Skorenovac

Skorenovac location map

Skorenovac (Serbian: Skorenovac or Скореновац, Hungarian: Székelykeve, German: Skorenowatz) is a village located in the Kovin municipality, in the South Banat District of Serbia, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The closest bigger places are Kovin (6km), Pančevo (30km), and Belgrade (46km). The Latitude of the village is: N 44° 45' 42.9", and the Longitude is: E 20° 54' 20.72".

Historical names of the village and region

Historical names of the region:

Zkorenovetz Terra (1412)
Zkorenocz Puszta
Villa Regalis (1428)

Historical names of the village:

Skorenowatz (Used by Germans in different periods)
Székelykeve (1886-1922)
Skorenovac (since 1922)

History

The village named Gyurgyova/Đurđevo existed between 1869 and 1886 at the location between Banatski Brestovac and Danube river. In 1869, the population of Gyurgyova/Đurđevo was 396 people. After initial settlement which included Hungarian (Palóc) families from Újfalu, Ürményháza, Sándorfalva, Szeged county and from Ó-Besenyő and Rogendorf, in 1883 came the first Székely settlement with total of 645 families or around 2,000 individuals.

Later in 1886, the population of this village was resettled to the location of present day Skorenovac and Ivanovo. The reason for resettlement to Skorenovac and Ivanovo, was flood of the river Danube and yearly annihilation of the property in the village and its agricultural land. In the same time, the life of population was in constant danger.

The village of Skorenovac (named Székelykeve in that time) was founded in 1886, during the time of Franz Joseph I. The majority of the original settlers were Székely Hungarians who came from Bukovina, and also, in the same time frame, some German and Bulgarian families аre settled in Skorenovac.

Population and major ethnic groups

1890 - 2510
1910 - 4541; Hungarians (73.31%), Germans (11.94%), Bulgarians (9.69%), Slovaks (2.53%), Serbs (1.26%), etc.
1921 - 4195; Hungarians (81.83%), Bulgarians (10.27%), Germans (7.34%), Serbs (0.36%), etc.
1948 - 4465; Hungarians (84.46%), Bulgarians (11.22%), Serbs (3.18%), Germans (0.7%), etc.
1991 - 3213; Hungarians (80.36%), Serbs (9.40%), Yugoslavs (3.36%), Bulgarians (2.80%), etc.
2002 - 2501; Hungarians (86.71%), Serbs (5.47%), Bulgarians (2.99%), Yugoslavs (1.04%), etc.

Image of Skorenovac
Image of Skorenovac
Image of Skorenovac
Harvest in Skorenovac
Detail from the Main Street in Skorenovac
DTD Channel near Skorenovac
Summer storm in Skorenovac
Skorenovac location map

Skorenovac location map

Origin of Székely settlers

Names of the villages in Bukovina, from where Székely settlers come, are: Istensegits, Fogadjisten, Hadikfalva, Józseffalva, and Andrásfalva (today in Romania, Suceava county; the closest bigger places are Radauti, Botosani).

Bukovina Székely who settled in Skorenovac are originally from Madéfalva (Siculeni) village, the county of Csik (Harghita), Erdély (Transylvania), today in Romania. The Székelys of Bukovina ,in general, are from the part of Erdély which is unofficially named Székelyföld, which included Csikszék, Marosszék, Udvarhelyszék, and Háromszék counties of the historical Kingdom of Hungary.

Skorenovac first settler’s family names are:

From Andrásfalva: Daradics, Csiszer, Erõs, Fábián, Gál, Geczõ, György, Illés, Jakab, János, Katona, Kelemen, Kemény, Kis, Koródi, Kovács, Lakatos, László, Lipina, Lukács, Müller, Palkó, Pásztor, Petres, Péter, Hompot, Husori, Sebestyén, Schidt, Szakács, Szatmári, Ranc and Varga.

From Istensegits: Ambrus, Barabás, Bartis, Béres, Bot, Borbandi, Bõte, Dudli, Faluközi, Finnya, Fülöp, Gyõrfi, János, Kató, Lovász, Magyaros, Makrai, Miklós, Nagy, Nyistor, Pék, Sánta, Szabo, Szász, Szõte, Tamás, Urkon and Váncsa.

From Fogadjisten: Ambrus, Barabás, Gáspár, Kuruc, Pap, Váci, Szabó, and Székely.

From Hadikfalva: Beréti, Bréti, Biro, Csiki, Dani, Erdõs, Fazekas, Fodor, Forrai, Galambos, Kerekes, Kis, Kozma, Kozsán, Kölõ, and Skasszián.

From Józseffalva: Kurkó, Kusár, Palló, Mákszem, Mezei, Székely and Várda.

Economy, Religion, and School - Timetable

1885 - First steady teacher came to the village Gyurgyova (then in 1886 to Skorenovac). His name was Mischel János.

1886 - First judge and major of Skorenovac was Kollár Ágoston (1886 - 1890).

1889 - School building was been finished. The teachers in the school were: Steiner Johan (Principal and teacher), Mischel János (teacher), Müller Ottilia (teacher), and Somogyi Etelka (teacher). In school year 1905/1906 school had 561 students. Elementary school, in that time, was up to grade 6. School Board members in 1930's were László Imre, Fehér Mihály, Wintergerst Francz, Boszilkov Bóna, Medgyessy József and Varga András.

1892 - December 18, Church (Roman Catholic) has been erected. First priest was Deleme Ferenc (1892 - 1898).

1894 - November 25, foundation of Farmers Creditors Collective. President was Deleme Ferenc (priest), and the collective had 71 members.

1895 - October 6, Library was founded, and had a 50 members. President was Deleme Ferenc, while the librarian was Hajagos János.

1898 - First "shared" doctor in the village. His name was Dr. Klein József.

1899 - Voluntary Fire Fighter Brigade has been established. President was Kirchgäsner Johan and fire fighter chief was Mischel Johan, while brigade had a 60 members.

1900 - First permanent doctor in the village. The name of the doctor was Dr. Urbanek Edét.

1906 - Hunters association founded, with 14 members. Founders were Szabatka Gyula and Töry Dezsö.

1912 - First motorized "Big Mill" is opened, the owner was Rüger Katalin. It worked till mid 70's, when it was closed.

1913 - April 27, "Hangya" Collective of Consumer Association is established. President was Wikel Aladár, and the association had 128 members. Merchandize store has been opened at the same year.

1924 - Red Cross started with humanitarian work, but official establishment of the organization was in 1931. The organization had 57 members, while the president was Dr. László Imre.

1925 - The Culture Association (Hungarian: Kultúrszövetség, German: Kulturbund) was founded. Since 1948, it is known as KUD "Petõfi Sándor".

1932 - Craftsman Association is established with Bircsák András, shoemaker, as a president.

1932 - Jun 14, a Soccer/Football Club "Kék Duna" (Serbian: Plavi Dunav, English: Blue Danube) was founded. President was Milivoj Đurkin, and vicepresident Dr. László Imre. Team players were: Fazekas Antal, Szirák János, Erdeljan Stanko, Borsós József, Brasnyó János, Boszilkov József, Hubert Pubi, Kiss István, Galac Imre, Jung Tamás, Kovačević Dezsö, Urbán István, Komáromi Imre, Migléci János, Perić Mile, Stanisavljević Đuro and Ivkov Slavko.