Plattsmouth Band Taken about 1886
Front row, left to right
Bob Martin, Vincent Ptacek, Frank Janda Sr., Thomas Janda (2), Hubert Janda
Back row, left to right
Anton Janda, Frank Vitamvas, John Bukacek, Cyrill Janda, John Bajeck .
Anton, Cyrill, Frank and Thomas were brothers. Hubert is a son to Thomas (2)
In 1879, when the Jandas, (all being musicians), got off the boat in New York,
from Moravia, they loaded
into a wagon and instantly broke out their instruments that they brought with them, and
played songs of their homeland. Anton Janda with his Bass Horn, Cyril Janda with his
Clarinet, Frank Janda with his Slide Trombone and Tomas Sr. played the accordion.
They ended up joining Cyril's brother Tomas that had been working with the Railroad in
Plattsmouth, NE. They had joined other Czech immigrants from Moravia on the west end
of Plattsmouth, Nebraska known as "Bohemian Town." It had two store's and it's own little school
which still is standing today. The language in Bohemian Town was spoken in Czech only.
* The Jandas formed a band in 1885 called "The Plattsmouth City
Band", which was
well known throughout entire Midwest and played social functions, dance's and even at the
Democratic Convention, in Kansas City. They would march behind the horse-drawn
wagons of most every Czech funeral, rain or shine.