Slavic Immigration to Johnstown

Slavic and Hungarian immigrants came to Johnstown from 1880 to the early 1920s to do the hard work in steel mills and coal mines. They faced discrimination, living in immigrant neighborhoods referred to by native-born residents as the “foreign colonies.” In these neighborhoods, they created a rich network of institutions such as social clubs, band halls, and churches that served their needs.
Richard Burkert, former president and CEO of the Johnstown Area Heritage Association (now Heritage Johnstown) for decades, will take us through this history with an illustrated presentation.
Richard Burkert is the retired President & CEO of the Johnstown Area Heritage Association (now Heritage Johnstown). During his 44 years at the Heritage Association, he developed the Johnstown Flood Museum, the Heritage Discovery Center and Johnstown Children’s Museum, the Wagner-Ritter House Museum, and Peoples Natural Gas Park. He also carried out Phase I rehabilitation of the Johnstown Railroad Station, and preserved the Cambria Blacksmith Shop (now Center for Metal Arts). His research has focused on Johnstown steel history, immigration and the 1889 Johnstown Flood.