I had an interesting conversation back in November. It took place in St. Mary’s Church basement after my mom’s funeral. I was speaking to two Bojon men. Men I looked up to since I was old enough to look up to someone. And they were thanking me. It was humbling, because they were sincere and very passionate. Now, what could it be that would make these heroes of mine appreciative of anything I’m capable of? You may have guessed it by now. They were thanking me for writing about the annexation of Bojon Town into the imaginary neighborhood of Eilers Heights. They actually used that terminology. I believe the actual quote was “Who do they think they are to annex our entire neighborhood into a place that never existed?”. These guys were upset. They were born in Bojon Town and lived there all of their lives. And now someone was telling them that Bojon Town doesn’t matter.
I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. I’m upset about it. At first, it was kind of a comical thing, but now I’m starting to get pissed off about it. Supposedly some lady read a book that no one can produce that referred to Eilers Heights. Now for those of you that don’t know, Eilers was the last name of one of the Superintendents of the Smelter that everyone is still worried about 100 years after it closed. So, it has nothing to do with Slovenians. It’s just some Germanic sounding surname. And now we’re supposed to change the name because the word Bojon suddenly became politically incorrect, like Savage or Redskin. Well, I’m calling bullshit. I don’t believe that any piece of Bojon Town was ever called Eilers Heights until now. I’m sick of hearing it. Sick of the idea. Sick of the people that are trying to foist this travesty on the Bojons of Bojon Town.
I say we take back our neighborhood. It’s simple. We take a vote here. Here are the choices.
Keep the name of Eilers Heights or
Keep the name of Bojon Town, and expel the 1100 block of Eilers Avenue from the neighborhood. They annexed dozens of square blocks without consent. The punishment is banishment and expulsion.
That’s it. Vote in the comments. Every vote will be counted. Some twice. Maybe even more if I like them. It’s my blog. I want them gone. I know some good people on that block, but we need to make a statement. Their suffering is on the hands of the usurpers that created the travesty of Eilers Heights.
I will be listing things to do in order to accomplish this daunting task, but I’m committed. I hope a lot of you are too. So, Eilers Heightians, Give Me Bojon Town or Give Me Death!!!
Life In Bojon Town 
Posted by Jenn Barnett on March 28, 2015 at 7:14 pm
My vote is for Bojon Town. Eilers Heights? Never heard of the place.
Posted by Anne on March 28, 2015 at 7:35 pm
I will vote for Bojontown! You know my feelings on this whole Eilers baloney! I said in my previous comment anytime the government butts in look out and watch your back! They will swoop in and steal your land, bulldoze your house and call it the government hard at work!
Posted by Charles on March 28, 2015 at 7:44 pm
My vote is for Bojon Town.
Posted by mbarnett56 on March 28, 2015 at 8:02 pm
Very wise choices by real Bojons!
Posted by Abe Armendariz on March 28, 2015 at 8:47 pm
I agree with Jenn never heard of this fictitious Eiler neighborhood. I know there is Eiler’s bar in Bojon town but that’s as far as it goes. My vote is Bojon town.
Posted by Sarah Caduff on March 28, 2015 at 9:13 pm
Yay for Bojon Town
Posted by Mitzie on March 28, 2015 at 10:01 pm
Until my last breath…I was raised in “BOJONTOWN”!!!
Posted by Kay on March 29, 2015 at 8:10 am
Bojon Town forever!!
Posted by mbarnett56 on March 29, 2015 at 4:26 pm
It can’t die as long as we don’t forget it. I remember playing with the chickens at Grandma and Grandpa Kocman’s house. I don’t believe that was in Eilers Heights. It seemed to be in Bojon Town as near as I can remember!
Posted by chuck barnett on March 29, 2015 at 12:57 pm
Live in Bojon town all my life I vote for BOJON TOWN. CB
Posted by mbarnett56 on March 29, 2015 at 4:23 pm
Dear Mr. Barnett. I’m so glad you lived in Bojon Town all of your life. I couldn’t imagine my life anywhere else. And thanks for being my dad!
Posted by Velma Barnett on March 29, 2015 at 9:55 pm
I vote for Bojon town also. Growing up there all my childhood and teen life, Bojon town will always be my home some of the best times of my life. Thank you all those growing up there with me and for sharing in our memories there, they will be passed down to our children and their children.
Posted by mbarnett56 on March 30, 2015 at 7:04 am
A very important vote from my old block. Thanks!!!
Posted by Kristin on April 1, 2015 at 11:08 pm
Bojon Town, of course! That area is about the Bojons, not Eiler’s Tavern.
Posted by Susan Russell on April 20, 2015 at 8:32 pm
Proud to be a native of Bojon Town!
By the way, Eilers was never a community. It was one of many businesses in Bojon Town; just like Medved’s Service Station, Anzick’s Restaurant, Gorsich’s (grocery store), and Butkovich’s Mercantile – just to mention a few!
Posted by Kay Elliott on May 8, 2015 at 10:53 am
I have been doing genealogy studies on both sides of my family including the Kocman’s. I plan to visit Slovenia the end of August and I want to visit where my grandparents were born. Joe Kocman my grandfather was difficult to trace and I finally have the information straight on when he arrived in US and on which ship. He did not go through Ellis Island but went directly to the Port of New York. Yesterday, I was at the library looking for information on Ancestry.com. I found the 1910 Naturalization Document for my grandfather Joe Kocman. I was knocked over when the residence for my grandfather was listed as Eiler’s Heights!! No kidding??? Maybe, we have to back track because according to the 1910 Census Joe Kocman owns the home they always lived in on 1110 Bohmen Ave. but the address is Eiler Ground. Not called Bohmen yet where they live but the houses just before them are Bohmen. Please email me and I will send you copies of these documents.
Posted by mbarnett56 on May 8, 2015 at 3:54 pm
That’s some cool information! I can’t remember where I saw it, but I found some city directory information a while back, and they actually listed the street as Bohemian instead of Bohmen. It seems like there were a few changes over the years. How awesome is going to Slovenia! I’m really glad for you.
Posted by Kay on May 8, 2015 at 8:51 pm
I have been thinking about finding the reference to Eiler’s Heights. The bad news is that Bojon town was called Eiler’s Heights in the past?? But, the good news is that Eiler’s Heights does not end at Santa Fe but did include Bohmen Ave at the very least . The 1910 Federal Census proves it. Eiler’s Heights crowd can’t decide where the boundaries are!! A little more info on Joe Kocman. He is listed on the ship manifest as Joze Kozman. Grandpa Kocman was born in Slovenia, Austria or Yugoslovia depending on which source you chose. Grandpa was an orphan and he came here alone at 18 years old with $5.00 in his pocket (says that on manifest). In 1910 he becomes a citizen and he is married with 3 children and owns his house free and clear (census says that). He works at the smelter that is causing all the uproar. It makes me really proud to be a decedent of Joe Kocman. He and millions like him built this country. I have not found much on the Videtich’s arrival in the U.S. but, I keep looking. Slovenia will be great and we are also taking a cruise out of Venice down the Adriatic stopping in Croatia and Montenegro and ending in Rome. I am very lucky.
Posted by mbarnett56 on May 9, 2015 at 2:32 pm
I remember Great Grandpa pretty well. It’s so hard for me to imagine him as an 18 year old. It must have been so frightening to be alone like that, in a new country where he probably didn’t speak the language yet. I can’t even imagine how that must have been. As for the Eiler’s Heights thing, I believe that at one time, a place called Eiler’s Heights existed, but I can find exactly zero people who actually remember it, other than in a document. So, I’m going to go with the name that I always knew it by. It’s Bojon Town to me, and it will always be. It seems like there’s a stigma against anything that makes an ethnic reference anymore, with all of the political correctness. I know that the Chieftain refuses to even publish the word ‘Bojon’ in their comments section online. I have a disabled account to prove it!!!
Posted by Anne on June 2, 2015 at 9:46 pm
I have been working on some of our background too. I do know your aunt Jeannie L had a photo of Martin Sodja the father of Agnes Veditich. Nothing on the mother though. I had a little luck with my mom’s folks thanks to my mom’s cousins in Colorado Springs. I found my grandfather Joseph Steblay’s mom was Mary Virant. My goodness somehow so many bojons are related in a way. I also know where my mom’s grandfather Joseph Kralj is buried at Roselawn but nothing on her mom. I know I told you this before but after Martin Vedititch passed away Agnes married my Aunt Ang Jacklovich Steblay’s father. I tell you we are all related. As for the local news, they stink! Too bad we can not get bigger coverage and state our case to a bigger venue. Sigh! as for political correctness, Phooey! I have always told my own kids, Jesus was the most politically incorrect man in history and I would bet my life on Him.