Up to the late 1800's - southeast Louisiana was covered by virgin forests of pine, cypress, oak and many other varieties of timber carved by numerous bayous and rivers which flowed into Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain with large expanses of swamp lands to the south.

By 1889, a northern enterprise - Brackenridge Lumber Company - bought large tracts of untouched forest lands in many states including Louisiana and Mississippi. They acted as agents for other large lumber companies in the north by locating and buying nearly 700,000 acres of pine-covered forests in Louisiana and surrounding areas.

Edward F. Brackenridge joined his father in the lumber business in New York and Michigan in the late 1800's. He later relocated in New Orleans, Louisiana, where his two sons also entered into the family lumber business. Together they built an empire in yellow pine, short and long leaf pine, and cypress here in Louisiana. By the turn of the Twentieth Century business was booming. Charles, one of his sons, became the front man and manager for the Brackenridge lumber business in Louisiana.

Brackenridge Lumber Company "clear-cut" the land and sawed the logs into lumber in its 641 lumber mills operating at that time. One of these mills was located about three miles south of Albany just below the current intersection of I-12 and Highway 43 in Livingston Parish.

The "Dummy Line", a narrow gage company railroad, hauled the sawmill’s lumber five miles southward to Springfield. There, workers loaded the cut lumber onto steamboats that plied the local rivers and slowly navigated their way through Lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain on toward the port of New Orleans, Louisiana. The lumber was loaded onto ocean-going freight vessels and shipped through Gulfport, Mississippi, heading toward advantageous markets here in the United States and abroad.

However, by 1906, as the timber was "clear-cut" and harvested from the land, there was no longer an abundant source of timber and the lumber business in southeast Louisiana was on the decline. Charles Brackenridge and his company sought out and explored new forest lands in the Pacific Northwest around Oregon and Washington state as they had done earlier in the South. Charles Brackenridge was planning the move from Louisiana and Mississippi to the Pacific northwest when he suddenly died at the sawmill in the Hungarian Settlement on December 27, 1912.

Their motto was to "cut out and get out." As a result, they owned large tracts of land that were no longer of any use to them. To recover the company’s large monetary investment in this enterprise and clear a profit from these large tracts of land, they needed to sell the acreage as quickly as possible to allow them to move on to other ventures. Good business practices in those early days dictated the accelerated and comprehensive divestiture of unessential business elements to ensure that the business remained on a solid foundation. Consequently, they wanted to completely divest themselves of the encumbrance of business interests in the South, Louisiana and Mississippi, as they moved toward a brighter and more lucrative future in the Northwest.

To facilitate this resolution, they had the land surveyed into twenty-acre plots for sale to anyone who could pay the price. The Brackenridge family advertised the land sale in the northern newspapers. Men working here in the local sawmill also wrote letters to their family and friends up north telling them of the opportunities that were opening up from this proposed sale. By that time Brackenridge was ready to move ahead to those more lucrative markets. As the remaining lumber products were sold from the local mill, the closing down of the mill began. By 1916, Brackenridge Lumber Company packed up its business and closed its mills in the southeast permanently.

Previously those who left Hungary seeking a better life for themselves and their families immigrated to Canada and northeastern parts of the United States. They settled in the larger northern industrial cities and worked in the factories, industrial sites and coal mines of Kentucky and West Virginia since that was the only source of work available to them. They were intelligent, bright and capable of better occupations but the language barrier precluded them from more acceptable work. They were dissatisfied and discouraged. These people, whose economy and social structure in the old country had been based on agrarian and mercantile businesses, were living here in ways that were totally foreign to them. Hungarians living in the north, read about this proposed land sale in their Hungarian language newspaper, The Szabadság of Cleveland, Ohio. For many, it was the chance of a lifetime.

Three adventurous Hungarians, Julius Bruskay, Adam Mocsary and Theodore Zboray came down south to Louisiana to survey the situation looking for a better life for themselves and their families. They worked in the mill saving as much money as possible from their salaries. It proved to be a better existence than that experienced in the industrial cities of the northern United States. After working here and saving enough money to help pay their fares, they informed their families and friends in the northern cities that the land for sale by the lumber company was suitable for farming and strongly encouraged those families to join them.

This was a dream come true for many disheartened Hungarians living in the north and east. They were then able to purchase a 20-acre plot of land - "a place of their own" - to farm and make a decent, honest living in their new homeland. The freedom and security of the family-owned farms provided them with a new sense of pride and accomplishment. At last they could live the way they were accustomed to living in the old country and not in the large industrial cities or coal mines of the north and east which was against their nature and so unfamiliar to them. Freedom to be outside and on their own home place was the ideal. They also knew that this meant a lot of hard work, but it would be worth it.

In 1900, there were eleven families living in the Hungarian Settlement and by 1908 there were about forty Hungarian families on new farms in the area. By 1910, there were sixty-five families. In 1920, there were about two hundred families on farms in the area. So one can see the rapid growth within just twenty years.

Of the founders, Julius Bruskay and Adam Mocsary were married and had children. Of these, there are descendants who are living in the settlement today. Tivador Zboray was married but no information about his descendants is available, according to Louis Chemay, a nephew of Julius Bruskay. The three founders of Árpádhon are laid to rest in St. Margaret Catholic Church Cemetery in Albany, Louisiana.

The early Hungarian settlers decided to name their new home after Árpád, a national Hungarian hero, who in 896, united the Magyars (people of Hungary) and conquered the land known today as the country of Hungary. They called their new Hungarian settlement Árpádhon which means the "home of Árpád." Today it is simply called Hungarian Settlement.

The Immigration House, erected by the Brackenridge Lumber Company, was a tall, two story, wood frame structure that served as a place for new immigrants to stay until another place could be found. It was a very important building in the early days since the two main religions - Catholics and Presbyterians - had not yet constructed their respective churches. Denominational church services would be delivered each Sunday at different times. The structure was multipurpose. It also provided a space where social functions could take place and entertainment needs could be met. Wakes were held since there were no funeral homes available in these very early days of the settlement. Sunday afternoon picnics offered everyone time to gather and visit with while resting from a week of intense work in the sawmill as well as on the new dwellings and farms.

Later, a violent storm damaged the building so badly that it could not be repaired and it had to be torn down. By that time the churches were built and in use and other spaces were available to take care of the immediate needs of new immigrants. Paul Kreko also helped by providing a place in his home for newly-arrived Hungarians to stay for a while until other arrangements could be made.

Old Springfield School - built in 1906-07

Moved to present location in 1926

Proposed Hungarian Settlement Museum - on National Register of Historic Places

Springfield School - Hungarian Settlement School - Nursing Home and Proposed Museum

In the beginning, the schools of Springfield were moved from place to place, over the years, in an attempt to acquire a better location and improve the conditions of the school. Over-crowding was a great problem. At the turn of the Twentieth Century, Springfield’s population had swelled to nearly two-thousand residents due to the flourishing lumber shipping business. The Springfield residents desired good schools for their children and set about providing a suitable site for a better and larger school. The three-room, "L" shaped, wooden, structure was constructed around 1906-07 by the patrons of Springfield School because their other school buildings were just not large enough. The funds to build the new school were entirely from private donations. The school was constructed by the local carpenters and occupied in 1908, substantiated by the statement of the school superintendent in the school board minutes of January 1, 1908.

This allowed for a better and larger space for the growing number of students. In 1912, this was the first school in Livingston Parish to have patent desks, thanks to Senator Setoon. He was in New Orleans at the time that another school was getting new furniture, so he acquired those desks for Springfield School. At a later date, another room was added to each end of the school. This converted the school building into the shape of a squared-off letter "C". It had a courtyard and auditorium in the center and around the sides were the classrooms.

In 1926 a new brick building was built for Springfield High School and the School Board decided to move the old wooden building to Hungarian Settlement.

The school building, as it was configured, could not be easily moved in its entirety as one complete entity. The building had to be divided into sections to allow it to move over the narrow roadway, to accommodate the hauling by the team of oxen upon the logs and to keep it intact and free from damage. Cutting the building into three sections made the moving easier. The sections were moved separately and rejoined upon completion of the task. Moving these sections required a different technique than anything ever tried here previously. Wheels and trucks with axles of the size required did not exist at that time and there were no trucks able to move such a wide, cumbersome load. So logs became the "wheels" of choice. Logs of the same size were cut and skinned. The limbs that were sawed off were placed into the deeper ruts so the building would not tilt too much as it rolled over these deep pot-holes. These logs were sawed into approximately the same lengths of about two and a half to three and a half feet in length.

The largest segment was moved first. It took several men to pick up these log pieces and put them in front of the building, in the direction it was to be moved. A system of pulleys, blocks and tackles, cables, and ropes were attached to the building section. A team of oxen was hitched to the apparatus with 200 foot length ropes and chains. A large central wooden drum or winch, with wooden poles jutting out from the drum, turned on an axis as it was pulled by the oxen as they strained against their wooden yokes and harnesses. The oxen got tired and did not want to pull any more. The men driving the oxen had to occasionally lash out at them with long switches to keep them moving forward. They would exchange the well-worn team of oxen at regular intervals and bring in a fresh team to continue the grueling work. They walked in a circular pattern around the drum and axis. It wound the ropes and chains around the winch, ever tightening them, thereby forcing the building forward. The more pulleys and blocks and tackles used, the more that the power was increased and the easier the whole procedure became. After the building moved forward and as the logs in the rear were not needed any longer, they were moved by two men, one on each end of the logs, to the front of the building, becoming the front "rollers" or wheels. Then the oxen would pull on the pulleys and the building would groan and creak until it moved forward a few more feet. Although the procedure continued so slowly it appeared that it would never get to the new site, it made the trip in almost record time for those days with the equipment that was available to them.

The other two sections were moved in the same way. This slow process continued for approximately three weeks. The men working on the project certainly knew what they were doing because there were no accidents or mishaps. Three young boys, who lived nearby on highway 43, Nick Erdey, Steve Horvath, and Tony Ujvari watched in awe as the building eased past them on toward its new location. They can still remember, very vividly, the sight they saw as the school building was moved. The three building sections were carefully positioned together and set in the correct place. Following the placement on the lot, the buildings were joined at the seams and made whole again.

There was no running water at the school. An outdoor privy and an artesian well were the only utilities available at that time. Elementary students used this building for quite a while. Later, a lunch room was installed in part of the building.

The school was closed in the early 1940's. All classes were moved to the new school building in Albany. Upon moving the school to Albany, the old building remained vacant for a few years. The community felt the need of a place to take care of the elderly and infirm in the area who could not stay alone on their farms and who needed specialized care. Under the direction of Reverend Alexander Bartus, the building was converted into a nursing home and was reconfigured to suit that immediate need in 1944. Named "Our Home", the facility was administered by Reverend Bartus for 32 years. When "Our Home" closed in April 1976, the building became vacant once again and lapsed into a state of disrepair for many years.

In 2003 the Hungarian Settlement Historical Society acquired the building from the Livingston Parish School Board. The organization is in the process of securing the necessary funds to renovate the building and turn it into a museum.

The Albany Hungarian Presbyterian Church - completed in 1910 

In 1907, Brackenridge Lumber Company donated a 20-acre plot of land at the present location to build the church. In 1908, the Board of Elders established a Reformed Church in the Hungarian Settlement. They diligently worked on the wood frame structure completing it in 1910. Later after some discussion they joined the Presbyter in New Orleans, Louisiana, designating it a Hungarian Presbyterian Church. All the church records were in Hungarian until 1935 at which time they were translated into English.

Services were conducted in Hungarian every Sunday morning until 1965. At first English language services were offered once per month and later offered twice per month. Since there was a sizable number of Presbyterians who either could not or did not speak Hungarian well enough, Reverend Bartus decided to start another church in Albany for the English-speaking members. The other church, built in 1966, had services completely in English. Being that both churches had all English services for quite some time, they reunited on Christmas Day, 2002, under the name The Albany Hungarian Presbyterian Church. Today, only special programs at Christmas are be in Hungarian.

In the beginning, it was customary for the bell to be rung an hour before services were to begin. The bell ringer left home, rang the bell and returned home to await the proper time for church services.

It was a Hungarian custom that the ladies and girls sat on one side of the church while the men and boys sat on the other, however, the practice slowly faded away and a mixed congregation became the new norm.

Many storms and hurricanes buffeted the church buildings in the nearly 100 years of the Hungarian Presbyterian Church’s existence. The church building itself has survived with only minor damage from Hurricane Betsy (1965) which was quickly repaired.

St. Margaret Catholic Church - completed in 1912

St. Margaret Catholic Church

It is believed that construction on the church was begun in 1910. Prior to that time both Presbyterians and Catholics used the Immigration House for religious services. There were many Catholic families in the area by this time and they wanted a permanent house of worship.

The first great hurdle was to acquire land. Civil Livingston Parish was under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Various people were willing to donate an acre of land but the Bishop insisted that there had to be adequate land. In 1910, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Juhasz donated a 20-acre tract of land for the purpose of building a church and cemetery. Construction began that year.

The official church blessing did not occur until 1912 but there were reports that Mass was said in the church while it was under construction. Frank Kiss, a northern contractor, served as general contractor. Lumber came from the nearby Brackenridge Lumber Company. Local men in the area volunteered by donating many hours of labor until the building was completed.

St. Margaret Catholic Church and the Hungarian Presbyterian Church served not only the religious needs of the community but also played a large role in the cultural and social needs as well. Both churches had halls or community centers where all sorts of activities took place: weddings, dances, picnics, funeral wakes, etc.