Slavonian Lodge

The Slavonian (later Slavic) lodge on the corner of Myrtle and First streets, was, and is the center of Slavic community life on Point Cadet. It's the two-story building in the header photo centered under the word "from."

It was founded as a fraternal benevolent association to help new immigrants connect with their fellow countrymen and acclimate to life in America. Eventually it became more of a social club and a way for the Slavs (mostly Croats like my family) to carry on their social traditions. The building was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, leaving behind only the tablets with names of deceased members and the statue of Sv. Nikola, patron saint of Croatia. Members have been meeting downtown Biloxi until they can rebuild.

Grandpa was a member. Nona, and later my mother and all the aunts, belonged to the Ladies' Auxiliary. My aunts, my uncle and assorted cousins held their wedding receptions there -- for a long time I thought you couldn't get married anywhere else.

The lodge was one of the first air-conditioned venues down on the point. They hosted a lot of dances. The most famous person who ever played there was Elvis Presley, just on the cusp of super-stardom. Read more about that here. http://www.scottymoore.net/biloxi.html

Grandpa sometimes took the grandchildren down to the lodge in the evenings during the summer. We drank cold Barqs root beer and played the nickel slots while he and the other men played cards. On weekend afternoons, we played Bingo at the lodge. I never won, but I liked to help Aunt Marie keep a watch on her cards -- she always played an entire table full. I think she liked Bingo better than breathing.

The ladies also used the kitchen for their twice annual pusharate sales. Pusharates, a staple at holidays and special events in Biloxi, are a traditional Croatian pastry -- a fried glazed doughnut hole flavored with whiskey and chock-full of nuts and fruits. They always sell out.

Everybody has their own recipe for pusharate. This is Nona's recipe. I made these by myself a few years ago and had to take to my bed with a heating pad afterward. Now I know why the ladies make these as a group.

PUSHARATE

2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 shot glass whiskey
1 tsp. apple pie spice
1 large can evaporated milk
1 cup pecans
1 orange
1 lemon
1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries (with juice)
4 ounces raisins
2 lb (approximately) self-rising flour

Cut orange and lemon in pieces. Remove seeds. Grind the rind, pulp and juice in a blender. Put aside. Cream together the eggs and sugar. Add the pulp and all the remaining ingredients (except flour) and beat well. Add the flour a little at a time to make a stiff dough. Mix thoroughly. Drop by teaspoons into deep Crisco oil heated to 350 degrees and cook until golden brown. Remove to a colander or wire rack to cool.

Glaze: Almond extract to taste (about 3 tsp -- you can also use vanilla if you prefer) , powdered sugar(about 2 lbs), evaporated cream (abut 10 oz). Make the glaze thick (add more powdered sugar if necessary) so you can dip the pusharates in the glaze to cover. Place on waxed paper to dry.

If the weather is damp, make the glaze very thick. The pusharate is good for a day or two as they will get hard, but they are also good dunked in coffee.