Welcek Home
Located on the Old Marksville Highway (Highway 107) at the intersection of Denny Road
Built in 1921, it is one of the earlier homes of the Czech community and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The home and out buildings especially the two barns, are representative of the early Czech farming community. The barns were built earlier and used as dicker for Mr. Francis Welcek who then built the house He was a leader of the community and an accomplished agronomist. The home was eventually purchased by William and Margaret Ortigo and placed on the Historic Register in 1986. The homestead has been included on the tour of the the Czech community during the Annual Czech Heritage Days. The Kolin Historical Marker is found at this location.
Physical Condition - Home is excellent; the barns are aged and fragile.
On a large piece of land is the barn of Fred Hajek. This barn, which I visited, is built to stand forever. The frame is constructed of entire trees, stripped of their branches and the set in the ground as posts and laid horizontally as the cross beams. These massive "beams," as much as 1.5 feet in diameter are laid in notches on each other with no other fasteners. All the wood planks, and doors and windows and such are hand hewn and massive. The barn contains many of the original tools and machines used by this farm family.
One can only hope that the future heirs of the elderly Mr. Hajek do not fall under the spell of the suburban development of Alexandria and destroy this building.
The Tuma family, which has long run the Post Office in Libuse, donated the land for this modern structure. But unique in the Postal System is the plaque on the front of the building that identifies the donor of the land and the unique property transfer which states that the land would revert back to the Tuma's if the Post Office ceased to operate.
This information was told to me by Mr. George Tuma
On Highway 28 E in Libuse stands the buildings of the Tuma Store.
In front is the "modern" structure, built in the 1950's, that served as the Post Office and the general store for the community.
Further back is the original building, slightly decayed but refurbishable.
Both buildings contain many of the original furnishings, tools, machines and items used by the Post Office and the farm run by the Tuma's.
Placed about the property are numerous fruit trees, some varieties that are unique to the area, planted by Mr. Tuma's parents upon their settlement in Libuse.
Mr. George Tuma, and his children, co-founders of the Louisiana Czech Museum arevery conscious of the historical value of the property and builidngs and are considering the preservation of these structures and items.
There are about one dozen houses and farm buildings still standing that were construced by the original Czech familes. These are currently residences and working sturctures. You can spot these distinctive buildings while driving around, but respect for the privacy of the current residents prevents me from getting more specific.
There are no concrete plans to preserve these structures, and many of the residents are elderly. However, through the Louisiana Czech Museum and the Louisiana Czech Historical Association there is significant awareness of the need to preserve these structures and properties.
I would assume that there are structures in this city which were built by Czechs who came to here. But other than a few odd references I have not seen much. I am finding tantalizing clues, though to possible Czech buildings.