TITLE	Postcard of Exterior and Interior of Dr. Martin Luther Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church
DATE OF ORIGINAL	Unknown - Duplicate of 1st Ilasco postmark of September 18, 1903 on reverse side - but church was not built until 1911
DATE OF DIGITAL	2006-2
DESCRIPTION	ILASCO, MO -  There were a large number of Ilascans who immigrated from Slovakia between the years 1903-1904.  Although they wanted all that America promised them, they were also very concerned that they maintain their memories and heritage from the old country.  Although the Slovak community as a whole had organized first as the Charles Kuzmany Society # 139 and later the National Slovak Society Lodge #573, the Lutheran Slovaks still thought something was missing from their lives.  Therefore, in 1911 they formed the Dr. Martin Luther Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church. It was built on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Ben E. Hulse.  The bell tower, seen on left, was very instrumental in Slovak lives.  It was rung for two special purposes : at 6 p.m. it was rung to signal the end of the working day ; and, it was rung whenever a Ilascan Slovak of any faith died.  The church was demolished in 1971 ; the beautiful altar, seen on the right, was given to the Luther Manor Nursing Home in Hannibal, Mo.
CREATOR	Unknown
CONTRIBUTOR	Polc, David
PUBLISHER	Hannibal Free Public Library (Hannibal, Mo.)
SUBJECT	Dr. Martin Luther Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church (Ilasco, Mo.)
SUBJECT	Hulse, Ben E.
SUBJECT	Immigrants, Slovak -- Religious rites and customs.
ORIGINAL FORMAT	Black and white postcard, 5 1/2" by 3 1/2 ; church exterior, 2 1/2" by 3" ; church interior, 2 1/2" by 2 3/4".
DIGITAL FORMAT	jpg
IDENTIFIER	C10014