St. Mary's Preservation Association of Bechyn

The first settlers were Bohemian immigrants arriving in 1867.  They traveled 4,600 miles to turn the prairie into fields and start a new life.  They were leaving everything behind to start a new life.  This prairie slowly became corn, wheat, and soybean farms.  It’s located 100 miles southwest of Minneapolis.  They named the settlement “Bechyn” after the town of Bechyně, in the present-day Czech Republic.

They built their church in Henryville Township 1880.  The growing community quickly outgrew the first church and built a new, larger one in 1915.

In the last 50 years, small family farms disappeared, and more people moved to larger cities.  The declining population and shortage of parish priests forced the closure of St. Mary’s church in 1992.

With the church facing demolition, a group of parishioners bought the church and grounds and formed St. Mary’s Preservation Association, of Bechyn.  Ever since there has been a Czech Heritage Festival on the second Sunday in August.  Those first settlers didn’t leave everything in Bohemia.  They brought their favorite foods, music, clothing, art, faith, and work ethics with them.  That’s our history and that’s what we celebrate.  Proceeds from the festival are used to preserve the historic church and to carry on the traditions of our Czech Heritage.

You can make a tax-deductible donation to help fund our preservation work by Venmo, PayPal or check.  We appreciate all donations and truly can’t thank you enough for your support over the years.

--St. Mary’s Preservation Association of Bechyn

Mailing Address:  PO Box 101, Olivia, MN  56277

Venmo: Bechyn Czech Fest

PayPal: info@BechynCzechFest.org

The new boilers are pictured below.