This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/lRC.2ACE/3482 Message Board Post: WALSH HERITAGE, ND: VOL 4 1881-1981 PAGE 1334 - 1335 EMELIA VEJTASA was a daughter of Frances and Frank Vejtasa, who were both born in Moravia, Austria, which is now centered in Czechoslovakia. Her mother, the former Frances Svoboda, was born 11 Nov 1860 and her father was born 18 oct, 1854. Her mother died in 1921 and her father in 1937. Emelia was only 14 years of age when her mother died, so her sister Antonia and she had to take charge of household duties. Her sister, Marie was married and her sister Frances had a position in Washington, DC so they were away from home. Emelia's first baking project was making bread. Her borhter, Cyril, often mentioned that he remembered Emelia as a kid kneading bread in a big pan. They were a large family and besides most of the time they had hired men to help with the farm work, so that meant alot of cooking. Emelia was 6 years old when the big family house was built. Ed Herwick of Park River was the contractor and builder. She recalls her mother and older sisters cooking meals for the carpenters and painters. The move was pleasant into the new home; it provided them with lots of room, a bathroom, electric lights and running water. Ithad a plant, generating electricity. Because the Vejtasas had the convenience, many of the teachers stayed there. At 6 years of age, Emelia started first grade in the one-room rural school in Silvesta Township, about one-half mile across the pasture. Her first teacher was a man and Emelia was very shy. She did not speak to him for three days. After that she got along very well in school. She remembers all her teachers. After her mother died, her sister, Frances, who had a job in Fargo, took her sister, Anotnia and Emelia to enroll in a Model High School at the Agricultural College, the NDSU now. It was an excellent school and they studied diligently. They could not attend continuously as they had to take turns going home to help their father and brothers. Emelia graduated fra Model High School and also acquired some college credits at NDSU. There she went to Valley City Teacher's College where she attended summer school and got a teaching position in Hillside School, north of Fordville, where she taught for four years. After she left there she took a year off to get her Standard Certificate which required two years of college credits. After receiving her Standard, she taught a consolidated school near Edmore, where she was principal. Then she taught the home school for $45.00 a month. A rural school near Conway was her next destination. While teaching in these schools she organized a group of young community people and directed in the production of plays. They presented one-act plays in the community to earn money for the schools. Emelia spent her summers attending college to earn credits for her B.A. degress which she received at Valley City. at the time, teachers were plentiful so it was difficult to get a job in town, since teachers were holding onto their jobs. After 8 years of teaching in rural schools, she was hired to teach 7th and 8th grades in Pembina, ND. From there it was Jamestown, where she taught for 6 years before she retired. She loved teaching and taught various subjects and grades; however, in Grand Forks at Belmont Grade School, she taught mostly 4th grade. Those were her special people. They had fun! Her higjlights of interestvaried: many while teacing. Her world tour in 1965 was her most fascinating travel as she visited areas of this world which she had always wanted to see - Asia, including Japan and Africa. Later on she made trips to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands. Her most thrilling experiences were the two trips she made to Czechoslovakia, Austria and Hungary where she met cousins - first, second and third. These are relatives on her father's side. They were delighted to see her. She visited the villages where her mother and father were born. Emelia never married, and therefore, had no children of her own. However, as a teacher she had the opportunity to share in educating and guiding many children. ~~NOTE:Miss Vejtasa was my 4th grade teacher. She saved my life through reading. "Oh the places you will go!" There will never be another teacher, like her. ~~Volunteer Posting~~