Throughout the nation Czech communities were formed when first one Czech settler came and then encourage his fellow Czechs to join him. They settled in or next to existing towns, basically taking over these towns as their numbers grew. Many of the Czech communties 'became' Czech when they simply had the majority of citizens and voters.
These two town in Louisiana were deliberately planned and organized to be specifically Czech Communities. In 1905 three Czech men organized the Bohemian Colonization Club, which was a Louisiana corporation. They bought some 20,000 acres at 15 cents an acre from the Lee Lumber Company (which still exists and is headquarted in Birmingham, Alabama.) Having procured the land they began advertising in Hospodar (Farmer) newspaper and other Czech newspapers in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and in the Czech Communities throughout the Midwestern States.
They promised all sorts of grand visions of the Louisiana soil and climate and business environment. They lied. It was more of a land scam than anything else. The land was in fact cut over pine forest, still speckled with stumps, hidden in tall grass. Whether the original three men knew this when they bought the land, or only discovered their problem afterwards is not known.
A platte map of the town of Libuse was laid out in 1914, with broad streets and lots set aside for a town hall, school and post office. A platte map for Kolin was proposed but never filed, the date given is variably 1920 to 1940. Other than the original site for New Orleans they might be the only planned communities in Louisiana.
As families began to arrive they bought the land from the Colonization Club, and the subsequent entity, the Louisiana Investment and Securities Corporation, for upwards of $200 per acre. Not a bad profit. See here a list of the buyers.
By 1920 some 200 Czech families had arrived. Yet by 1925 most had left because nothing was like what was promised. The remaining families never incorporated the town, though they did build a school, and Czech halls, laid out cemeteries and built post offices (only Libuse's is still functing,) and created very productive farms.
They built a road between Libuse and Kolin, which the Louisiana Department of Transporation and Development calls one of the first improved roads outside of cities in Rapides Parish. The road was built and maintained by the community. La. Highway 3128 follows the old road. I have proposed that this highway be officially designated the Louisiana Czech Highway and placed on tourist maps. No success yet.
The disillusion by the settlers, and no doubt their anger at the three originators of this plan, led to the the rather unfortunate ends of all three. I have heard similar stories from many of the elders in the community, but have no concrete proof as of yet. One died in an insane asylum. One commited suicide in a rather public way, and the third died in nefarious circumstances -- possibly murder.
I am seeking all the information I can find on the founding of these two communities, anyone with information is encouraged to contact me at
Jim Hlavac -- Louisiana Czech