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Zvacek Homestead once located at 2800 Wright Brother's Blvd East, south of Cedar Rapids, Click below photo to enlarge it - once open, click it again to enlarge. |
Memory from Kris Benesh:
Today I drove past Esther Zvacek’s home in rural Ely, Ia.
I am filled with emotion over the sale of her land and residence to Kirkwood College. My desire would be a salvage of the homestead.
Over the past 40 plus years, I have heard family stories from my husbands siblings about taking piano lessons from Ester at this home for a small fee. She had no children of her own, so every student had a place in her heart.
It was told that every year, a recital was given at the Ely Legion Hall by her students. The girls were instructed to sew identical dresses to perform in.(probably from a huge bolt of fabric)
If you were one of the fortunate to have experienced this memory, pass on your stories to your families. Our Czech heritage.
Former student memory from Wendy Benesh Walton:
It is with great sadness to learn that the walls of this farm house that were once witness to the plunking out of a song on piano keys, the tic-toc of a metronome, or numerous genres of melodious melodies, will soon be crashing to the ground. Music teacher, Esther Zvacek, lived on this family farmstead with her sister, Alma, and her brother, Harold, who, along with farming, ran a TV repair business. I am one of the "siblings" that took piano lessons from Esther for .35 a lesson...but the cost eventually increased to .50--due to inflation, I'm sure! (My daughters also began their music journeys with Esther.) Esther taught both piano and accordion. She would have yearly recitals in which every student performed a memorized solo and a duet. Esther also had an accordion band that consisted of several accordion players accompanied by a pianist...often me. The usual song choice for the "band" was a Czech polka or waltz. Esther loved to showcase her students and give them a chance to perform. She often "booked" us at both the Linn County Home (a care facility for those elderly experiencing extreme poverty) or at the Oakdale Medical Facility (built to treat tuberculosis patients.) The benefits of these programs were twofold: they gave us experience in performing and the audiences greatly appreciated our entertaining programs as it gave them a brief respite from their reality. So, for those of us who entered this house weekly for a music lesson that would cost a mere .50, we are left with memories that are priceless!
From Barefoot Becky https://barefootbecky.com/about/
In 1980, when she was ten years old, Becky took her first accordion lesson from Esther Zvacek. Esther was an elderly lady who still only charged a dollar for a lesson! Becky was very close to her teacher. Both Becky and her mother would go over to Esther’s house every Friday night for supper before having their lessons. Her mom even kept a garden there for Esther and Becky
mowed her lawn. Becky loved to play the accordion and would practice for hours each day.
Published in the Cedar Rapids Gazette on November 6, 1991.
Esther Zvacek, 86, of 2800 Wright Brothers Blvd. E., died Monday in St. Luke's Hospital following a short illness. Services: 10 a.m. Thursday, First Presbyterian Church, near Ely, followed by a service by Ely Rebekah Lodge 56. Burial: church cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Turner Chapel East where the family will greet friends from 3 to 5 p.m.
Survivors include two nieces, Dorothy Evans of Cedar Rapids and Marlene Loeltz of Des Moines; a sister-in-law, Anne Zvacek of Cedar Rapids; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Esther was born Oct. 13, 1905, in her home at 2800 Wright Brothers Blvd. E. and had resided there all her life. She taught piano, organ, accordion, and guitar for over 60 years in the Ely area. She was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church near Ely, and a member of Johanna Society, American Legion Auxiliary and was Past Noble Grand of Ely Rebekah Lodge 56. The Rev. Deborah Paton will officiate. Memorials to First Presbyterian Church near Ely.
View additional info:https://www.elyhistory.com/2021/08/esther-zvacek-recital.html
