Historic Sladkovsky Lodge Featured in Regional Magazine FOR THE PAST 20 years, members of Lodge Sladkovsky #8, of the Western Fraternal Life Association of Pischelville, have served a pork barbecue supper on the opening day of deer season and a pancake and sausage supper in spring. The story of these gatherings, and what they’ve come to mean to the local community, is featured in the spring issue of Living Here magazine. "Money from these fundraisers is used to pay the light, gas, and insurance bills and maintenance on the lodge building," explains Les Vesely of Verdigre, treasurer of the lodge, but the gatherings serve a greater purpose. They are an opportunity for families and friends whose roots run deep into the soil of northeast Nebraska to connect with each other. "When we started, lodge members did all the work involved in preparing the meal. We butchered the hog, barbecued it over an open fire, cut it up, made the potato salad and the baked beans," said Sharon Boham, secretary of the lodge. "As the members got older, the work became more than we could handle. Lodge members still cook the pancakes for the pancake suppers, but Beth Rudloff, of the Cozy Corner Cafe in Verdigre, prepares the pork supper. Many hunters return year after year, and wouldn’t think of missing the Pischelville supper. Opening day of deer season always falls on a Saturday in fall, which means it must share the day with Cornhusker football. "Dedicated Nebraska fans get very upset if they miss any of the action," said lodge member Steve Ruzicka. "I should know. I’m one of them." A television set on the stage keeps everybody happy. Lodge Sladkovsky #8 has a colorful history that spans three centuries. Cesko Slovensky Podporujici Spolck (CSPS) was organized in 1880 by people from Czechoslovakia in an effort to preserve their culture and provide a social lodge and a life benefit to members. The lodge was named for Karel Sladkovsky, a radical, philosopher and political activist of the Democratic Revolution of their homeland. Land was purchased from Anton Pischel to build a hall in 1884, making Sladkovsky #8 the only lodge in Nebraska to own their own hall. Meetings were held in the upstairs room, and although it has not been used for many years, everything stands in readiness for the next gathering – including the wooden goat that was used for initiations. Members are proud to say that Lodge Sladkovsky is the oldest wooden lodge hall in Nebraska. It was the very first one built strictly for fraternal purposes, and is the only lodge hall in the state on the National Register of Historic Places. Lodge Sladkovsky was presented a State Preservation Award in 1994 for preserving their 100 year-old home. The once bustling community of Pischelville is long gone, but the lodge and its twice-yearly fundraisers remain as a focal point. The food is always excellent, said Evelyn Lanman of Verdel, but that’s not what keeps her coming back. "Bud and I go because we think it’s good. I was born in a log cabin close to Pischelville. To me, it’s like coming home." Living Here Magazine is based in Yankton, South Dakota. It is published four times a year, and focuses on stories from northeast Nebraska and southeast South Dakota. Single copies of the magazine featuring Pischelville Lodge are $3.00 each. Subscriptions for the magazine are $12 for 1-year, or $20 for a 2-year subscription. Contact Living Here Magazine at P.O. Box 400, Yankton, South Dakota 57078, email us at mhoebel@iw.net or call us toll free 1-888-673-1081. The Pischelville Lodge article was written by Marita Placek of rural Lynch, Nebr. Marita is a member of the WFLA and writes for Living Here magazine. click here for an archived article list

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