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:

• Nagygyörgyfalva (1883-1886)
• Székelykeve (1886-1922)
• Skorenovac (since 1922)
• Skorenowatz (Used by Germans in different periods)

History

The village named Gyurgyova-Rádayfalva (Đurđevo) existed between 1869 and 1886 at the location between Banatski Brestovac and Danube river. In 1869, the population of Gyurgyova numbered 396 people. After initial settlement, which included Hungarian (Palóc) families from Banatsko Novo Selo (Hungarian: Újfalu), Jermenovci (Hungarian: Ürményháza), Sándorfalva, Szeged county and Banatski Dušanovac (Hungarian: Szőlősudvarnok, German: 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 the flooding of the Danube river and the yearly annihilation of property in the village and its agricultural land. At the same time, the inhabitants' lives were in constant danger.

The village of Skorenovac (named Székelykeve in that time) was founded in 1886, during the time of Franz Joseph I. In the time of the village settlement, its territory was situated in the Torontál Vármegye (County) of the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1912 it was situated in the Temes Vármegye (County). In 1888 it had 506 houses and in 1910 the village had 685 houses.

The majority of the original settlers were Székely Hungarians who came from Bukovina, and also, in the same time frame, some German families from Plandište and Pločice and some Bulgarian families from Dudeştii Vechi (Hungarian: Óbesenyő, German: Altbeschenowa, Banat Bulgarian: Stár Bišnov) аre settled in Skorenovac.

Population and major ethnic groups

Image:Image of Skorenovac.jpg|Image of Skorenovac Image:Tipical village backyard Skorenovac.jpg|Image of Skorenovac Image:View from meadow Skorenovac.jpg|Image of Skorenovac Image:Harvest in Skorenovac.jpg|Harvest in Skorenovac Image:Detail From Main Street Skorenovac.jpg|Detail from the Main Street in Skorenovac Image:DTD Channel Skorenovac.jpg|DTD Channel near Skorenovac Image:Summer Storm in Skorenovac.JPG|Summer storm in Skorenovac Image:Skorenovac Map 2.jpg|Skorenovac location map

Origin of Székely settlers

The names of the villages in Bukovina from where the Székely settlers come are (in Hungarian with their Romanian equivalents): Istensegits (Tibeni), Fogadjisten (Iacobeşti), Hadikfalva (Dorneşti), Józseffalva (Vornicenii Mari), and Andrásfalva (Maneuţi) (today in Romania, Suceava county; the closest bigger places are Rădăuţi and Botoşani).

The Bukovina Székely who settled in Skorenovac are originally from Madéfalva (Siculeni) village in 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 the Székelyföld, which included Csikszék, Marosszék, Aranyosszék, Udvarhelyszék, and Háromszék counties of the historical Kingdom of Hungary.

Family names of Skorenovac's first settlers

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, Papp, 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 - The first steady teacher came to the village of Gyurgyova (then in 1886 to Skorenovac). His name was Mischel János.

• 1886 - The first judge and mayor of Skorenovac was Kollár Ágoston (1886 - 1890).

• 1889 - The school building was 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, a Church (Roman Catholic) was erected. The first priest was Deleme Ferenc (1892 - 1898).

• 1894 - November 25, foundation of the Farmers Creditors Collective. Its president was Fr. Deleme Ferenc, 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 - The first "shared" doctor in the village, Dr. Klein József.

• 1899 - The voluntary fire brigade was established; its president was Kirchgäsner Johan and the fire chief was Mischel Johan, while the brigade had 60 members.

• 1900 - The first permanent doctor, Dr. Urbanek Edét, arrived in the village.

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

• 1912 - The first motorized "Big Mill" is opened, owned by Rüger Katalin. It worked until the mid-1970s, when it was closed.

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

• 1924 - The Red Cross started humanitarian work, but the 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 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.

Various Images From Traditional and Everyday Life

See also

• Székelys of Bukovina

External links

• Székelykeve word - News in Hungarian
• Székelys of Bukovina linkcenter

Гюргево (село) | Székelykeve | Скореновац

Banat | Cities, towns and villages in Vojvodina | Cities, towns and villages in Serbia

Note: the author of the article is Laslovarga.