A century ago the Czech community in New York was centred around the Upper
East Side of Manhattan. Indeed, an estimated 40,000 Czechs lived in the
area known as Yorkville. Ed Chlanda’s family were members of that
community and the 80-year-old kindly gave me a tour of the neighbourhood,
taking in a former Czech bank, the street where he grew up, the Jan Hus
church and the Bohemian National Hall. But we started at the New York Sokol
on East 71st St., where Chlanda is an active member. Surrounded by photos,
medals and other memorabilia in the Sokol