Locals pick up copies of ‘Minnesota’s ‘Big Woods’ Musicians’

By: 
Wade Young, wade@montgomerymnnews.com

The Czech Heritage Club Board is pictured with the author of “Minnesota’s ‘Big Woods’ Musicians” author at the Montgomery book signing. Pictured are (from left) Vi Chromy, author Sister Anita Smisek, George Mikiska, Fred Simon (back) Gary Pikal, Marit Lee Kucera Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic for MN, IA, ND, SD, Jean Keogh, Doris Coghill, and James Simon. 

As the Mayor of the City of New Prague, Duane J. "Dewey" Jirik received a copy of “Minnesota’s ‘Big Woods’ Musicians” authored by Sr. Anita Smisek, OP, with narrative assistance from John Chromy.

That’s when he saw his family on the pages and wanted his sons to have their copies.

“I found that my greatgreat-grandfather Vojtech (Albert) Jirik was listed in the book as having a band with his brothers, and that he played clarinet in Emperor Franz Josef's Military Band and Orchestra in Vienna before coming to the United States,” Jirik stated. “When I saw this, I wanted to get my two boys their own copies and have them autographed by the author Sister Anita.”

Jirik purchased his books and had Smisek sign the copies at a book signing in New Prague on January 17. Signings were also held in Montgomery and Lonsdale the following days.

Smisek’s book tells the amazing story of how the immigrants came from the...

To see more on this story pick up the Jnauary 27, 2022 print edition of The New Prague Times or the Montgomery Messenger. 

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