FACES AND PLACES: Chicago's 1933 World's Fair: a Ukrainian triumph (08/17/03)

FACES AND PLACES

by Myron B. Kuropas

Chicago's 1933 World's Fair: a Ukrainian triumph

Seventy years have passed since Chicago's Ukrainians erected one of the most significant edifices in the history of Ukrainian America. The 1933 Century of Progress World's Fair, was organized to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Chicago's incorporation as a village. The fair was a tribute to the city's determination to weather the Great Depression and to face the future with a happy face.

At the time, Chicago's municipal government was practically broke. There was no money to pay Chicago's policemen, firemen, schoolteachers, janitors and clerks. Despite the formidable problems, the city didn't give up its plans, first discussed in 1923, to press forward with the fair.

It was Chicago's second world's fair. The first, the Columbian Exposition in 1893, attracted many visitors including, among others, the legendary Dr. Volodymyr Simenovich. It was Dr. Simenovich who was sent to America by Cardinal Sylvester Sembratovych as a cultural assistant to Father Ivan Wolansky, pastor of America's first Ukrainian Catholic church in Shenandoah, Pa. In Shenandoah he edited America, the first Ukrainian-language newspaper in the U.S., and helped Father Wolansky with Ukrainianization classes and the establishment of co-ops.

After graduating from medical school in Baltimore, Dr. Simenovich visited Chicago's 1893 fair, fell in love with the city, and decided to make it his permanent home. Considered to be the father of Ukrainian Chicago, Dr. Simenovich devoted his life to the entire community.

Plans to celebrate the city's 100th anniversary were greeted by Chicago's Ukrainians as a rare opportunity to better acquaint Americans with Ukraine and its people. Early in 1932, a 17-member corporation - the Ukrainian American World's Fair Exhibit Inc. - was founded with an executive board which included Dr. Myroslaw Siemens, president; Stephen Kuropas, secretary; Taras Shpikula, treasurer and Jurij Nebor, financial secretary. Addressing itself to Ukrainians throughout the world, the corporation, with the full support of Svoboda, Narodna Volya, America, and Narodne Slovo, appealed for money to construct a pavilion as well as for cultural artifacts to be displayed within.

Early in 1933, Dr. Siemens and Michael Belegay, a member of the corporation, traveled to New York City to address a rally gathered to hear more about plans for the pavilion. Later, Svoboda reported that following a meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian National Association, the Ukrainian Workingman's Association, and the Providence Association, a budget of $20,000 was approved for the project. This was big money during the Depression.

The architect's sketch for the pavilion was published in the Ukrainian press in March 1933, and on April 12 ground was officially broken on the fair grounds, located on 400 acres along Lake Michigan. The pavilion was officially opened on Sunday, June 25, 1933. Ceremonies included a six-block march to the pavilion by hundreds of Ukrainians in native costume, and an afternoon concert featuring the famed Benetzky Chicago choir, Vasyl Avramenko's local dance group, and the 95-piece Ukrainian orchestra directed by John Barabash.

Culturally, the pavilion proved to be a highlight of Ukrainian American life. Divided into three sections - general, historical and cultural - it had exhibits donated by 48 individuals and societies, including such European institutions as Ridna Shkola and the Ukrainian National Art Society.

The highlight of the cultural section - divided into folk and modern art - was an exhibition of the world-famous Ukrainian sculptor Alexander Archipenko.

A restaurant and an open air theater were also part of the pavilion, which was managed by Volodymyr Levyisky, director; Stefanie Chyzhovych, technical assistant; Volodymyr Stepankiwsky, publicity; and Mary Beck, cultural director. The pavilion attracted some 1.8 million visitors.

The pavilion also served as a catalyst for Ukrainian organizational activities. A "Ukrainian Week" was promulgated for the week of August 13 and thousands of Ukrainians traveled to the Windy City to participate in the festivities. During the week, congresses were held by Ukrainian youth - a conclave that led to the formation of the Ukrainian Youth League of North America (UYLNA), Ukrainian women, and Ukrainian professionals who came together to establish the Ukrainian Professional Society of North America.

Other pavilions at the fair included a golden-domed lama temple from Jehol, a nunnery from Uxmal, representing the height of Mayan culture, and a teahouse from Japan. Significantly, the Ukrainian pavilion was the only national structure at the fair not sponsored by a foreign government. It was a triumph for Chicago's Ukrainians that's never been matched.

Myron Kuropas' e-mail address is: [email protected].

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