Karel Hail (1819-1893)

He was born on 25 April 1819 in Český Krumlov. His father was an artilleryman, and the family moved several times. At the age of 13, he began to learn to be a merchant and during his business travels he became fond of Příbram, where in 1844 he rented a shop in the Fioron House on the market square, where the pharmacy U Bílého Lva (The White Lion) later used to be. Later he also established a shop and liqueur and chocolate production in Plzeňská Street. Soon he became involved in the social life of the town and in the revolutionary year of 1848 he joined the Pribram Guard, in 1850 he was elected a councillor and in 1853 he became the commander of the rifle corps. In 1857 he became the local postmaster.

In 1862 he was one of the founding members of the Pribram Sokol and over the years he was appointed honorary chairman of many Pribram associations. In 1863-1864 and 1867-1893 he was the mayor of Příbram. He became a member of the district council in 1864 and was its mayor in 1867-1893.

As the chairman of the local school board and a member of the district school board, he was responsible for the establishment of local burgher schools, the establishment of a gymnasium and a teachers' institute, took care of the town orphanage and the poorhouse, and promoted the building of a modern hospital. The centre gained the appearance of an exhibition town during his activity, and in 1890 a representative building of the savings bank and the town hall was built. The generous philanthropist even managed to give up a large part of his mayoral salary for the benefit of poor children. He died on 22 June 1893.

Source. Josef Velfl: Příbram through the centuries. Příbram 1998.

Processed by: PhDr. Věra Smolová, Director of SOA Příbram