![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Next Polish Fest Saturday Sept 13th Mark Your Calendars! Many requests have been made for our annual festival to be held on Saturday instead of Sunday to allow for travel. We're going to give it a try. The 2008 Polish Festival will be Saturday, September 13th in Ashton, NE. Mark your calendars! More details later. Over- night accommodations are available at Colony Inn- Loup City, Farewell Arns- (Bed and Breakfast) Farwell, Bel-Air Motel & RV Park, & Super 8 in St Paul. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defining the Polish Legacy in Nebraska and the world The Polish Heritage Center was incorporated in 1997 in an effort to preserve the ancestral language, culture and traditions of one of the most significant immigrant groups to settle in Nebraska. The small village of Ashton, where the Center is located is a hub of this ethnic region. It has seen waves of immigrants, first Germans and later Poles. Since the late 1800's, Ashton has been the epicenter from which their descendants have spread out across the nation. Today, in their establishment of a Polish Heritage center, both current and former residents join in their efforts to preserve the culture of their origin. Both geographically and culturally many of these descendants have seen weakening in their links to their past. The Center began as an initiative to re-educate both young and old in an effort to maintain a proud heritage. The Center is repository of cultural artifacts such as irreplaceable books, music and local genealogical records. It houses early photographs and art. It provides a meeting place to support the accomplishment of educational goals and activities. We invite you to visit the center's museum, which offers unique displays and relics of the past. As well, the Center offers a glimpse into the emerging role of today's Poland. Cultural heritage is a living and ever-changing thing. It is more than a time-worn snapshot of and earlier period. The cultural threads which are embedded in early examples of folk art and music, are today reflected in monumental changes in the Polish Homeland. One of the educational goals of the Center is to update and transform popular stereotypes into a broader understanding of the modern Polish homeland and culture. Your membership and donations will help achieve these goals. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ELECTION OF 2008 OFFICERS HELD IN JANUARY John Maschka- President Charlie Skoropa- Vice-President Secretary - Peg Knapp Treasurer- Virginia Pokorski Newly elected members: Norma Janulewicz, Darlene Spotanski, Pat Traxler |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Polish Reflections- A Memoir by Larry Molczyk |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| My Polish Heritage It was the music, which was my main tie to my Polish Heritage. My father's cousins found an excuse to celebrate every event from anniversary's, confirmations, baptisms, and birthdays. There was always "pivo" and there was always music. I didn't grow up with inviting my schoolmates to a birthday parties with little hats and cake. All of my dad's cousins were accomplished to some degree on the push button accordion. There was a clarinet. There were banjoes, drums and fiddles. Grandma played the viola, grandpa played the fiddle, and dad played the fiddle and accordion. Even though we appreciated "Lil Wally's" records, it was making our own music, which was important. At age 11 I took up the violin at school. I had private lessons from Miss Pinder in Grand Island. I seldom practiced my assigned lessons. Fortunately, Miss Pinder was in her 80's and didn't remember from week to week which lesson we were on. On a lucky week, we ended up playing the lesson we had gone through for the first time the week before. That didn't mean I wasn't playing my fiddle, however. This meant that I was really spending my time playing Polish tunes with my dad's cousins. It was all by "ear", but eventually I learned to-play_the notes. If there wasn't a family gathering, there was always Saturday night in Stanczyk's tavern or some unknown bar in Wolbach, Cushing, or Palmer. The most traditio'nal our food became was Kielbasa and sauerkraut. It wasn't recipes, which my family handed down- it was the music of the old country . Cousin" Allie" Valasek and my Father are both gone now. I don't have occasion to play traditional songs the way I used to. Each year at the Polish fest, I am tempted to grab a fiddle and join in with the band. I know it's been a long time and I'd be making a fool of myself. My own kids had birthday parties at Skate Island, and Chucky Cheese with their classmates. Our family and most of my generation don't even drink anymore. Family gatherings are far more sedate now that the alcohol's gone. Still it's the music, which I really miss. Larry Molczyk- Reflections January 2008 Aurora, NE You are invited to Submit your own reflections regarding your Polish Heritage. Chosen submissions will be published in the next quarterly newsletter and made available on the PHC Web Site. Send to: lmolczyk@hamilton.net or in care if the Center's main address in Ashton. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Connections: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Polish Heritage Center P.O. Box 3 226 Carlton Ave. Ashton, Nebraska 68817 308-738-2249 e-mail phc@cornhusker.net Contact Persons: John Maschka President Cyril Skorupa, Vice President 308-384-8867 Jeanette Siwinski. Secretary 308-338-2268 Phyllis Piechota, Treasurer 308-738-2260 The center is located in Ashton NE. It houses a headquarters office, museum, library, a genealogical collection, meeting rooms and a gift shop. The building itself is the renovated, former convent of the St Francis Catholic Church. Directions: From the Grand Island/Highway 281 exit of Interstate 80, proceed North 28 miles to the town of St. Paul. At St. Paul, head west on Highway 92 for 18 miles. Hours: The center is open to the public from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM each Sunday and during the week by appointment only. Please call (308) 738-2260 for appointment. Admission: $3.00. Free to members. (Call for membership information) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A remarkable series of photographs and videos tell the little known story of Cold War Era life in the Polish Homeland. Starting in the mid-60's farmers all across Poland, unable to buy the equipment they needed on their own, and not willing to combine their small strips of land into collectives, began making their own tractors out of spare parts and junked vehicles. The innovative ability of these ingenious farmers was well apparent. The collection of photos by Lukasz Skapski was presented for the first time to the American Public during educational sessions at this year's Polish fest, September 9th. The presentation and the candid reactions of the PHC audience will be part of a PBS documentary now being produced. The program was made available courtesy of the Aleja Waszyngtona Investment Group. Click the link below for additional information on the artist and the exhibit. For information on the exhibit and the artist, please visit |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Your Membership is gateway to special events throughout the season offer the rich tastes of a proud past including: Polish Fest traditional music, food and fun each September. Memorial Polka Mass for the community's departed held in during Polishfest. Christmas Wigilia Observance in December, Parish Hall Ashton Artistic, musical and educational events presented throughout the year Quarterly Newsletters and updates of the Center's activities |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Looking for an overview of the complete history of Poland Since it's beginning? Try out this link.. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Join us now in Preserving and celebrating our Polish Heritage |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||