St. Vids behind the bar 1944
This photograph captures our local history during WWII with members of the Croatian Fraternal Union behind the bar of St. Vid’s Lodge No. 541, formerly on Cavitt Ave in Trafford. We hope you can help us identify some of the people in this photograph.
As of 4-17-2024 from L-R person01, 2.Wayne Mikach, person03, person04, 5.Ann Mikach, person06, 7.Matt Dubrave, person08, person09, person10, person11.
Take note of the certificate hanging on the wall behind the bar labeled “Allied Fraternal Protective Associates 1943.” The AFPA worked to safeguard Europe’s artistic and historical treasures during the turmoil of World War II. Their efforts are a testament to the importance of preserving cultural heritage even during times of conflict. St. Vids was likely one of the civilian groups to join the organization’s efforts to safeguard Europe’s cultural monuments when President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Associate Justice Owen J. Roberts to chair “The Roberts Commission” aimed at conserving artworks, historic monuments, and important papers in Europe. A photograph of former President Roosevelt hangs prominently at the center of the bar.
We know from past photographs taken by Bandy inside St. Vids that many of the members of the organization were veterans themselves or had family members serving in the military, and so it was only natural to foster a strong sense of patriotism when members joined the AFPA during the war to express their sense of patriotic duty, mutual aid principles, civic responsibility, and a desire to support the war effort.
Another interesting item to point out on the wall behind the bar is the a clock advertising the Wm. N. Daugherty Funeral Service, Trafford PA. Daugherty was then operating his funeral services at 429 Duquesne Ave.
This photograph circa 1944 (colorized for effect) comes from the E.E. Bandy collection of negatives shared with us by his grandson Kevin Bandy.
