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Allotment Owners - history
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The Beautifying Association for Beautifying and Protecting the
Home Country in Kersko was established eighty years ago on 27
June 1937. The purpose of this association was to protect the
interests of the owners of property in the newly developing
recreational area of Kersko, their representation during
dealings with the Municipal Authority in Hradíštko and nature
conservation in the Kersko summer resort. The association also
provided residents with the required services and organised
social and sports events for them. |
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Establishment of the association was discussed in advance with
the Municipal Authority in Hradíštko and received approval. The
initiator of the founding of the association and its first
chairman was Mr Josef Hyross, an original owner of land in
Kersko. JUDr. Kolář was appointed vice-chairman and Mr Francouz
was appointed the agent. A sports collective was also created,
which assured operation of the tennis courts. |
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Lieutenant Colonel Votjíšek established the tennis courts and
their construction was financed by Mr Hyross, who also provided
land for their construction in the central area of Kersko, near
the Saint Josef Spring, free of charge. The association’s
building committee was involved in decisions about construction
work in Kersko as part of the Building Committee of the
Municipal Authority in Hradíštko, but only in an advisory role.
The Municipal Authority denied the association’s request to
appoint a night watchman, which is why the association employed
two guards to protect property in Kersko, at its own expense. |
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The association also organised a special bus service for
transporting holiday-makers from Prague, it organised regular
dance afternoons at the hunting lodge, and also balls and social
gatherings in Prague for its members during the winter. The
association continued to operate successfully during the Second
World War. It had a project for a new drainage system for the
entire Kersko region executed, but this was unfortunately not
realised due to a lack of financing. The association was denied
its request for allocation of cement for completing a road
through Kersko, because the material was required for more
important building projects by the Great German Empire. In 1946
the association was expanded by the Building Residential and
Recreational Cooperative, whose chairman was Mr Čeněk Kožnar.
This Cooperative was intended to ensure construction of houses
for members of the association in Kersko, on land allocated by
the state from property confiscated after the war.
After 1948 the association was forcedto |
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merge with the Unified Confederation of Czech Farmers in Prague.
The founding meeting of the local Allotment Owners Organisation
was held on 18 June 1949 at the gamekeeper’s
lodge. The association was merged with Allotment Owners Union at
the 10th due General Meeting of the Beautifying
Association on 28 May 1950 and Mr František Salamon became the
new chairman. The association had approximately 100 members at
this time. |
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The association was transformed into the local organisation of
the Czechoslovak Fruit and Allotment Owners Union as a member of
the National Front and was fully involved in the state political
system. It was desirable for a representative of each family
owning property in Kersko to become a member of the association
and so it had 353 registered members in 1968 for instance. The
association continued to organise social events in Kersko, it
secured materials that there was a shortage of for its members
(cement, lime, fertiliser,....), it loaned members machines and
tools and published the Our Kersko magazine. In 1978 members of
the association built a new club house as a group project not
far from the tennis courts. This building work was partially
financed by subsidies for construction of the fruit press. The
new club house was ceremonially opened on 5 May 1978 and was
used for meetings of association members. After 1989 the
association separated from the Czechoslovak Fruit and Allotment
Owners Union and after mutual settlement of obligations it
changed its name to the Enhancement and Beautifying Association
Kersko in 1992. The association lost most of its members at that
time. The association was forced to overcome financial
difficulties, it re-organised its activities and, thanks to the
diligent work of the remaining members, it converted the club
house into a restaurant providing refreshments to Kersko
residents and visitors. The building was expanded, the essential
areas for operation of a restaurant were completed, areas for
the manager were constructed and it underwent a final
inspection. The “U pramene” (“By the spring”) restaurant,
locally called “Domeček (“The Little House”), is now operated
year-round and is very popular, not only with members of the
association. The Beautifying Association has survived to this
day and continues to serve Kersko. The association’s restaurant
provides refreshments and a place for local residents to gather.
The association holds social, cultural and sports events here
and association members meet here regularly.
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author
René Elstner
chairman of the Association |
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