Hungarian Experience in South Bend

 

The Hungarian colonization of South Bend goes back to 1882, when Anton Kertesz and his family came from Hungary to South Bend.

 

A few months later Louis E. Kovach and a number of other persons arrived. Most of these immigrants worked at the Oliver Chilled Plow Works for $0.11 per hour. As more Hungarians began a slow migration into South Bend, a large portion of them moved into the areas between Walnut Street and Main Street, Ewing Avenue and a little north of Indiana Avenue. Most Hungarians moved into South Bend between 1900 and 1910, again coming for economic freedom and the hope of finding a job at any
industry that would take them.

Roughly the patterns for ethnic occupancy did not change between 1880 and
1910. In the late 1800's new immigration laws were passed and the flow of migrants into South Bend slowed down. However, with the beginning of World War I, more European immigrants came to South Bend, settling into already established ethnic areas."

 

St Stephens Church, built in 1900 was the first Hungarian church in the area and now there are several others.

 

Another influx of Hungarian natives took place in 1956, when the Soviet Army crushed the Spring Uprising. About 200 additional immigrants took up residence in South Bend many already having relatives in the area.

 

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Information Submitted by: Jim Piechorowski and John Kovatch

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Project Started: Sunday, September 04, 2005 - 02:05:52 PM

Updated: Sunday, September 04, 2005 02:13:32 PM

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