Profiles in History
Joseph Jedlicka Sr. (1833–1910)
The pioneer spirit of Bohemia
The story of Bohemia, New York, begins with the courage and resilience of a few pioneering families who envisioned a community amidst the Long Island woodlands. At the forefront of this founding generation was Joseph Jedlicka, a man whose journey from the Czech Republic to the shores of America embodies the true pioneer spirit.
Founding Years
From the Old World to First Habitation
Born in 1833 in the historic region of Bohemia, Joseph sought a life of new opportunity across the Atlantic. He made the arduous journey to America in 1851 at just 18 years old. Settling initially in New York City, the young immigrant relied on his hands and his intellect, working diligently as a tinsmith.
In 1855, he married Anna Fisher Wild, a union that would produce nine children and establish a massive family tree. Looking to escape the city and put down permanent roots, Joseph and Anna ventured out to Long Island that same year. Joseph built the very first habitation of what would become a brand-new settlement. Joining together with ten other Czech families, they cleared the land, built homes, and laid the groundwork for a village they proudly named Bohemia, in honor of their homeland.
Patriotism
A Patriot’s Duty
When the Civil War erupted, Joseph’s dedication to his adopted country was profound. Leaving his young family and the fledgling community of Bohemia, he enlisted in Company C of the Sixth New York Volunteers, serving his full term with honor.
His patriotism was a defining trait for the remainder of his life. He became a fiercely proud United States citizen and was an active member of the Richard J. Clark Post, G.A.R. of Patchogue. Just days before his death, even while battling a terminal illness, he asked that his military uniform and a treasured American flag be prominently hung on the wall of his bedroom.
Business
Enterprise and Innovation
Following the war, Joseph returned to Bohemia before moving his growing family to Sayville around 1870, where he took charge of a stove, tin, and plumbing shop on South Main Street. The business expanded rapidly, becoming the “Jedlicka Brothers” enterprise when his son, Joseph Jr., joined in 1886. By 1888, they occupied a prominent three-story building on the corner of Main Street and Greene Avenue.
The Jedlickas became highly sought-after master plumbers, handling massive contracts across the Northeast for elite clients like W.K. Vanderbilt, August Belmont Jr., and Admiral Nicoll Ludlow. Their work was not without hazards — including a harrowing elevator collapse in the store — but their reputation for craftsmanship and reliability remained unmatched in the Gilded Age.
Civic Impact
Civic Leadership and Bohemian Pride
Joseph was as generous with his community as he was ambitious in business. He was a charter member of the Sayville Hook and Ladder Company and an active member of the Sayville Lodge, I.O.O.F., and the German Benevolent Society. Yet, he never forgot his roots in Bohemia, serving as the “prime mover” behind the 1893 monument to religious reformer Jan Huss in the Bohemia Union Cemetery — the very first of its kind in the United States.
Joseph passed away on December 31, 1910, at the age of 78. His funeral was a testament to his community impact, with massive delegations from local organizations escorting him to his final resting place, where he was laid to rest beside the Jan Huss monument he helped create. His journey from an immigrant tinsmith to the builder of Bohemia’s first home remains the very foundation upon which our community stands.
