​Birthplace of the SPJST

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Marker Text: ​On December 28, 1896, twenty-five Czech-Texans gathered in the district courtroom of this courthouse to establish a new fraternal benefit insurance society, the Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas, more commonly known as the SPJST. The SPJST held its first convention in the same room on June 20, 1897, I.J. Gallia served as the society's first president and J.R. Kubena was the first secretary. The SPJST officially began its business in Texas on July 1, 1897, while the state charter was approved on August 12, 1897. SPJST headquarters now is located in Temple. (1983)

Marker No: 417

Aluminum 18 x 28 Subject Marker

Geographic: 29.905518,-96.879753

Location: ​Courthouse Square, SH 71, La Grange.