Bohemia, Decade by Decade
The 2000s: Milestones & Remembrance
150 years of history
In 2005, Bohemia turned 150 years old. To mark the occasion, the community pulled out all the stops for a year-long birthday party that celebrated the journey from the first log cabins of 1855 to the modern suburb of the new millennium.
2005
The Sesquicentennial
Ecumenical Service: The celebratory weekend kicked off on Friday evening with a moving service at St. John Nepomucene, specifically honoring the original pioneer founders — John Vavra, John Kratochvil, and Joseph Koula — whose leap of faith in 1855 made the milestone possible.
The Big Parade: That weekend, Smithtown Avenue was filled with floats, antique cars, and marching bands. A highlight was the participation of a representative from the Czech Consulate, strengthening the bond between the village and its ancestral homeland. Following the parade, the community gathered at the Bohemia Fire Department for traditional Czech platters of kielbasa, sauerkraut, goulash, and flechky.
Living History: The Historical Society organized extensive walking tours mapping landmarks like the Cervenka Grocery (now Locust Ave Deli), John Pearl School, the Legion Hall, the CSA Hall, and The Central Hotel. Residents purchased commemorative “Happy Birthday Bohemia” lapel pins and cotton throw blankets woven with images of the town’s historic sites, ensuring the event would be remembered in homes across the village.
September 11, 2001
A Community Scarred
Like every community on Long Island, Bohemia was deeply scarred by the attacks on the World Trade Center. The proximity to the city and the number of residents who worked in law enforcement and finance meant the tragedy was personal.
Local Remembrance: In the days following the attacks, the community sought out places of mourning and solidarity. Memorial services were held at the War Memorial at the corner of Smithtown Avenue and Church Street, and another service was hosted at the Bohemia Fire Department to honor the neighbors lost and the first responders who rushed toward the danger.
April 26, 2009
A Museum is Born
For 25 years, the Bohemia Historical Society had collected artifacts but lacked a permanent public exhibition space. That changed at the end of the decade.
The Dedication: On April 26, 2009, on a proud Sunday afternoon, the Bohemia Historical Society Museum at 1519 Locust Avenue was officially dedicated.
A Home for History: For the first time, the cigar molds, button drills, and family photos that had been stored in basements and boxes were put on permanent display for the public. This building stands as the physical legacy of the decade — a promise that our history will never be lost again.
October 2009
The End of a Living Link
The decade closed with a poignant farewell. In October 2009, the town said goodbye to Rose Emer, just months after she celebrated her 100th birthday.
Born Rose Fischer to parents from Žirovnice (the Czech epicenter of pearl button making), she was the daughter of Ferdinand Fischer, who established one of Bohemia’s original pearl button factories. Rose was a true “living link” to the pioneer days, having famously demonstrated authentic button drilling with her family’s original tools at the 1939–1940 New York World’s Fair. Later honored with the “Rosie the Riveter” Award by the New York State Assembly in 2007 and serving for 35 years as a leader of the Bohemia Senior Citizens Club, her passing signaled the end of the era of “living memory,” making the preservation work of the newly opened Museum even more vital.
📸 Digital Memories
The 2000s was the dawn of the digital camera era. We are actively looking for:
- Photos from the 150th Anniversary Parade (2005)
- Pictures of the Museum Dedication Ceremony (2009)