Frances Bortnik Benya immigrated from Lenartov, Slovakia in 1906. Imagine coming to the new world from the old with everything you had in a small suit case and barely any money in your pocket. Leaving everything and place and person possibly that you knew back home for good most likely. The fear, the excitement, the worry, the ship voyage and all with a bunch of strangers from various countries who couldn't talk the same language. Yet they all had the same goal and purpose and desire! Turns out most of them were penniless too, so maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all?! They could see it in each others eyes! When they met others from their old country they became companions and close nit for life a lot of the time. They formed organizations together that could and would grow.
Her name was changed from Bortnyik to "Bortnik" upon arrival in the US as was the custom there, to sound more American. It was their changeling into the new-world and most accepted it, yet others would not and that was allowed! Already they could see freedom in action and it was captivating and energizing to all. You could feel it in the air!
The youthful picture of her to the right shows her as she looked when she came to the land of opportunity. Personally I think she very much resembles her g-granddaughter Frazier Benya.
She met her prospective husband John Benya on the streets of New York of all places! They both worked at a carpet factory in Yonkers. They had both migrated to the US separately from the same country and adjoining towns of Lenartov and Malcov, Slovakia. They may have crossed paths in the old country, but did not know each other! It was fate that brought their paths together in the New World, and they knew it! They were instantly attracted and drawn to one another for keeps. There was a tight-nit devoted little community of Slovaks there. They would attend church and meetings together on a regular basis and celebrate their heritage and beliefs and religion and speech and song! They felt completely part of America, yet still part of the old country too. Signs of immigrants from all regions of the world were there in New York and they functioned together and flourished. If times got difficult they could move anywhere in the country without question or government papers and ridicule and hassle. The freedom here was unbelievable! Just like people talked about in the old country. It was all true. Except that they didn't see any trees that grew money on them! They were all very proud and happy to be in the United States were they could live and worship as they pleased. They would and many had and did give their lives for this wonderful country in a second! It was an amazing time of change and events for all. They could feel the excitement all around them. It took some know-how and hard work, but they knew how to do that from back in the old world where they never looked back. They could still speak their language at times but had to learn "American" and were eager to do so. This didn't mean they couldn't hold on to their beliefs and culture and celebrate them in meetings and church and holidays. It was actually openly allowed! They didn't have to have secret meetings! This kind of thing was not permissible or even thinkable back home! It would never a attempted!
A few of the traditions, food, and words have passed down to the next generations where we thankfully celebrate what they gave and meant to us. We all appreciate what kind of hard working and fun loving good devoted people they were, Frances and her husband John.
John ran the dairy farm in Connecticut were it flourished and supported them and their four children; Helen, Steve, Frankie, and Ruth.
Her name was changed from Bortnyik to "Bortnik" upon arrival in the US as was the custom there, to sound more American. It was their changeling into the new-world and most accepted it, yet others would not and that was allowed! Already they could see freedom in action and it was captivating and energizing to all. You could feel it in the air!
The youthful picture of her to the right shows her as she looked when she came to the land of opportunity. Personally I think she very much resembles her g-granddaughter Frazier Benya.
She met her prospective husband John Benya on the streets of New York of all places! They both worked at a carpet factory in Yonkers. They had both migrated to the US separately from the same country and adjoining towns of Lenartov and Malcov, Slovakia. They may have crossed paths in the old country, but did not know each other! It was fate that brought their paths together in the New World, and they knew it! They were instantly attracted and drawn to one another for keeps. There was a tight-nit devoted little community of Slovaks there. They would attend church and meetings together on a regular basis and celebrate their heritage and beliefs and religion and speech and song! They felt completely part of America, yet still part of the old country too. Signs of immigrants from all regions of the world were there in New York and they functioned together and flourished. If times got difficult they could move anywhere in the country without question or government papers and ridicule and hassle. The freedom here was unbelievable! Just like people talked about in the old country. It was all true. Except that they didn't see any trees that grew money on them! They were all very proud and happy to be in the United States were they could live and worship as they pleased. They would and many had and did give their lives for this wonderful country in a second! It was an amazing time of change and events for all. They could feel the excitement all around them. It took some know-how and hard work, but they knew how to do that from back in the old world where they never looked back. They could still speak their language at times but had to learn "American" and were eager to do so. This didn't mean they couldn't hold on to their beliefs and culture and celebrate them in meetings and church and holidays. It was actually openly allowed! They didn't have to have secret meetings! This kind of thing was not permissible or even thinkable back home! It would never a attempted!
A few of the traditions, food, and words have passed down to the next generations where we thankfully celebrate what they gave and meant to us. We all appreciate what kind of hard working and fun loving good devoted people they were, Frances and her husband John.
John ran the dairy farm in Connecticut were it flourished and supported them and their four children; Helen, Steve, Frankie, and Ruth.
Frances Bortnik Benya immigrated from Lenartov, Slovakia in 1906. Imagine coming to the new world from the old with everything you had in a small suit case and barely any money in your pocket. Leaving everything and place and person possibly that you knew back home for good most likely. The fear, the excitement, the worry, the ship voyage and all with a bunch of strangers from various countries who couldn't talk the same language. Yet they all had the same goal and purpose and desire! Turns out most of them were penniless too, so maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all?! They could see it in each others eyes! When they met others from their old country they became companions and close nit for life a lot of the time. They formed organizations together that could and would grow.
Her name was changed from Bortnyik to "Bortnik" upon arrival in the US as was the custom there, to sound more American. It was their changeling into the new-world and most accepted it, yet others would not and that was allowed! Already they could see freedom in action and it was captivating and energizing to all. You could feel it in the air!
The youthful picture of her to the right shows her as she looked when she came to the land of opportunity. Personally I think she very much resembles her g-granddaughter Frazier Benya.
She met her prospective husband John Benya on the streets of New York of all places! They both worked at a carpet factory in Yonkers. They had both migrated to the US separately from the same country and adjoining towns of Lenartov and Malcov, Slovakia. They may have crossed paths in the old country, but did not know each other! It was fate that brought their paths together in the New World, and they knew it! They were instantly attracted and drawn to one another for keeps. There was a tight-nit devoted little community of Slovaks there. They would attend church and meetings together on a regular basis and celebrate their heritage and beliefs and religion and speech and song! They felt completely part of America, yet still part of the old country too. Signs of immigrants from all regions of the world were there in New York and they functioned together and flourished. If times got difficult they could move anywhere in the country without question or government papers and ridicule and hassle. The freedom here was unbelievable! Just like people talked about in the old country. It was all true. Except that they didn't see any trees that grew money on them! They were all very proud and happy to be in the United States were they could live and worship as they pleased. They would and many had and did give their lives for this wonderful country in a second! It was an amazing time of change and events for all. They could feel the excitement all around them. It took some know-how and hard work, but they knew how to do that from back in the old world where they never looked back. They could still speak their language at times but had to learn "American" and were eager to do so. This didn't mean they couldn't hold on to their beliefs and culture and celebrate them in meetings and church and holidays. It was actually openly allowed! They didn't have to have secret meetings! This kind of thing was not permissible or even thinkable back home! It would never a attempted!
A few of the traditions, food, and words have passed down to the next generations where we thankfully celebrate what they gave and meant to us. We all appreciate what kind of hard working and fun loving good devoted people they were, Frances and her husband John.
John ran the dairy farm in Connecticut were it flourished and supported them and their four children; Helen, Steve, Frankie, and Ruth.
Her name was changed from Bortnyik to "Bortnik" upon arrival in the US as was the custom there, to sound more American. It was their changeling into the new-world and most accepted it, yet others would not and that was allowed! Already they could see freedom in action and it was captivating and energizing to all. You could feel it in the air!
The youthful picture of her to the right shows her as she looked when she came to the land of opportunity. Personally I think she very much resembles her g-granddaughter Frazier Benya.
She met her prospective husband John Benya on the streets of New York of all places! They both worked at a carpet factory in Yonkers. They had both migrated to the US separately from the same country and adjoining towns of Lenartov and Malcov, Slovakia. They may have crossed paths in the old country, but did not know each other! It was fate that brought their paths together in the New World, and they knew it! They were instantly attracted and drawn to one another for keeps. There was a tight-nit devoted little community of Slovaks there. They would attend church and meetings together on a regular basis and celebrate their heritage and beliefs and religion and speech and song! They felt completely part of America, yet still part of the old country too. Signs of immigrants from all regions of the world were there in New York and they functioned together and flourished. If times got difficult they could move anywhere in the country without question or government papers and ridicule and hassle. The freedom here was unbelievable! Just like people talked about in the old country. It was all true. Except that they didn't see any trees that grew money on them! They were all very proud and happy to be in the United States were they could live and worship as they pleased. They would and many had and did give their lives for this wonderful country in a second! It was an amazing time of change and events for all. They could feel the excitement all around them. It took some know-how and hard work, but they knew how to do that from back in the old world where they never looked back. They could still speak their language at times but had to learn "American" and were eager to do so. This didn't mean they couldn't hold on to their beliefs and culture and celebrate them in meetings and church and holidays. It was actually openly allowed! They didn't have to have secret meetings! This kind of thing was not permissible or even thinkable back home! It would never a attempted!
A few of the traditions, food, and words have passed down to the next generations where we thankfully celebrate what they gave and meant to us. We all appreciate what kind of hard working and fun loving good devoted people they were, Frances and her husband John.
John ran the dairy farm in Connecticut were it flourished and supported them and their four children; Helen, Steve, Frankie, and Ruth.
