je po njegovi oceni neizvedljiva in naravnost škodljiva, saj je Nebu hodnezar prav zaradi teh zvez udaril po Judih...« Vse to se je dogajalo na Srednjem vzhodu, v Sveti dežel, veliko, veliko let pred Kristu som. In kaj vse se je in se se dogaja v skoraj 2000 letih p° Kristusu, povsod po svetu. smo bili pri tej slovenski ma v večini tisti, in potomci tisti . ki so nas naši domači naro m voditelji razpršili po tem sve tu. In da narodu na S'ove^ skem še po osamosvojitvi ,v glavnem vladajo tisti pastirJ1’ ali njih namestniki, ki so svoj ovce razpršili po svetu... Te poletne misli so naP‘sa^ na dan po Jom Kipru 5755, ^ se je poletje letos že nagni o poletno jesen... Tone Osovn* MALI OGLASI MACHINIST WANTED Flexible hours. Small-i0^ ! Retirees welcome. Call- • Eastlake, Ohio - 946’°(^\) Exceptional Euclid Col°n'ae 164 East 208 St. North of E^,, shore Blvd. “Model condition. (3) bdruns- 1 ^ baths Custom designed c ^ kitchen. Formal dining •? 'died Family rm. below 1st. F'n^Ifa| laundry. Large deck. Ee t Air. New throughout^ ^ (38-40 see! Call for an appt- ^ $118,900.00 XfM owntown PEPCO Downtown 1235 Marquette St. Cleveland, OH 44114 (216) 881-3636 Phone (216) 881-1114 Fax ' PEPCO is an Electrical Electronics Supplies Distributor serving the needs of a city on the move. Appleton - Hoffman -Bussman - Cutter-Hammer - ITE - 3\f Siemens - Acme - Furnas -Brady - Hubbell -Klein Tools Store Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7 am - 5 pm Jeffrey J. Bor^ ' Branch MandQ ^ BRICKMAN & SONS FUNERAL HOME 21900 Euclid Ave. 481-5Z77 Between C'hardon & E. 222nd St. — Euclid- Dhi0 SLOVENCI IN PRIHODNOST (nadaljevanje s str. 10) jctjih, ki so v lasti ali blizu nekdanjih direktorjev. Na drugi strani so stotisoči delavcev, ki so jim desetletja govorili, da so gospodarji vse-ga> danes pa ostajajo na cesti brez zaposlitve in s skromnim certifikatom, pa še tega jim skušajo razne investicijske družbe, vodene tudi od nekdanjih neuspešnih direktorjev in stečajnih upraviteljev, izvabiti 2 dragimi reklamami ter tako razPolagati tudi s tem delom uPravljalske pravice, ki jo po 2akonu dajejo združeni certifikati. Ker ena investicijska družba ^°raj nikoli tudi v kombinati' z drugimi načini lastninje- nja ne more dobiti večinskega tteleža v zaželjenem podjetju mmejuje jo zakon), je nujen “ogovor večih družb. Če ima- e'te isto finančno (finan-"opolitično) zaledje (in 90% ojansko bazira v neoko-unističnem lobiju), pa kon-- ,.a Veo problem. V tem je g tt'ono bistvo certifikatske-po i privatizacije, ki bo tudi astninjenju ohranilo od VoJnih let naprej nikoli pre-“len monopol KPS - ZKS - «?roSrDsv"ado- tj ^aen' strani je nekaj deset vred ki so za desetino (jn n?st' Prišli do imetja vre-^ stiveč sto tisoč mark, kajti boi^no ceno so odkupili je v a stanovanja, do katerih prišla zaradi priviligi-karskemP°'0zaja v enostran-funkcin SlStertlu- V nekaterih °dkupili arS*C’*1 družinah so vanj. ce*° Po več stano- •avcev^jj11^ strani so tisoči de- tako desetll?-8ih’ ki S° pr3V razij^ne t etja Prispevali v ^°bili naStanovan-iske sklade, 8i stram mS0 ničesar- Na dru-družine * k-0 rn*ade slovenske uPanja ’ h1 n^maj° nobenega ^r'^e Ho a ^odo v kratkem stanovanj. Na drugi strani so desettisoči podnajemnikov, študentov, delavcev in drugih, ki v nekaj letih za skromno podnajemniško stanovanje bivšemu partijskemu funkcionarju plačajo več najemnine, kot pa je on plačal za stanovanje. • Na eni strani je sloj občinske in državne birokracije, ki bi se na vsak način rad ohranil tudi vnaprej v čimvečjih novih občinah ali pokrajinah in ki na podlagi tajnih navodil nekdanjih komunističnih gospodarjev na vse načine zavira izvajanje zakona o denacionalizaciji. Prav v tem času pa poteka tudi organiziran poskus, da bi se zakon o denacionalizaciji spremenil v škodo okradenim. Na drugi strani so tisoči zakonitih lastnikov in njihovi potomci, ki jim je bilo premoženje s strani Komunistične partije po letu 45 ukradeno in ki po dolgih letih bede in zatiranja ne morejo priti do zakonite lastnine. Usodnost današnjega časa Ta razslojenost je ključni notranji problem v tem trenutku za Slovenijo. Mnoge njegove značilnosti so podobne tistim na Madžarskem, Poljskem ali kaki drugi bivši komunistični državi z izjemo Češke in bivše Vzhodne Nemčije. Čas je zelo usoden. To še toliko bolj, ker nimamo sistema moralnih vrednot, ki bi predstavljal dovolj trdno osnovo pravnemu redu. Danes je v Sloveniji na pohodu korupcija, ki se mnogokrat skriva za besedo pragmatizem. Proti korupciji danes v Sloveniji nastopajo predvsem posamezniki, ki so bili neposredno oškodovani, civilna družba, del novinarjev, Cerkev in del opozicije. Država in njene institucije pa jo z redkimi [izjemami] večinoma ne samo podpira, ampak neposredno omogoča. In v Sloveniji zaenkrat še ni ; ********************************* nrjanc HEATING COOIING Established 1963 ^16)692-2557 SALES - SERVICE INSTALLATION FURNACES AIR CONDITIONERS BOILERS HUMIDIFIERS AIR CLEANERS SHEET METAL REFRIGERATION 760 E. 200TH STREET CLEVELAND, OHIO 44119 Whe never you have a problem with "'aiu ^ tan* call on well-known, trusted e ,a^e American Slovenians from Gorjanc. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * dovolj sil, ki bo to lahko spremenile. Sicer nikomur še ni uspelo, da bi očistil vse, kar je slabega. Polega tega je včasih mejo med dobrim in slabim zelo težko postaviti, saj se oboje v človeški naravi močno prepleta, prav tako v življenju in družbi nasploh. Tisto, kar predstavlja osnovo za normalno življenje, pa je priznavanje enakih pravic človeku posamezniku vsaj znotraj neke celote, kot je npr. narod ali država. Ne samo na papirju, ampak v praksi. Razlike so seveda legitimne oziroma pravične, če izhajajo iz dela in znanja, dediščine in ob upoštevanju vsaj približno enakih možnosti drugih. Če pa nekdo dosega uspehe in živi na račun drugih zaradi poznanstev, zvez ali npr. politične moči in denarja, ki so jo (ga) je nabral v času komunističnega enoumja, ko ni bilo svobodnih volitev in možnosti za zdravo konkurenco, potem s tem dela krivico vsem ostalim. To ne velja samo za politične sinove oziroma drugo generacijo revolucionarjev. Tudi prva je še globoko udeležena pri formalni kapitalizaciji nekdanjih privilegijev. V veliki meri so tudi stari revolucionarji danes postali zelo premožni ljudje. Posedujejo več hiš, stanovanj (pridobljenih po privilegijih), vikendov, pa tudi podjetja. Da o umetninah, zlatu, trofejah in drugih dragocenostih, ki so jih ukradli po drugi svetovni vojni in kasneje in ki danes krasijo marsikatero hišo ali stanovanje lastnika zvenečega imena, niti ne govorim. Gre za neokomunistični sloj, ki ga po Evropskih merilih ni mogoče razvrstiti, saj je njegova edina vrednota oblast, danes povezana z lastnino, ter strah, da bi kdo poskušal razkriti načine, na katere so se dokopali do lastnine in oblasti. To jih še najbolj veže. Strah in koristi. V vsem drugem so pragmatični, predvsem pa v javnosti lepo govorijo in dodelano nastopajo. (se nadaljuje) SAJ NI RES... PA JE! V starih časih so topovske krogle pred izstrelitvijo razžarili, da so sovražniku naredile večjo škodo, ker so povzročile hude požare. • Niagarski slapovi se vsako leto premaknejo za devetdeset centimetrov nazaj, ker voda za toliko izpodje skalde. MAJOR & MINOR AUTO REPAIRS FOREIGN & DOMESTIC STATE EMISSIONS INSPECTIONS DIESEL ENGINE REPAIRS 4 WHEEL & FRONT WHEEL DRIVES COMPLETE DRIVE-TRAIN SERVICE & rxrruri ^ FRONT END ALIGNMENT feCUCLID SUNOCO SERVICE S B 48 ,’"5822 "" APPROVfD AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR «70 €. 200 ST MON-FRl 6 ASA-i t PM SAT 7 AM-11 PM nd VVas a puF Elel8rade at Krs'Scho°l to S(,,nat eventful dayj01 as asua Onthatnedouttob ^ring afternoon e'assr® °Ur st, rattie ^ windou bias,; S!°wed rememk he nex Wen,mrber ls the f to „,7" and Higgh suP to “ig on kn' ^here i Ho sawl Gpajs k"1' f That night the three of us were on the third floor when we heard the last tank explode. We all were very frightened. The next couple of days were still scary for me because I didn’t find my parents. Finally, on the third morning the three of us started to go out and walk and look for my mother. That same morning, my mother was also looking for us. I saw her first and screamed, “Mama!” That was a very happy moment for us; we all cried tears of joy. My mother told us about her ordeal and how she came to Willson school but I was already gone. There they couldn’t tell her where I was, only with whom. She said that when she was running down Norwood Road, the sewer man-hole covers were popping up everywhere. She was almost hit by one. Mother also helped a lady by dousing the flames that were engulfing her. My mother said she was so scared because she couldn’t find me or my father. He was working at the White Motor Co. on E. 79th St. My mother eventually laughed, saying, that we were only three streets apart. God was with all of us. Prior to that we lived on E. 62nd Street, north of St. Clair. I was born there; we had moved seven months before the gas explosion. Well, 50 years later, I have a wonderful family of seven children and 10 grandchildren. Also, my oldest son is known among our Slovenian people as Dan Cosic of the Dan Cosic Funeral Home on Chardon Road in Willoughby Hills, Ohio. The East Ohio Gas Explosion in 1944 was an experience that I shall never forget. Dolores Cosic Broadview Hts., O. Honey Vegel submits story NOTE: Regarding the East Ohio Gas Fire. I forward this article among some of my husband’s papers. He was an employee of the East Ohio Gas Company and being a Slovenian, he was asked to be present when he could to help explain to both parties (Slovenian and English-speaking) what was being said. —Ivana Vegel NOTE: The first part of the article is missing. It was from an old newspaper clipping. It mentions the government officials who were active in restoring the neighborhood in- cluding Law Director Thomas A. Burke who would succeed Frank J. Lausche as mayor. Eventually there were three investigations of the tragedy: one by the mayor’s board, one by Dr. Gerber (the coroner), and another by fire underwriters. One charged that the gas company should not have located the tanks in a residential neighborhood. It blamed the city for permitting such construction. Burial of the dead was not completed until Nov. 24. Biggest funeral was the mass on Tragedy burial of 61 victims in caskets furnished free by manufacturers. Each went to Highland Park Cemetery in separate hearses, and the cortege stretched for miles. As the city mourned the dead, Grdina’s father, Anton, thought of the living. He was president of the North American Bank and the leader of Cleveland’s Slovenian community. He helped organize the St. Clair-Norwood Rehabilitation Corp. and drove it to rebuild from the ashes. The group collected from merchants and used the money to buy devastated land strewn with the ashes of 79 homes. The 30-foot lots were replanted into 45-foot lots on E. 61st and E. 62nd streets. Sixteen one-family homes of brick were built and sold at reasonable prices to families made homeless by the fire. They stand today, a neat row of brick monuments to the resilience of man, connected by a brand new street cut in 1945. The connecting street is Anton Grdina Ave. NE. Where the tanks of East Ohio (Continued on page 4) tober, 1994 o c o " o O. X d) M <0 O) a3 o. ra o. V) $ 0> c 0) E o X I E < The East Ohio Gas Fire Stories of Survivors and the Aftermath by TERRY MEEHAN East Ohio Gas One hundred and thirty people died in the fire, including 73 East Ohio Gas employees, two roofing workers who were on the grounds at the time, two employees of nearby factories, 32 neighborhood residents, and 21 victims who were never identified or reported as missing. Over 200 people were hospitalized. Nine EOG employees survived briefly but died while in the hospital. Had the tragedy occurred an hour or so later, many more of the employees would have been back in the shop — and many of the neighborhood children would have been home from school. With a combination of quick thinking, quick feet, some heroic acts, and just plain luck, 40 to 50 EOG employees escaped the holocaust. Most of those who made it out climbed a barbed wire fence at the northeast corner of the property where E. 63rd Street dead ends into the New York Central railroad tracks. Three survivors are still alive today: Edward O’Connell, 96: Sandy Drago, 84 and Joe Peterlin, 84. Taken from various testimony, statements to the company, and personal interviews, here are the stories of some who survived — and some who did not. Roy Feightner, Assistant Chief Engineer of the liquid plant, had just gotten word from Engineer Hugh O’Donnell that tank number one was full. He was standing near the north doorway of the compressor building with his boss. Chief Engineer Connie Daiber, and with the operator in charge of that day’s shift, Dale Keller. The three stood approximately 100 feet from LNG storage tank No. 4. With all of the tanks now full, they would relax for a moment and discuss the shutting down of the plant. At 2:40 p.m. they heard a low rumble “like distant thunder.” The three quickly stepped outside and saw a white vapor coming from the direction of tank number 4. Almost immediately the vapor turned to flame. Feightner and Keller ran toward the wrought iron picket fence that separated the plant from East 55th Street. They did not see where Daiber went. Feightner was unable to reach the fence; Keller made it, but was unable to get over. Feightner jumped into a water well which surrounded an old-style gas holder. In testimony before the Mayor’s Board of Inquiry, Feightner describes what occurred while he was in the life saving water: ‘‘About that time Dale Keller came running from the southerly direction with his hair and clothes all on fire... I hollered at him and he stopped and I told him to get in with me, which he did. He went down in the water and put the fire out on his clothes.” Here is how Keller remembered it, when questioned: ‘‘The fire was all around me, and what to do, I don’t know what made me do it or why I did it, but I got up, and whether I ran wild or whether something told me where to go or what, but... I heard a voice, and I stopped, and it was in the water that seals this old type gas holder, and I got down in there.” Q. “Did you find somebody else in there?” A. “Yes, sir.” Q. “Who was it?” A. “Roy Feightner.” During a lull, the two men again attempted to scale the fence; Keller made it over first and gave Feightner a boost from the other side. A motorist took them to a hospital. These activities took place in and around what is now the front lawn of the main building at No. 2 Works. O’Donnell died that day; Daiber died nine days later in the hospital; Keller had a lengthy stay in the hospital, but survived. Feightner had minor injuries and spent many hours on the witness stand explaining the complex operations of the liquid plant to the Mayor’s Board of Inquiry. Sandy Drago was checking in a new load of gas pipe. He bent down to measure a length of pipe and suddenly felt intense heat; by the time he stood up, the batch of order sheets he was holding became a torch. He saw the flames near the liquid plant leap into the air, and said to himself, “feet, do your duty.” Though rejected from the army because of fallen arches, Sandy was an athlete who could run; and run he did, toward the northeast corner of East Ohio’s property, where East 63 rd meets the New York Central railroad tracks. Due to lack of oxygen he fell three times, but was able to get back up. After helping his friend Giulio Delgaudio clear the fence, Sandy made it over, too. He suffered severe burns and was hospitalized for 46 days. Paul Janos and Arthur Leach were working in the garage as David Damon came running in. Soon, four other men ran into the garage — they were on fire. Janos and Damon each tore the clothes off two of the men and Leach grabbed a fire extinguisher and trained it on them. These men then ran toward 63rd Street. Then Janos lowered a tow truck from a rack, drove it out of the garage and tried to break through the fence. The fence would not give way, so the three men had to scale the barbed wire. Leach sustained only minor injuries; Janos was dazed and suffered burns to his hands; Damon was hospitalized, but survived. Two of the men who came into the garage on fire were Frank Roberts and Frank Thoman. They looked “like zombies,” according to Paul Janos. Janos remembers tearing their clothes off and Arthur Leach remembers spraying the fire extinguisher on them. Someone, probably David Damon, took the two men out of the garage and led them toward East 63rd and the NYC tracks. Frank Tepley remembers holding Roberts as men from Lamson and Sessions were placing ladders and helping the men get over the fence. Tepley also saw Thoman at this time. Sadly, both Roberts and Thoman died in the hospital the next day. Old? Who's Old? Atilio Markič left the blacksmith shop, ran toward 63rd, could not scale a wooden fence, successfully scaled a wire fence, got first aid at Lamson and Sessions, ran when a second explosion occurred, and ended up at Mt. Sinai Hospital with burns and 17 stitches. Frank Gracar left the boiler room, ran toward the railroad tracks, stopped to pull burning clothes off of a co-worker, scaled the fence, walked 20 blocks, and treated himself for slight burns and minor cuts. Markič was 62. Gracar was 64. Richard Yokes, 44, was walking back from the weld shop to the machine shop when the fire started. He threw himself on the ground behind a small building and while there remembers seeing Sandy Drago and Joe Peterlin running with their clothes on fire. He decided he had better run, too. He made it over the fence and eventually found himself at the corner of E. 63rd and St. Clair. Just then Tom O’Neill and his crew, heading from the east side back toward the shop, were beginning to shut off gas services. Though Yokes had barbed wire cuts on his hands and wrists, burns on his neck, and bruised ribs, someone threw him a street key and he spent much of the rest of the day shutting off gas. Special Inspector, Walter Shepard and his helper, James Danahy, were working on a unit heater at Green Drug at 55th and Euclid when they were told of the fire. They drove to East 62 and St. Clair and walked in the direction of the flames to the American Gas Association building on East 62nd Street. They entered and turned off all the valves that they could find at tanks and meters. Houses all around them were burning and the firemen had turned their hoses on the AGA building. There were gas holders in the rear of the building. Shepard was questioned by the Mayor’s Board of Inquiry: Q. “Is that the reason you picked the AGA because of those holders in the rear?” A. “Yes, that’s right.” Q. “You probably saved them an awful lot of equipment by going in there and shutting off the valves?” A. “It is possible; I don’t know.” Q. “You don’t work for the A.G.A?” A. “No, sir, but that was the natural instinct I got at the plant, I tried to protect everything I could.” Q. “Had everybody at the plant come out?” A. “They had all left, the building was burning.” Q. “And you went in?” A. “Yes.” When they left AGA, Shepard and Danahy went back up to St. Clair and smashed a manhole to keep it from blowing up. Later, they helped direct traffic until midnight. After the Fire: Stories of Courage George Binder, Superintendent of the Cleveland Division, was in general charge of all operations in the Cleveland area, including the No. 2 Works plant. He was out of the office the day of the fire, supervising the tie-in of a new line. Once he realized what had happened he headed back to No. 2 works and was on the grounds within 2 hours after the fire started. Fighting traffic and bypassing police barricades, he followed the tracks over 55th street and got into the property in the same area where many others had made their escapes. Those who worked in the same office building with Binder, however, never had a chance to escape. They were too close to the source of the fire. Under Binder’s leadership, four major tasks had to be accomplished by EOG employees during the after-math of the fire: 1. Making the area safe. 2. Checking the surviving spheres. 3. Controlling the errant gas. 4. Draining the tanks. 1. Making the Area Safe — Working that Night According to a Press article the day after the fire, the gas was shut off in a 2 square mile area. The gas had to be brought under control. 6200 houses and factories had to be turned back on, but first everything had to be made safe. (Press 10-21-44) Tom O’Neill, a service foreman had been working on the east side and was heading back to No. 2 Works. By the time he got to St. Clair and 62nd the homes were on fire. o secure safety, he and his ang immediately proceed« > turn off services on tn orth side of St. Clair. Later, he and his crew m p with George Beigi® a thers who were discuSS’ ow to stop the flow of i om coming into the area-^ hoc group of engineers. ....... »r«. :tors, stre« tW""", kers and service perso ie together that night o it thf>v muld do to m ; togetner 1 , ; they could do to tn icighborhood safe^ among them\ ^ :uts in the main ^ the opening ^ lags and sealed plaster of Paris‘ still J that the lines ^ and checked t e ^ ^ found a back f®e line‘ .Some0"!alo" line- b°nTealo" coni’ n the line they C'yC( it. Marty ^ iered where [(; ered where tc as and led the ^ "““’'‘’a".! d St°PPea he oth* Neill and the iflj until 9:30 the J f . at which . g BaJ- ■ '^afe, th'K iood was sate otr ies went home 3l A cm ime n>eht’ • an E0,, rked until tacting his ownbro ater- he ^ d^’ irMahon h*0 rJ othcf . curviv^ 1the S! to ‘h* - Going t «**“*<,. in the ^ the fire> {.0L 0^ 0 ch^e sf] and ? tV, we c*" $ i’tbe , ffan,?V‘ em- ' eft/* y kn6V> < pi' in O Id 0s b/1 (P — Under New Management — Formerly Shoreway BBQ & Inn Cinder New Management (Mike & Angie) Newly Redecorated Homemade Soups — Dinners Specials Carry-Out Available ANGELA’S FAMILY RESTAGRANT FREE COFFEE with BREAKFAST or DINNER With Coupon Only SHELIGA DRUG, INC. Your Full Service Pharmacy St. Clair Avenue 431-1035 431-4644 FAX • American'!* J«ee We mos* maior insurance plans • Photo Finishing m , • Package & Mailing Center Manager • FAX service • Wir c ~ * Keys Made ' Manuf* r00d stamPs • Layaways •uiacturers Coupons V'lSlt US f • Contact Lens Replacement ican Express • discover * MasterCard •Visa Tom Sršen white glove service and installation for OVER 20 YEARS Armstrong, Tarkett Mannington Vinyl Floors i - Mohawk Cabin Craft - Downs - Galaxy Lees - Masland - Salem - Wellco Philadelphia - World - Diamond Aladdin - Cumberland Mills FREE HOME ESTIMATES fl EXPERTS IN RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL FLOORING A5|!F isS E Mon. • Tues. - Ihurs. 9 A.M.-8 P.M. Wed. ■ Fri. ■ Sat. 9 A.M.-5 P.M. _ l stood, a city playground*"was built. It, too, was named for Grdina. He died in 1957 at the age of 83. The corporation repaid all the merchants and was dissolved in 1952. The Jaycees planted 75 elms a year after the tragedy. They tower 75 feet now on E. 61st near Carry ave. NE. “Very few people from the accident still live here,” the younger Grdina said. “A lot of them moved away, and immigrants who came here after the war now live there.” Rarely does anyone today ask to see the monument at the cemetery. William Hahn, the cemetery supervisor, said. The city erected it in 1950 at a cost of $20,000. It is of marble, and bronze plaques carry the names of the uead. One plaque has 40 names; the ot er notes that 21 were n£ver identified. i Gas now is stored | underground. Thanks Thanks to the following contributed either art,ce . I photos for this special edit' Bob Mills 1 Thomas Tulloch Hortense Kranje Stane Kuhar Ed Pike Dolores Cosic Ivana Vegel Vince Gostilna Mario Kavcic Sophie Verderber Pete Manfrieda Irma Pryately , Mrs. Polk (E. 226 ^ On November 8 elect Steve LaTouret^ LaTourette will be Tough in Congress ■ LaTourette will fight to keep jobs here in Northeastern Ohio. ■ LaTourette won’t cave in to special interest groups. ■ LaTourette will work to balance the budget while fighting against higher taxes and the spend, spend mentality in Congress. ■ Steve LaTourette will be tough on crime: Working for a more efficient criminal justice system with tougher sentences for violent criminals. It's time for Justice in Congress “Those who attempt to ride the white horse of reform will use cosmetic ref0,erf a mirage to fool the people.... the lesson of history, recognized by JFK and et)eJ( president, until now, that increased taxes only stimulate more govemrrt I spending and less economic growth, hasn't been learned by these agent* re change....The only thing that people ask is that Washington trim the fat W asking that we tighten our belts". Steve LaTourette Campaign Announcement Sept 18, 1993 Steve LaTourette Republican Candidate for Congress 19th District Euclid Retirement Village A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY Private garden apartments No endowment or entrance fee 24 hoar security Planned activities Free transportation 24 hour Emergency Pull Cord Free Laundry Facilities Nutritious Meals Call Today for a Brief Tour and Free Lunch 25900 Euclid Avenue • Euclid, Ohio 44132 (216) 261-8383 _______Management of the Hilltop Retirement Village Euclid, Ohio USA A Very Nice Place to Live! Dan Cosic Joe (Jože) Zevnik Funeral Director FUNERAL HOME Finest Funeral Facility in Northeast Ohio 28890 Ctaardon Road Willoughby Hills, Ohio 44094 Call Us Day or Night We Speak Your Language American Home newspaper, gas explosion, October, 1994 American Home newspaper, gas explosion, October, 1994 6‘Every Time We Make A Friend - We Grow A Little" PflULICH SpQcialhf Qompatuf,, {btc,. JhofthisA. & čhoaAdi,, jJ/ic. “Gifts That ADVERTISE” Awards, Badges, Balloons, Banners, Bumper Stickers, Buttons, Caps Calendars, Flags, Golf Balls, Jackets, Jewelry, Matches, Nameplates Pens, Pencils, Pennants, Plaques, Ribbons, Trophies, T-Shirts, Etc., Etc., Etc. In Ohio Call Mgr. AL HREN (216) 481-6300 IDEAS #1 FAX: 216-481-0061 FLORIDA (813) 597-4636 J f a t: $ a b h Y it b S Family Owned and Operated “FOUR GENERATIONS OF THEZELE FAMILY” since 1908 — In time of Need — We are here to help you. h 0 1 C< to fa P< ed fr n te] kti ab Pl< th, wi So 'm bg, an, vil Zele Funeral Homes, Inc. LICENSED FUNERAL DIRECTORS: Richard J. Zele — Louis F. Zetei Sutton J. Girod — Louis E. Zele chj Co to, W|, tor % at C0| 'V 452 East 152nd Street 6502 St. C\»'f 481-3118 361-0583 (Main Office) CLEVELAND, OHIO 'ay an( "ot bn K0| wCr Disaster as seen thru the eyes of Justine Girod7 by Justine Zele Girod Early morning on Oct. 20, *944 I received a call from Ci-gi ty Hospital that my husband, s Suhon Girod would undergo surgery. 1 quickly drove my 5 **1ree and one-half year old | daughter, Juliene, to her t$j Grandma Zele’s home on E. | 152nd St. I did not see her ^ again for four days. Shortly I a[ter noon I spoke with Sutton a ter surgery and his doctor | assured me that everything k Was ^ne- We lived at Addison ^ rn u Glair above my ■|2 ather’s funeral home. On the ^ ^ay home I stopped at May ^ to Purchase a sweater I 'S Ta Pr°niised to my daughter. S lhe excited clerk told me the I n?0 ann°unced that East ^ h if° ^aS ^°' *3*ew UP anc* a the east side was in aaies‘ * rushed to a phone th ca**ed rny father at e uneral home. Dad was in a ala,e of shock. There had been explosion and the gas was The flames were j^0 Cr 'hun the Slovenian i*6'*-*6 ordered me to come but f 'ate*^ as he was along, St C]5 COme v'a Superior not of air- He was sure the rear hurn^ ^oven'an Home was elos n8 t^le ^'re aPPeared s intpl anC* t*le heat was alread inte hg)1186' He was going over ti ? ,^Us Kollander to 0^ t ^uuanaer 10 gt Avn drove as far as Hecke 1 pv ^en Pohce stopped me xPlained why I must ge "°nie a uretrvhp ^ Civilian Defen funeral^ Was sent to t* was alio —6 to ver'^y and corted K°Wecl to go home < ‘ y lhe CD man. I ha t0 leaVe rrt fami|y Dl|,m(y. car—the Leg; Pe°nip 1 ln their drivewa; e°Plew In their drtvewa; ed^u-ending in shod from ’ Police kept peop ir°m ,he • * u,,ce Kept | There w S ' Clair fire ” teH nr C!e no w°rds that Of wOIUS k?'*Ctho,ror- Nobo‘ ab°Ut r . t0 turn to find o P!e werp ly and friends- Pe •be ga rur|ning away fro '''berg h3rea and the stree Somp .*l0Uses were burnir lntensed|l,d.n0t real'ze that t hack 0fC had burned on t aPtl arms Tf necks and le Vllle Hoc ■ any went to GU n°spital. •ean at ^keSide T ? fs'ablish ebi C, Weekl eots , Droi high tors h Were : equi arid m a\U^ent. (;offee 01 c« yaVy a : '"»»u.f! ^'ds of ' Were a son b°oks" Ut Sin? sc i-o„ dows to the street. One of the crew informed me that those record books were never permitted to be removed from City Hall—but these were desperate times. These men were among the unsung heroes since there was fear that the other two storage tanks could explode. Thru the night the Lakeside team waited, but only minor burns were treated. We began to realize the enormity of the catastrophe—there would not be people brought in with serious burns to administer to and those within the perimeter of the fire had not been able to get out. All night I answered the heart breaking calls. “Was an elderly lady and a three year old girl brought in and treated? My mother took care of my daughter while I worked and I can’t find them. Do you know of any place where people from E. 61st St. have been taken? I’ve called the hospitals but they aren’t there. My God! 1 don’t know what to do”. I sat in the office and watched the flames and cried with them. A long distance call came from a soldier who could not say where he was as he was shipping out. The news said huge areas of the east side were burned and whole rows of houses were gone. Please, could 1 tell him if East 76th street was gone? When I told him it was still standing and was safe I could hear his sobs as he tried to thank me. When frantic parents called about St. Vitus school children 1 was able to tell them they were led to safety by the Nuns and Priests. All nite long I kept the coffee coming. The fires were lower but still burning. When morning came the silence was eerie. Nothing and no one was moving. Then a Red Cross van rumbled down Addison and crossed St. Clair. It pulled up in front of Nosan’s bakery. A group of workers and Mrs. Nosan went into the bakery (the plate glass windows were still unbroken). They loaded tray after tray of donuts, baked goods, and bread into the van completely removing all the stock. Mrs. Nosan had donated everything in the store. I’m sure no one complained that they were a day old. Mr. Potokar of Double Eagle Bottling Co. located next to Azman-Pryatel buildings had not been able to bring in his large open sided delivery trucks. Dad gave them permission to put them in our parking lot and there they stayed. The Lakeside Unit left. It became a waiting time while frantic families hoped and prayed and searched for their loved ones. The radio was on constantly. The news was heartbreaking. A fire truck caved in a huge hole at St. Clair and E. 62nd St. We listended with heavy hearts as it became apparent that many had not escaped. The 3,000 degree heat twisted steel like pretzels at the site of the liquified gas explotion. Aftermath: When the fires were under control and the area could be entered The Cleveland Embalmers As’n. and Cuyahoga Funeral Directors were there when needed. With others my brother Louis worked to make removals of the remains. Identification was difficult. Metal badges worn by E.O. Gas Co. workers had melted. Clothing, burned and charred was insufficient in identification. At County Morgue these men embalmed the remains and tried to help with identification. Some car keys were found burned to a man’s remains. Louis Zele, with other personnel went to the home of a missing person whose car was parked in the driveway and asked permission to see if the keys would fit. The wife came out on the porch. It was apparent she was expecting a child soon. She watched as the keys fit and opened the door and the trunk of the car. She covered her face and wept as friends lead her back into the house. Aftermath: An elderly man came to the funeral home. His home on E. 61st street had stood where the fires were the fiercest. His wife had not been found. He was allowed to search the ruins and he asked Louis Zele to please help him to look for his wife’s remains. Everything had burned and fallen into the basement. There was a large tin box lying on it’s side. There was not any enamel left on it that would identify it as a refrigerator. He said his wife had a rosary that she always wore—her mother had given it to her when she came to America. He knew that if he could find the rosary or at least part of the metal chain he would find her. There was nothing found and that was inconceivable to him. He came another day to ask Louis about the appearance of bones that were in a fire. Louis explained to him and each day he came back carrying a small box and asked him to check if these were bones. It was heartbreaking. I held his hands as he cried. He had no family- it was just the two of them. Aftermath: I was a Notary Public. One morning four men came to the office of the funeral home. One was a well dressed man from the Treasury Department in Washington. He was sent here to handle any burned money. If it could be identified and the numbers were visable he would take it to the Treasury building Mutilated Money Section. The ordinary saftey boxes when opened where filled with charred ashes that were dust and were worthless. One man insisted in going back to his house. Finally the treasury man obtained permission and the two friends brought a ladder as everything had fallen to the basement. The others watched as he climbed over debris and went to where the chimney stood. He counted bricks and pulled on out and brought out a covered glass jar around which was heavy galvanized wire. In the jar was a roll of money. The outer bills were charred I, Frances Zibert, remember that day, Oct 20, 1944. It was a cool, crisp day and I was at work in the Lamson Sessions Plant on East 63rd North of St. Clair near the railroad tracks. At 2:40 P.M. my friend Ann Dular and 1 were looking out of the west window, waiting for our shift to end at 3 p.m. Suddenly sheets of flames erupted with a large BOOM. The heat was terriblly hot and then smoke engulfed the area, around the East Ohio Gas tanks. Men and women were running from the area. Some climbed fences and left their but the center was still green. In another area he removed another jar. Carefuly these were handed to the Treasury man. I had to type a deposition statement regarding the circumstances. The man signed it and I notarized it. The man from Washington carefully packed the jars in a special box. As they were leaving he turned to the man and asked him why he did not put the money in a bank. The man calmly replied that if it had burned it would be no different than the time during the depression when he put his money in the bank and got back ten cents on a dollar. The treasury man said no more. I never learned how much money was identified, but I believe he was among the very few who saved any of their money. I was proud of our Slovenians and their brave acceptance of their tragedies. ’ It was four days before I was able to go to Mom’s house. I kissed Mom and hugged my daughter and counted my blessings and gave thanks to the Lord. It was a sad time that I shall never forget. fingers on the red hot fence wire. There were some running whose clothes were on fire. It was a terrible scene. The cars in the Lamson-Session & Steel Improvement lots were burned and completely gutted. Our boss Tony Glatzer directed us to the area near the tracks at E-65. We walked down to St. Clair, on the way we saw manhole covers flipping 15 feet into the air. Some of them struck people who were nearby. I walked to Superior and Addison and took a Superior street-car to my home in Collinwood. Mrs. Frances Ziherl ‘Some left fingers on hot fence, clothes burned’ rican Home newspaper, gas explosion, October, 1994 8 Portions of the official coroner’s report O) 05 0) JO o O § ' (ft to cn & CL CO a. « 5 CD c CD E o X c CO o Introduction: On Friday, October 20th, 1944, in that area bounded on the south by Glass Ave., on the east by East 65th Street, on the north by Lake Shore Blvd., and on the west by the territory immediately adjacent to East 55th Street, the usual peaceful and normal life of the community was rent asunder by a sudden and violent catastrophe which threw into a state of chaos, not only this area, but the entire city of Cleveland and its suburbs. Within the described area the East Ohio Gas Company owned and operated what was designated as their No. 2 works, which included the “L.S. and R.” plant for the liquefaction, storage, and regasification of natural gas. On the site of this processing plant originated the most disastrous fire ever known in the history of Cleveland. The assistant plant engineer had made his daily inspections, and at 2:10 PM was underneath the storage tank designated as No. 4 to recover a steam hose which had been left there. At the time he noted nothing unusual. Operations proceeded as usual up until 2:40 PM, when a great natural power, held in check unnaturally by the skill of science, spewed forth death and destruction. At this time the employees of the East Ohio Gas Company and employees of other plants in the vicinity noticed a greyish white vapor issuing from the direction of the tanks storing the liquid natural gas, and then felt an extreme heat. Almost immediately it seemed that the whole neighborhood was on fire. Description of East Ohio Gas Company Property: The East Ohio Gas Company property, comprising an area of approximately ten acres, is .located south of the New York Central tracks and extends from East 63rd Street to East 61st and East 55th Streets. On that portion of the property just east of East 62nd Street there was a two story building in which was located the office and meter repair shop, the meter room and fitting shop; in addition, there was the garage, the carpenter shop and stock room, and also buildings which housed the machine shop, the pipe shop, blacksmith shop, the boiler room, the engine room storage, and water gas generator, as well as a locker and wash room, and the welding shed. At the northerly This man stands in front of what was or his home. edge of this property was an old tank well which held tar at the time of the fire. The remainder of the East Ohio Gas Company property on which was located the equipment directly involved in liquefying, storing and regasifying the natural gas was enclosed by a high wire fence. Within this area there was the main compresser building, the boiler building, the cooling tower, yard equipment, the pump houses, three spherical storage tanks and one cylindrical tank (which was known as tank No. 4). In addition, there was also an overflow storage pit, and a low pressure gas holder, as well as a building for storage of parts and oil drums. Safety Precautions: As stated previously, this area was surrounded by a high wire fence. No person was admitted to this area without permission, Employees were instructed in the usual safety rules against smoking, carrying matches, etc. The employees working in this area were men, who were associated with the company for many years, and were deemed trustworthy and capable. Provisions were made and instructions posted, for the use of same in case of fire. These provisions included a steam flooding system in the engine room, carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, gas masks, asbestos blankets, suits and gloves. Inspections: Inspections were made periodically by the Federal Power Commission (The Internal Securities Division), the latest inspection taking place about two weeks prior to the disaster. The chief engineer made one complete round of inspection each day; in addition, the operators watched for any signs of trouble. A representative of a Civilian Defense Organization had inquired into the possiblity of danger, and was tendered a demonstration of the extremely cold temperature of the liquid natural gas from which he received the impression that there was no danger of fire or explosion. History of Plant: This plant, placed in operation in January of 1941, was the first commercial plant of its kind for the liquefaction of natural gas with provisions for the storage and regasifaction of the liquid product. Prior to the construction of the plant in Cleveland, an experimental “Pilot” plant was built by an affiliated company, the Hope Natural Gas Company in Charleston, West Virginia. Experiments on this process were conducted for a period of four or five years prior to its inception here. The East Ohio Gas Company placed the plant in operation here because they desired to store a large quantity of gas at the extreme north end of their trunk line system so that in cases of peak demand, or an emergency due to pipe line failure, they would have a ready source of gas. The ability to regasify at a rate as high as three million cubic feet or more per hour would enable them to place into their distribution system an appreciable amount of gas on a fifteen or twenty minute notice, and to discontinue putting the gas into the system immediately. Outline of Process: Briefly stated, the principle of the process consisted of liquefying the natural gas by an applicable combination of compression and refrigeration. The process of liquefaction of gas was not new, but it was in use in other industries. The uniqueness was in the application to natural gas with the provision for storage and regasification. Natural gas from the city medium pressure lines at thirty pound gauge pressure was first compressed to 600 pound gauge pressure, freed of carbon dioxide, water and entrained cylinder oil; the gas was then cooled to a -130° Fahrenheit by the use of ethylene which had been liquefied by refrigeration with Mary Marsic Bitterly Recalls Catastrophe by Mary Marsic Grilc I was working at Richman Bros, at the time and as I passed the windows on the fourth floor, I felt heat on my arm. I looked out and there was an enormous flame in the sky. I knew in an instant that it was the gas tanks. Then I yelled out to my boss that 1 must leave as my sister was on St. Clair at E. 62nd doing an errand for me. She just crossed the street from Grdina’s hardware to Novak’s and Joe Novak called out for her to run. She had her two-year-old son with her and she was eight months pregnant and could not carry him. Stana Sega, Louise Hlad and I ran into Stana’s car, but we could only go as far as Superior and had to leave the car there and run the rest of the way. My sister had just returned home to Carl Avenue and we left for my place on Bliss Avenue. We watched as people were running and carrying odd things, whatever they grabbed in a hurry, such as one lady an armful of freshly ironed white shirts. It was like an exodus from a war zone. My brother-in-law picked us up and we went to his sister’s place on Yale for the night because we were afraid the other tanks would blow up. My sister had her baby a month later, but never regained her strength. She died a year later and I feel the cause of her death was the traumatic experiences she suffered being caught in the middle of the holocaust. She was 31 years of age at the time of her death. ammonia. At this point the natural gas became liquid. After passing through two flash gas heat exchangers, the liquid natural gas was passed successively through two expansion valves with the effect of further cooling. It was then stored in either the spheres or the cylindrical tank. k I t After the East Ohio Gas Explosion is all that remains of the cylindrical tank (rig*1^’ an Shown collapsed ball tank Fireman called to action at gas fo'e by Matthew Ermacora I am a retired Cleveland fireman having served 41 years fighting fires for the city. I would like to share my recollections with the readers of American Home about that terrible East Ohio gas catastrophe. I was off-duty on Oct. 20, 1944 but while I was going home after shopping downtown with my family we were around E. 40th and saw black clouds of smoke and the fire which was located north of St. Clair at E. 61 St. d lllC somehow survi^' ^tiie holocaust. Going f0ck' difficult as ruins was difticuu fttf wool was three fcet c i0l1 ^ insula"0, rockwool was d c*' one of the tanks t"3*^ ^rp' thf $h< Pei VVg lilt V Th 0rc 3ti( Su ploded. We found ^ burned ses, most recognition. rema" All of the human ^hjch were put on bed zvrbet r Coroner Samuel ’ , pe3 the gi-°un we f0r hed On the car radio I heard that all off-duty firemen were to report for duty at station No. 19 at E. 55th and St. Clair. After taking my family home I went to station 19 where Cleveland Fire Chief James E. Granger was assigning firefighting men and equipment from the entire city of Cleveland in an attempt to stop the fires. I was assigned the grim duty of searchng for the charred remains of the unfortunate souls who were unable to escape the fiery inferno. The entire area north of St. Clair and E. 61 St. was in rubbles. Only a few homes spread on Carry Avenue. All night long, and police sea t|,ela bodies. The dangC sgfCa' two tanks exploding^ ppi^ 1 had noticed that K3 g| was comP|e 'll •ho r3ti Pro It 3c Sti( 311 the Ho >rt &it] e'c. ePl| Op ho on E. 61 ted. tver fit* h;,, Saturday m°rnin* only in the afterno°n was contained. ^ still out of contr0,‘t|iat'1 S During the day we ^ fr0i numb^ in "ie ing the license (IIV the charred cars ^ From these nunl^ctjitis tification of some ’■ I#1 possible. [n all of my 41 firefighting I can .ellli; gas explosion was ^ , ribic catastrophe ^ .. »»as aoout I^F^l1 decided to wait un ■ . nk woke up SQ j wou|dr » 15 k^11 of a sadden I felt t 1 =• l3mSe shaking and the tat K ~ fa„ off the table. I loo ™ ihat°tl|! the window and se % wac „ CSUn was shining but I Wa.S an orange color. 0 WaJan 111,0 the bedroom ? “It\ UP Frank and told hir 1 sun u3n ean,lclualto >back0Watcht therg^ n,° th, e*e.. . aH of ^Ptytf put ,h On Pretz Ute J'!elcan. I £«IP r.* . Cln tlo0r s,dewalk S Fr“ bko, going in 9ck ho?8 in e ken U . and Jo k v husband | H i-i-1* va$ t. areo'S in °L thi hi > he. le gas if k1t; tS. SPed gl c Si|y arT>Pfe ' 'Midi, lved 11 'U8(S,'< y J'y'V^tin,, 11 VnUc 0ltr h Mar V Champa along with us. As we walked I would stop to tell the businessmen if a man in a black leather jacket was asking for us to tell him we are headed toward E. 105 St. I kept leaving the message all along the way. When we came to 105, a Jewish woman saw how tired we were and invited us to come into her home so we could rest and have a bite to eat. Before we left, we left a message with one of the businessmen to tell Frank where we were and the woman gave him her telephone number and address. At the time we were walking away from the disaster area, Frank was running toward it. As he was going down Addison Rd. he was the only one going toward the fire. When he came to Norwood and St. Clair, there was a hole about 10 feet deep and with a fire engine down in it. Across the street by North American Bank there was a mounted policeman standing next to a sewer. Just then the sewer blew up and the sewer cover went flying past him. Frank ran north on E. 62nd St. He saw a man pulling a boy about five years old with one hand. In the other hand he was carrying a chicken by its legs. By then it was so hot, Frank had to turn back and go the other way. He crossed St. Clair and had to put his jacket over his head because it got so hot it started to burn his scalp. Gas pockets were exploding in the air, just like anti-aircraft shells. He made his way home and saw the message 1 left for him. He finally found us about 6 p.m. He said it really helped when I left the messages with the businessmen. After about an hour we worked our way back to Addison Rd. Frank got our car out of the garage and we went to his folks home. That night he had to go to work. He worked the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift at Steel Impr ovement in the power house. He was stopped by the National Guard, but they let him through. When it became daylight, Frank and another co-worker went over the fence and walked around the gas company property. There was a body by the fence, evidently the person tried to climb over the fence and couldn’t make it. Also - in one of the buildings there was a body of a man in a clothes locker. He probably tried to get away from the heat. In the yard there were two bodies lying face down on the brick pavement. From what hc could tell they were the bodies of two women. The only way to tell they were females was by the high heels from their shoes which did not burn. He tried to see more but the National Guardsmen cam; and told them to get off the property. An underground gas explosion on E. 62 Street, just south of St. Clair caused this hole which trapped the fire engine shown in the top of the photo being pulled out. What happened! The East Ohio Gas co. fire, caused by liquefied gas escaping from a spherical container, located on the company’s property at the foot of E. 61st., adjacent to the New York Central Railroad burned continuously for two days, Oct. 20, 21, 1944. Its toll was 76 identified dead, 53 unidentified dead, 32 missing, 251 injured and hospitalized, 150 treated at casualty stations set up in the fields, 81 homes totally destroyed, 35 homes partially destroyed, 217 automobiles, 7 trailers and one tractor totally destroyed, and railroad cars and steel rails were destroyed. Mayor Frank J. Lausche appointed a special board of inquiry to determine the cause of the fire. Mayor Lausche, Director of Safety Frank D. Celebrezze, Lewis B. Weinacht, executive secretary to the director, and Cororner Samuel R. Gerber were on the scene throughout the critical hours. At 2:45 p.m., the entire Civilian Defense Corps was alerted and response was had from all sections of the city and some adjoining suburbs. Hundreds of auxiliary police and air wardens, 975 in all, responded. The Ohio State National Guard were called in and the entire security of the area was under the police jurisdiction. The Ohio State Guard withdrew at midnight, Oct. 24, the U.S. Coast Guard at midnight, Oct. 25, and the police returned to regular hours of duty on Oct. 27. On Nov. 14, a mass funeral for 61 of the dead, 53 of whom were unidentified, was held. Their remains were laid to rest in a large circular grave in Highland Park Cemetery. The services were conducted by Catholic, Protestant and Jewish clergymen in the presence of approximately 2,000 persons of all races and creeds. A Mass funeral was held for the deceased victims of the gas explosion. Over 2,000 persons attended the circle services which was conducted by representatives of all faiths. American Home newspaper, gas explosion, October, 1994 American Home newspaper, gas explosion, October, 1994 VISIT OUR STORE! R & D Sausage Co. 15714 Waterioo Rd. 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It is a country rich in centuries - old traditions and a variety of influences, all reflected in the modern life of its warm, friendly people. Slovenia, proud of its independent status as a new European State, is a truly unique vacation destination for the U.S. traveler seeking to experience a land that combines quaint Old World charm with modern resorts, spas and hotels offering every amenity. In 1994, travel agents have a new, unique destination to recommend at a very affordable price - making Slovenia a great vacation bargain! Sk^enia On the sunny side of the Alps, For more information contact: The Slovenian Tourist Office, 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 3006, New York, NY 10168-0072 Phone: (212) 682-5896 - Fax: (212) 661-2469 Daria Gacnik-Director of Tourism Remember all deceased loved ones! 428-1148 Dock and Lake Roads Producers Of The Best Ready Mix Concrete Known To Man — Precast Concrete Manholes — Pipes — Septic Tanks — Driveway Materials That Work WE Want To Be Your Building Material Suppli©r \V; »1 Je 9 th * e- s. Remembering the East Ohio Explosion by Frank M. Kochevar I was an employee of Ueveland Twist Drill, starting ln April of 1941. After a few JJars> I entered the U.S. Navy. My wife then went back to live ^th her parents at 6218 St. Uair Ave. ln October of 1944 I was ome on leave from my ship, cked m Baltimore. It was “r>ng my leave when the gas placePany expIosion took thpW!S 'n l^e ne'ghborhood at fireh I!116 When 1 saw the hall which seemed to reach Manhai|dS °f feet into the air-U^hole covers were popping g,lc- c amPagne corks. in„ f"ess awnings were burn- r°m the falling embers. Was 0rderMl and h ‘ borrowed a car the p VC my w’fe’s family to ClevPi r°Vew°od area of withth0 S Cast side to be , rhtthe'r relatives. 6 Urned to St. Clair and be- ing in uniform 1 was able to help relatives of vacated homes to check on parents, wives or children — most of them had no idea where they had gone. I made several trips into the area searching for friends who were concerned about looters and security. Through the Red Cross I obtained an additional two days Navy leave to help family and friends adjust to the new life. Later when I returned to my ship in Baltimore, area residents in Cleveland still had not returned to their homes on St. Clair near the disaster. After the war was over, I returned to Cleveland in the spring of 1946 and went back to work for Cleveland Twist Drill. I worked for 39 years until 1 retired in June of 1980! A company photographer made several copies of the enclosed photographs which I would like to share with your readers. by Pauline Sternisa On that fateful day, Friday, Oct. 20, 1944 my washing machine was running in the basement of my home on E. 73 St. 1 heard a loud noise. I hurried to the basement thinking perhaps something went wrong with the machine. The washer was agitating as usual. I quickly ran upstairs and went out onto the front porch. As I stood on the edge of the top of the porch, 1 felt a great heat. I didn’t know what to make of it. I went in and turned on the radio. It was announced that the gas tanks exploded at the East Ohio Gas Company. I went out on the porch again and could still feel the heat. I surmised that my house on E. 73 Street, north of St. Clair was probably on a direct line to the site of the explosion. My husband, Tony, came home from the break of his shift of working on the St. Clair Car Line. He took my Clouds of fire descended uPon the helpless persons ht^nk Zupan the s? 0ct°ber 20, Was a t^a'r comn ,afternooi;PiChal serer Eighth, K he SUn W: ut neveri 1 The d VitUs Were ° Chi.ldr ^'ting f0 getting bel1 to mu the thre ^kend erate the" <5 Passer-! Voo^tly g32 Hicf, h Theater Jning-j0^y Pfoda ttlOvip <«/"■ friovjg Stored, pake S Hwl E‘ 67th ly *Censh°t Si;8 sq" °n their Ideve"t An a .Sutiday "O'"' St., lienee f 8ro >son Rdt0 3 S0r I Rd- Ab( ther M fig h, follov ^air>shot: ess hom Ne n* ‘her, eadinBneein8 in, N Wer°Uthwa w e not 'ISt h°PeI ^rrif.Pyres. Slteetsned cit'zer S»ne in S >s"' Wiled, LS°on ,k bonib'f laten ltra8ic 8a tank at the foot of E. 62nd had sprung a leak and caught fire, and exploded! The intensity of the inferno was greatest north of St. Clair, on E. 61st, E. 62nd, E. 63rd and also Lake Court, all in, close proximity of the exploding gas sphere. The 2,000 degree heat cracked windows on the north side of St. Vitus School. Crying, terrified youngsters were led out of the school by nuns and marched to Superior Ave. Everywhere in the vicinity, manhole covers were flying in the air, the result of gas seepage into the sewer lines and igniting. The Fire Department responded, bravely battling the ravaging fires. Engines from the entire city rushed to fight the ever-spreading flames. One fire truck parked in front of Novak’s Confectionery (E. 62nd) was swallowed up into a large abyss when the pavement beneath the vehicle collapsed. Police were everywhere, and empowered with martial law, any looters would be shot, later in the day, the bluecoats were augmented with 1,000 National Guardsmen, Navy and Coast Guard men. All residents were evacuated from the lake to Bonna Avenue. St. Clair was closed to autos from E. 40th to E. 82nd. Many stores and businesses on St. Clair were badly damaged, especially the Grdina Furniture building at E. 61 St. Also leveled to the ground was the Race Dairy on E. 61st which only a week before had begun producing ice-cream. The conflagration continued thru that night and all day Saturday. Occasionally charred remains were found by grim-faced searchers looking among the smouldering ruins. Monsignor B. J. Ponikvar, pastor of St. Vitus administered last rites to vicitms throughout the night disregarding the possible danger to his own life. Mayor of Cleveland Frank Lausche also walked through the ruins the entire night, for it was this neighborhood that he called his own. Only days later was an assessment possible of the terrible destruction. The death toll was 131 persons, many never identified. Nearly 400 were injured. Eighty-two homes burned to the ground, 24 on Lake Ct., 45 on E. 61st, 12 on E. 62nd and 1 on E. 63, all north of St. Clair. Thanks to the late Anton Grdina, however, the devastated area was not surrendered to industry. Instead he formed the St. Clair-Norwood Rehabilitation Corporation. Sixteen modern brick houses were constructed on large lots and sold from $9,700 to $15,000, mostly to former residents of the area. All this was accomplished without use of federal funds, an example to all what private citizens can do- when they are blessed with leaders of the caliber of the late Anton Grdina. Thus it was only fitting and proper when the street in the reconstructed sector was called “Grdina Drive”, a small tribute to a great man. Today, 50 years later, many of the more mature residents still vividly recall that tragic day when St. Clair area was almost obliterated, but thanks to the tenacity and courage of its residents, it is still an alive and prospering community to this very day. youngest son, not quite five years old, on his shoulder and walked down to see what had happened. I asked my son if he remembers anything of what he saw. He said he saw a lady brought out of a house, all black (charred). He remembers that his dad grabbed him and ran for protection in a doorway as a sewer cover was flying through the air. He definitely remembers a big hole in the street with a fire engine in it, along with police and many people wondering what had happened. Later when my oldest son came home from school I also went to see what had happened. I was on E. 61 Street, north of St. Clair and had a glance of a big hole where a house had stood. I was told that all occupants were killed. I saw the big hole on St. Clair Avenue at E. 62 St. where the street had caved in. When I saw all the devastation and chaos, I thought, this was all due to man’s error by building the tanks in an area too close to homes and businesses. Today when I go down E. 61 Street to get to E. 55th, I always marvel at what was done to rebuild everything up again. Many people helped to rebuild the neighborhood, but I am reminded of that Mr. Anton Grdina gave so much of himself. And with no government assistance, the location was built up again. Little remains of a fire-gutted home on E. 61 St. after the spectactular explosion. Sought parents at explosion site by Joseph Kolenc I was at work downtown when the explosion happened. I received permission to leave work early to see if my folks were all right because our house was on E. 63rd St. I had a difficult time trying to get home. There were guards from 55th and Superior to St. Clair Avenue telling everybody to get out. However, I was lucky to get through and discovered my parents were taken to Euclid where my sister lives. Searching for 11 Family Members by Ruth Kolenc I came from Pennsylvania to work in Ohio and stayed with a family who lived on Wilmore Ave. in Euclid. Their name was Žurga. Mrs. Zurga’s parents Mr. and Mrs. Anton Kolenc lived on E. 63rd St., south of St. Clair. I worked at General Electric off E. 185 St. When they announced over the public address system that there was a gas explosion on St. Clair, anyone living in that area was permitted to leave immediately. Men were screaming, many kids jumped over the tables in a hurry to get out. There was confusion at work. Three old Slovenian ladies started to pray the rosary out loud. It became very quiet for a while, then I stood in line for quite a long time to phone Mrs. Zurga to see how her parents were. She was hysterical. Her neighbor told her everybody was blown up. 1 asked to leave work and caught a bus to the end of E. 222 and walked to Wilmore. What a terrible feeling to look towards the west and see the sky all red. It took quite some time before we discovered everybody was okay. Mrs. Zurga’s mother just came from the hospital so her younger daughter and husband was staying in Euclid. But her husband just went out to the car to go to work. When he saw flames in the sky he took his wife and mother-in-law to East Blvd. to find the rest of the family. They walked to E. 63rd St. and found Joe Kolenc and another guy making coffee on a hot plate. We asked if Uncle Frank was there. They thought he was in Euclid. Well, we looked upstairs and found him sleeping. He said when he came home he was so scared, all he could do was lie down. As it turned out, everybody was okay. We had passed those gas tanks the Sunday before the explosion. Mr. Zurga said, “It would be something if those tanks would explode.” Well, we found out. Area Looked Like Bomb Raid by Anthony Jagodnik I was stationed in Pierre, South Dakota when we heard about the gas explosion. My wife and little son were with me at the time so we were able to come home together on leave. We were very much concerned because we have relatives in Cleveland, but we didn’t get any information as to the exact location. That made the situation worse. Luckily, none of our relatives were involved but what we saw is something we can never forget. It looked just like an area that had been bombed out during an air raid. We felt so sorry for the persons who were affected and for all their great losses. American Home newspaper, gas explosion, October, 1994 American Home newspaper, gas explosion, October, 1994 Jakubs & Son Funeral Home 936 East 185th Street Cleveland, Ohio 44119 (216) 531-7770 GOLDEN RULE Funeral Homes Cleveland Accounting Service 6218 St. Clair Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44103 881-5158 Wihelin TRAVEL BUREAU Tor All Your Travel Needs’ \ ---- 4118 St. Clair Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44103 If your intentions are to visit or maybe . 11 c?!0 bring your loved ones to the U.S.A. on a visit, xnone (Zlo) 4ol please contact us. Frank in Christina Mih£,,n We Are American - Slovenian Travel Agency — -owners “Our Family Has Been Here to Serve You Since 1903" Grdina-Faulhaber Funeral Home 17010 Lakeshore Blvd. Cleveland, Ohio 44110 531-6300 — In Lake County Call 944-3300 Preplanned Funeral Arrangements Available 4- V p i i ''■o h S K rC ;s 'N s the weather FORECAST Clearing «lcy, ilighHy warmer, fair end cooler tonight and Sunday. 'Official KorccaM U, S. Weather Bureau) Cleveland News VOL. 10B—NO. 249 FIVE CENTS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21. 1944 Wirephotos—Exclusive Evening News of the Associated Press end International News SPORTS RACES Latest Disaster Toll:— 70 KNOWN DEAD; 248 MISSINC Hospitals Are Jammeil by Scores of Injured; *50 Homes on East Side Are Destroyed; Cause of Gas Plant Fire Still Is Mystery on Leyte\ Toll of Dead, Injured and Missing llni at Airstrip “ Jan Nests Qtlks fithinn *1*?B,£RT E- GEIGER Troops Patrol Charred Area; Loss 8 Million BY HOWARD BEAUFAIT Cooling ruins of Cleveland's greatest fire disaster today gave up the charred skeletons of 70 victims, but held fast the secret of the thunderous deathdealing holocaust. The searing flames and shattering explosions have apparently destroyed all evidence of the cause of the disaster which started in or near five huge liquid gas storage tanks of the East Ohio Gas Co. at E. 62d St. and the New York Central tracks, north of St. Clair Ave. When the tanks exploded and spewed flaming death over a mile and a half square area they left this picture of devastation and tragedy at a late hour today: FORTY-SEVEN BODIES at tfn- County Morgue so badly charred that identification was difficult. TWENTY-THREE MORE blackened skeletons in the smouldering wreckage of the East Side burned-out area. TWO HUNDRED FORTY-EIGHT MISSING persons who worked or lived in the neighborhoods near the blast. ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE INJURED scattered in all East Side and a few West Side hospitals. A CITY whose every emergency resource has been taxed to the limit. OUTLINES OF 250 DESTROYED HOMES etched against the bright sunlit sky. A ONE-HALF SQUARE-MILE AREA completely devastated and evacuated of all shops, factories and homes. This area is bounded by E. 55th St. and E. 67st St., and by St. Clair Ave. and Lakcfront Highway. TOTAL DAMAGE to property, im/uo uc plants and homes, estimated by police officials at $8.ffjfru&ir* Insurance adjusters estimated the loss would run to $15,000,000. FOUR PLANTS so badly damaged that all war production was shut down. Coroner Samuel R. Gerber returned to the morgue in midafternoon from a visit to the disaster scene and said that the correct total of known dead at that time was 70. Seventeen of these have been identified. Believes Fire Started in Storage Tank 1 HUGH O DONNELL. 1361 E. 86th Si., an employe of the East Ohio Gas Co. dead on arrival at Polyclinic Hospital. E. B EVERHARDT. 47. of 8106 St. Clair Ave. The list of dead at the County Morgue, and the injured in hospitals. Is presented below. Residents of the stricken area are urged to scan the hospital lists carefully. In the hope that many persons now believed missing may be among those now being treated. The complete list. Including the names of those treated and released. Is carried by the News in detail to speed the search for the missing. FRANK ROBERTS, 43. St. James MRS. MINNIE SCHWEBS. 1011 E l Ave. Identified through personal 61st St., died in Glenville Hospital, papers. « dttdmvt t ARTHUR EICHLER. 41. 1910 Wa- '"stanc, indicated the entire east1' [papers in his pockets. ZETTIE GRIFFITH of 2341 it., identified by papers j purse. I pai MICHAEL KOWALSKY. 60. 1538 E. 93d St. 314 Carroll Ave. 8 E. 39t:i in her JERRY RYAN, 65, LOUIS SAFRAN SR.. 62. 1001 E.| J5 th* Cder'o/''" lV" C*Sili,lstuluberatio» ofnJIfehtpulpnd al’dnaVa!.barr\ge,S'lwROBE:Rl A BARNhELI,"« A45'«« Ave. Identified throujh per- A11 —y—— dS that hav- "tushroomed along the's, 01 lht Ph"lpplne »tresses l,ood ; j r \{e[\el Burden u ," th, ?o p'',0U 01 hl5 homeland. Issued a stir- /\V7_ .. t "l, J UttC Ull I H'lH'l 1J III LlCIl the pl* 01 Hattie UP and the Japanese invaders vJl vV dl |62d Si. Identified by friends and • relatives. | WILUAM MCALLISTER. • 7807 ! Grace Ave . East Ohio plant em-| ploye. I FRANK H. THOMAS. 43. of 1319 IE. 125th St.. East Ohio Gas Co serviceman. DONALD HICKS. 35. 488 Cleve- THOMAS GRAVEN. 42. of 2736|, d Rd Division Ave. Employe of East Ohio1 Gas Co., tentatively identified relatives. WILLIAM SAFRAN. 34. 1001 62d St. Identified by relatives. LOUIS KOSTELIC. two. 1001 E MEN. 62d St. Identified by friends and! ONE UNIDENTIFIED CHILD, relatives. j NINE. SEX UNIDENTIFIED. Tur hioi by JAMES J. HOGAN. 274 E 226th 'St.. Euclid. E SIX UNIDENTIFIED WOMEN FOURTEEN UNIDENTIFIED to Paqc J n o Sf^w of perhaps 75 m"es-had been City’s Tragedy Fund Units, Red Cross Set Emergency .uml?*™"*-p««id.nt ot th. Philippine Stre8ses Q00d u „i:„ f n______________iTraffic Rules ttn - Ihp of bat 11. up ttna n8ht the Japanese Invaders a TT at I a ,11,.. Cleveland', Community Fund- of relief and rehabilitation ol fire! Ill F' 1 l*e iZoilC V 5il4 h “‘Wme Comm ChCd thelr “»h or *»»•■•"> Goal $5 750 000' «»«* preddenfs aecond proc- ®#0.1 . ......5,'i,cnnn' " 'atil? ‘Oa“ou wasn', ! 0,'1 Leyte wlth General MacArhtur. P,c9, OU,UUU 0f lhe r€iief WOrk which taxed their the breaking point 'esterday and last » iHto^!0. Nttzis Surrender ioN ^tonully in Aachen SN<*,B*.W1LUAM dispensaries e approximately $5.750.000 now ' f E Ittcores ol aatad Aaeh hUnd,'ed German troops, the last I Sf»l b dal1 '4stan SUrr™dered unconditionally atiu.." “rS .hTm and in suburbs '“tatid f0^onp*w7- ■:::!! ^......... ?r;:, »«*» Cologne,STSt1', BY WALLACE R. KATZ Cleveland's fire-devastated dis-jtrict knew well today what the | Community Fund and the War Chest mean. I The hospitals and I that are to receive ! $500.000 from the being sought in the 1944 War Chest campaign had the story for the injured and for the number of concer.-ed rela-who waited in corridors for leant the difference and relief, on of the 1944 War ! Chest was urged today by Willis W. .Clark, president of the Cleveland i rendered w JC o u r t n e ‘P'te Hitler's orders ath. the 800 enem me. j ti »istltl Fund, which operates ’ ited already had been taken by Firatj the Chest, as he speculated upon the additional demands that will i . . my iroops sur-1 be made upon Fund agenits as a re-when Lieutenant General (suit of the fire. Pressed th- Hod«es' doughboys: -The Community Fund." he said, at the frnaalT J.nt° h.opcless traP» "realizes that the emergency serv-ler of ihe8ri(after takinR the cen-' ices rendered by its agencies in the Sevenfv m,)« . v. disaster in E. 55th St. will entail o Canad.i?, l* .° »the northwMl- i,dde<1 expenses beyond present iree*Drnm.^ !LSl Arrny. Pushcd a budgets. The Community Fund will, '... . R«di, * ....... 6t')earer fh* r-.- Cnsive four mi,es to lhe of Hs resources, finance Sovl p!?.'1* ‘ ••la R°osendaal anH^n^a St.r0nuKh0.lds °r ,hese added expenditures of its ^ tu '••• 4 s,ttk Qmi ,.. 7, rying 0ver r_d Br*daJ" b®tt,e far' member agencies. ,l "ta’' . 6 Antwerp. ‘“n-soaked fields above "This emphasizes the urgent need •l0' British seiwices t< throughout yesterday night as victims of Cleveland's worst fire were brought in by motor car. ambulance and on fool e pre-heir share of the assistance which will come later. In addition to these the Red Cross accepted responsibility for relief of families caught in the path of the fire. Hundreds of these families are homeless. . The Red Cross, in taking charge i by r foot. Today other agencies were paring to accept their sh burden of relief and of relief and rehabilitation of victims, asked the News to u those desiring to help with the relief work to send contributions of money the An merican Red Cross. 1227 Prospect Ave. All such contributions should be marked “Disaster Fund.” According to Red Cross officials this is the only type of help necessary at the moment. Food and clothing will be ivided by the Red Cross and agencies as well as medical pro’ other supplit “Ev< 'thing we have here is you," was the message i? to Page Tiro erythii ible to Emergency traffic regulations the East Ohio Gas fire area were Acting Police Chief Timothy Costello and The Red Crou announced a new telephone number—CHerry 7960—for fast service on all disaster calls. If you have any one to report missing, or If you wish aid, use this number. ordered enforced today by Police Chief Timothy Coste will remain in effect until further notice. No civilian vehicular or pedestrian traffic will be permitted anywhere within the area. Eastbound traffic on St. Clair Ave. will be diverted south into Marquette Ave. E. 55th St. northbound traffic will be diverted west into St. Clair Ave.. and all northbound traffic will be turned at Bonna Ave.. and all intersecting streets to Addist >:'Rd. and Schaefer Ave !St. |j No westbound traffic will be mitted west of E. 71st St. on Bl U.S. Agencies Offer Help To Spur Rebuilding Job k,„*r ram-*oaked fields above Tms emphasizes the urg. for over-subscription of the War Canadian i Chest, which supports these health, dfare and relief infantry and tun, to Page Fire agencies.'' roMrm*. —t. While smoke still curled from the ruins of the East Ohio Gas Co. plant today, Cleveland agencies of the federal government moved to simplify and make easier the procedure of property owners who are confronted by problems of repairing and rebuilding. Immediate help for all whose homes, stores or factories were damaged or destroyed by yesterday's blasts was offered by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleve- WAORNMAN PAINT* n tUof« la Kvtrr Nfifhl land and by the Cleveland gional office of the War Production Board. as ' iidei eral Reserve Bank, who announced that “Regulation W.” limiting credit on replacement or repair loans to 30 days has been temporarily pended. At the same time Frank M. Aldridge. deputy regional director of Turn to Pape Tiro WAORNMAN PAINTS FUm( Quality—At Factor/ to \on Prl 1 per-Bliss. traffic on St. Clair ted south at E. Peck or Becker Aves. Northbound traffic will be permitted on E. 71st St., north to St. Clair Ave. Westbound Ave. will be diverte« 71st St. Costello also ordered that buildings be searched except by members of the police and fire departments and that bodies of the dead shall be removed only by such persons working in accord with regulations Costello has issued. Operate on Chile President SANTIAGO. Chile (4»)—President Juan Antonio Rios, who entered hospital here October 12 for treatment of stomach ulcers, was operated on today, his secretary announced. HAUF.NMAN paints for Word*—WuconniM for Palnta. —Advt. News reporters found only one woman who was able to give a close-up coherent account of what happened al 2:40 p. m. yesterday when the first explosion sent great tongues of flame thousands of feet into the sky. She is Mrs. Viola Moore. 37. of 1880 Garfield Rd. East Cleveland. She was employed as office manager in the American Gas Association laboratory. The laboratory was housed in a two-story brick building, only a few yards from the liquid gas storage tanks. ‘ I was at work in the office,'’ she told News reporters. *T looked out the window just at the moment the first explosion came. The fire apparently started in one of the large liquid gas storage tanks. I don’t know what set it off. I did not see any one around the tank at the time. She did not know if all the persons working in her building had escaped because of the general panic and confusion that followed the first blast. Her story was apparently the only clew to the mysterious blast which turned the gas tanks into flame-throwing instruments of death and destruction. Seven separate Investigations arc under way today. These are being conducted by the Federal Bureau ol Investigation. Army and Navy Intelligence. Coroner Samuel R. Gerber, police and fire officials and the East Ohio Gas Co. Search for Scores of Missing Other investigators are searching the cooling ruins, counting the dead and injured looking for scores of missing, searching for a key to the disaster. Panic that first swept through a 20-block area north of 8t Tutu to Pape Three . List of Missing Includes Prominent Clevelanders Names of several Clevelanders appear in missing following the prominent) with lers appear in the list of!fori ig following the gas blasl dis-lmai aster. Among those who have not'Harber View Dr. minentiwith a brother. Daniel V. Mahci list of!formerly vice president and general J;~ nager of the company, at 11225 been located are: CHARLES F. TURNER. « chief VINCENT F. MAHER. 45. claim chemist for the East Ohio Gas Co adjuster for the East Ohio Gas Co. and a nationally known authority or. and son of the laic Thomas K.'gas chemistry. Maher, president of the Maher Col- Turner a graduate of the Un.-lieries Co. Maher, who recently! versily of Michigt was given an Army discharge, lives' Turn i ligan. o Piq has been con-\pe Two Stricken Residents Asked To Report at Willson School Police asked all adults who live in the stricken area to report at Willson Junior High School. 1625 E. 55th St. To speed the search for the missing, the area residents are asked to list themselves as safe and give names and addresses of missing members of their families. Police cannot accept telephoned reports of the missing. Information concerning missing persons may be obtained by telephoning the Red Cross at SLperior 1800. WAORNMAN FAINT! »'• Flne»t — 14 Fucloi Hurra. J —Advl-1 KNM.W rAIN'T Palntlns Furpox American Home newspaper, gas explosion, Octobei American Home newspaper, gas explosion, October, THE CLEVELAND PRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1944 Suffering Victims Find Haven After Disaster m&i Pvt. Ruth Lewis of relief renter for Are Suhadolnik. the Air Wars, a volunteer at the Willson school refugees, gives a glass of Weary and discouraged, their thoughts on 4-months-old Alice milk to little Tommy Meadows, sit Cecil Bari place and Mrs. Mary Barker of 871 E. 67th street. 5: R of 1 linger, street, but he pitchi night on a cot. ( ( of lar th, an ar< lea wii Nil do] ed into his breakfast bowl this morning after a Fisher calms Ravmnnd P*rh; '• Press Reporter Barbara Fisher cairns 64th street, as she gets his story of the Are at " ill*°n of *>1 1 In Before dawn today these children, Are refugees, w ere sleeping on cots set up in the halls of Willson School. / Grabbed My Mother and Sister and Ran—" By BARBARA FISHER “I grabbed my mother and my little sister and we knelt and prayed. Mother went out the back way. and I told her she would be running right into the flame. I told them to hold their hands over their eyes and run toward the lake. Then we just ran." ' Thus did Marcella Reichard, 16, describe her family’s escape. Marcella lay on a cot at Willson School, her face almost entirely covered by bandages, her left arm lying stiff and motionless on the blanket. What happened after the first the blanl I afi two terrific explosions she remem- bers only vaguely, but her father. Elmer, remembers. Marcella haled i passing motorist and, with the side of her face one huge blister and her left arm useless, drove to the Kirkwood Commutator Co., 5518 Euclid, and told her father what had happened. Only then would she allow Coastguardmcn to take her to St. Alexis' Hospital. Their house at 5475 Lake court was burned to the ground, and with it $500 vith which the Reichard family ha 1 planned to make a down payment cn a new home. Marcella’s eyes fllleo with this, and the •T she told tears continued: was standing In the kitchen the first when I heard the first/hojk., The he said brokenly. "It went in the first explosion. I never saw it again. Now I suppose it's a pile of ashes." Rosemary couldn't stop the big tears which rolled down her cheeks. “Daddy," she said, "they won’t take me away from you. will they? Don’t let them take me away.” John couldn't answer. He doesn't know. His wile has been dead for about two years. Rosemary is his only child. Now they are homeless. 7:30 last night Mrs. Frank Drogalus. 992 E. 69th street, had hlng from her three chil- heard notl dren. The panic-stricken mother, employed at the Bishop Sc Babcock Co. Plant No. 2, 1204 E. 55th street, walked from the plant to the home of her sister, Mrs. Sidney Deutsch. 1417 Ashbury avenue. "I don’t know . How < igalus r Drogalus replied to telepl tloning. The two youi w where my children I talk to you?” Mrs. : ques-ir children, to you?' •lephoi inger « Roger. 6 and Mon- A' To are due efficient nd organizations . • • tha^ of them the common.« ,„1,1/ for one of the most „1 .... snd Zl tm^> city’s spontaneous and co e city s spontaneous am» of help in a terrible ernerg*0 jud „s.rson Dy The example of their own character an^ tj,c but, in addition, symbolic3 . c# Gr . ct . ......Rich m3* .he'* addition, symbol^-human community which ^ 0n 1 Cleveland one of the best p 3 of the earth. U: Veg Pre, oft 'VP! Pan fror for C]e, D area Pact of g Lausche Cancels T* Sunday Appearance : •' meet*« EvenWft**7- The first m*. —-vem*11! Cleveland Sunday scheduled for tomorrow ^ 3*P , in the Euclid Church with speaker, was cancelle pi»n of the East Ohio GaS 5aid>l«f Mayor Lausche his Senator Robert A ^___ fall Cas Plant on 0nesi,es Oldest Industria ... The East Ohio £ cl1 T1 land’s oldest Cleveland Co. was — manufacture clal gas. Laying of industry » " * city c,ilS. lnCOar^r^trib Laying of * ,848 in the summerof^ ^ w 0K over a year l«1" The ** aGbaIes t2v«C0brought” ■s.i 4 \0 ,nsUIThrr n^oii^ S’ co- Gas Co. br°^ and »4 A\A- Cleveland in , #n,hP srSS^.«**\S® Cleveland ; when ‘ sn> „„ tlon system. t , ^ « j facture of h at the site of ^^r m C ^ ing plant Is not refri - P'ar 'Peg Pieq ‘'on clU(i ^o|d f'1 0|(j she], stee| % °t(ii s>ee| \ ^e| leP( 'old '5ih reS! ■s.i Gas Explosion Recalled f On October 20, 1944 a series gas explosions and fire argely destroyed the plant of the East Ohio Gas Company and an adjoining residential area> causing loss of life of at east 136 and probably more, U|th property damage that will ,Ul? 'nt0 Ihe millions of dollars, This explosion involved li- -f'ed natural gas, T'rigerated to minus 250°F. I |K1S was.a unique operation; I r/ COnd‘t‘ons found in this r naamufre not ‘n any way corn‘ other ei-Wlth the storage of liquefied gases under ‘ DrpSSUre' ^llere was no ' the i10^ exPer'ence to guide a$ked 3 aul^0r'ties who were lion 0ft?nPermit the installa-this process and prior w0u?,CtOber 20, 1944 there reason f6"1 t0 have been no ’’’em of° quesnon ,he judge-wh0 . municipal authorities °f thi«erm'ttec^ tbe ‘nstallation zoneufrOCess in an industrial Panyshnre!,he0pera,ingcom-havjn Wec^every evidence of desieng USCd due care in the projectand Operation of the I ^teVr1 with maj°r fire ■ rep0r, ’ there are conflicting I of (lS as t0 lhe circumstances ^ ^sidenteXPIOsions and fire-S reP0rted that the sky when Jllled with flames area 0fb°Ut Warning a large Cleve'and ^ east side °f 64th Str between 55th and Was swept by bur- ? Proper,, yearS) gas plant for many P*viousiv 6 st0rage had the conv °nS'Sted severa* ,lice, ,t»'e , d*-. h««"’ of ’ the COn "sisted of several type of o Vent‘0nal water seal Dan. '^SholoWo ______________ .,r" .li«"’ no«"; of B ,l‘onai water seal Pany oh,S holders. The com- ^^are. lr0111 natural gas «, « ; in Wes, Virginia in the DUe (o“ “rea. ^eil,3nds tbe beavy industrial area, n !n ilte Cleveland area) . necessarv been fonnd ^gastom° budd up reserves ! 0ad. -j- eet Periods of peak Sal fiac accomplish this rt'*, been ec,uiPrnent »derated desi8ned for Nich!St0rage of natural Plan, ,0 ^as converted at the ean“ 0(- l|cltiid state by of lquid state by S- ThIefri^eration equip-cl°n’ c°nstr 0r'g'nal 'nstalla-> th UCted in 1940- in- «e'h or1”!™.! 8as ft ,ers' ean spherical gas hn iquid c- 1 0f 100*000 cu- roS1'- Th- *,s sh ,ers conT y- These gas :» eo2Sn'Sted °f an inner 3 f* '"'ng 3’5^ nickel 3-5°/0 nickel o Sn.ana 8r°Undcork in- \t(?"lary Ste an outer sheet °r i*«tP*.The„ieke, O h Was rPlate-The nickel Sr,OretU,nduneCeSSary in tteeferatures s,everely low p? Plate llcb °rdinary Sd t0 Could not be ex- HaMetl to ld not be ex-erf C'mr e,!11^ w',hou, ’ , li>°r a'k'n8‘‘«e,obri,- .rf11, . l(lpe., . Contrar,i«„ -t-. -5: % l\ir 'V »o loin s Or r ' g aue to hrit- ih>s del°ntra«ion. These hsN prp'1Cd 10 Withsland .s- *«rures °r 5 Cre reliefTVided With of an„ Cnts to lake C in the un,°.rmallyre- in , ‘‘s normally re- ^d^nfonlyj0,1^ at a djaeent o 'u2,°31bs- 1° the holders was refrigeration equipment utilizing ethylene as the refrigerant and special equipment for removing carbon dioxide and water vapor from the natural gas which is primarily methane. Around the base of each of the spherical containers was a concrete apron designed to catch any overflow that might come from these tanks and this was piped to a large covered container constructed in a pit. There is no indication of the performance of this overflow stack during the fire but it was observed that this overflow feature of the plant equipment had been pretty well destroyed. The refrigeration equipment of the plant appeared to have escaped demolition. The remaining original water seal type gas holder at the plant also passed through the fire without any serious damage. Liquid Gas Storage Increased With increased demand for gas coincident with the major part played by Cleveland’s industries in the war program, it was found desirable to increase the reserve storage of liquid gas. This was done in 1942 by erecting a fourth container just east of the three spherical containers. This new container was somewhat larger, having a capacity of 160,000 cu. ft. of liquid gas and was of somewhat different design. It was cylindrical in shape rather than spherical, and due to wartime shortage of the desired ground cork insulation, (see Quarterly 34, No 2, p. 136, and Quarterly 36, No. 2, p. 164, for reports of fires destroying much of America’s wartime cork storage), 3 feet of mineral wool insulation was provided between the inner and outer sides and top of the tank. The Tank Failure A theory as to the possible cause of failure advanced by Building Commissioner William D. Guion of Cleveland, is that some time previous to the disaster an undetected leak may have developed in the inner torso semental tank, permitting the liquid to enter the insulation chamber, where it naturally vaporized and built up tremendous pressure, eventually causing a break or tear in the outer shell. This rupture of the outer sheet together with friction could cause ignition of the vapors. Another possible theory as to the cause of the initial tank tailure, not as yet substantiated by any definite evidence, is that in some way moisture accumulated in the mineral wool insulation between the inner and outer shells. This would reduce the insulating value of the mineral wool, and result in more rapid transmission of heat to the interior. A local heating of the interior tank might cause unequal expansion with stresses that at the extremely low temperature, could cause failure of welded joints. It has not been con- clusively established that the initial failure occurred in this container rather than the adjoining spherical tank, but available evidence seems to indicate that the first failure occurred at the new, cylindrical tank. The mineral wool insulation on this holder was thrown over a large area. This would indicate an explosion with the release of considerable pressure in this tank and would tend to indicate the new cylindrical tank as the point of origin. Every effort had apparently been made by the gas company to avoid any possible equipment failure that could be foreseen through proper engineering and advance experimentation, as well as by a high quality of maintenance and supervision. The East Ohio Gas Company lost many of their ablest employees and engineers in the disaster and this fact may hamper investigators in determining the specific point of failure. Fire Behavior Witnesses in the residential area involved in the fire, south of the gas company property, reported that the sky appeared filled with flames and that huge balls of fire “bounced above the neighborhood,” destroying life and property wherever they landed. Others described long fingers of flame shooting in various directions Mrs. Jennie Zelko and Mr. Frank Brancel looking over what O used to be Mrs. Zelko’s home on East 61 St. after the East Ohio g gas explosion. ? through the air. It is almost impossible to give a chronological account of the various explosions and fires, as they apparently were too numerous to record. It is reported, however, that one of the greatest blasts of flame occurred perhaps some 15 minutes after the initial fire. One engineer observing the blaze from a point of vantage several blocks distant, measured one burst of flame reaching 2800 feet. As with all great fires, there were many features of erratic fire behavior noted. Some observers and residents stated that drops of what they believed liquid gas fell upon roofs, starting fires. Several dwellings in the midst of an area otherwise completely devastated were almost untouched, with grass and shrubs in the yards intact and fresh paint almost spotless, while on either side of these dwellings, complete desolation was in evidence. The fact that the wind was blowing away from the congested part of the area is believed to have been a major factor in prevention of an even more devastating conflagration which could have destroyed a very large part of the East Side. Another factor that probably influenced fire behavior was that the burning of several million cubic feet of vaporized liquid gas would have required tremendous volumes of oxygen. Obviously this could provide a blast of flame of tremendous magnitude. Obiščite - našo delavnico in popravljaljnico. Bill’s Automatic Transmission Service Automatic Transmission Specialists 4 Speed Differential Clutch Hydraulic — Ultramatic — Dynaflow — Power Glide — Power Flite — Fordomatic Turbo-Glide — Jet-Away Bill fyfodic, 1311 East 55th Street, Cleveland 44103 391-9188 All Forms GABRIEL INSURANCE insurance AGENCY Bill J. Gabriel — 731-6888 — Fax 731-1423 27801 Euclid Avenue No. 110 Euclid, Ohio 44132 Call Us for a Quote on Life. Auto, Home, Business and Health Insurance... American Home newspaper, gas explosion In Memory of Frank J. Lausche i who was mayor of Cleveland at the time of the East Ohio Gas Explosion r V And in sorrowful remembrance of all those who died as a result of the explosion Foil'1 The Frances and Jane S. Lausche