1890-1905: Today 16th Avenue SW from the Cedar River to C Street SW is known as the center of “Czech Village”. However, between 1875 and 1900, the “Avenue” was comprised of an interesting melting pot of immigrant groups that were primarily Russian, Syrian and Italian. It was not until about 1900 that Bohemian (Czech) immigrants begin to populate the old commercial buildings and houses along 16th Avenue SW. Evidence of those early non-Czech immigrant patterns are still visible in Czech Village today. Non-Czech names such as “Gatto” and “Klinger” are still etched in stone atop some of the current retail store buildings. All of the earliest storefronts on 16th Avenue SW up through 1905 were small one or two story frame structures. Storeowners and their workers proudly posed in front of their businesses.
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