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| 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. Who were assisted in settling this area through the efforts of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, Since the late 1800's, communities such as Farwell, Ashton, Paplin and Loup City have 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. |
| Connections: |
| Polish Heritage Center P.O. Box 3 226 Carlton Ave. Ashton, Nebraska 68817 308-738-2249 E-mail us Contact Persons: Larry Molczyk, President 402-631-9660 Norma Janulewvicz Vice President Terese Hulinsky, Secretary Vigrinia Pokorski Treasurer Phyllis Piechota Museum tours @ gift shop 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 1:00 PM - 3:00 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) |
| 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 2nd Sunday of September. Memorial Polka Mass for the community's departed held in during Polishfest. Christmas Wigilia Observance in December, St. Francis Parish Hall Ashton Artistic, musical and educational events presented throughout the year Quarterly Newsletters and updates of the Center's activities Free access to the museum, its library and geneological records. |
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| Join us now in Preserving and celebrating our Polish Heritage |
| The Polish Heritage Center is and outgrowth of ideas initially put forth during the 1989 Ashton Centennial. Elaine Dart, a former Ashton resident, followed up on the notion and spearheaded the long process of bringing the Center into reality. Through generous donations from Dr. Phillip and Ruth Maschka, the St. Francis convent was purchased in March of 2000. During the Grand Opening of the Center's permanent home, visitors from ten states and Canada participated in the festivities. |
| The Polish Heritage Center Inc. Ashton,Nebraska Nebraska's ONLY Polish Center |
Celebrating the Polish "Mardi Gras"
Traditionally, on fat Tuesday the older generations
needed to use up their butter, sugar, and eggs before Lent
began so different countries made different sweets, or as
in the case of Germany and Brazil they consumed beer and
Rum respectively. In France they made Crepes, in England
they made a sweet pancake called the Shrove pancake and
the women don their best aprons, grab their best skillet,
and run a race with a Shrove pancake in the skillet. The
object of the race is to be able to run the race while
flipping the pancake at least three times to the finish line.
In New Orleans they eat All Hail the King cakes which are
round and purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power)
in color and have a plastic baby Jesus buried inside. (The
person who finds the baby supplies the cake next time).
The New Orleans celebration is called Mardi gras, which means
Fat Tuesday and Carnival, which means Farewell to the Flesh, in
Latin. The idea behind it is to party and enjoy all the sweets you
can because tomorrow, which is Ash Wednesday, begins a period
of forty days of ab-staining from sweets and praying for Lent. Lent
is cele-brated by the Christian faithful as a time for making
sacrifices on behalf of Jesus who paid the ultimate sac-rifice for
the sins of the world.
For Polish Catholics the traditional Fat Tuesday treat is a
Paczki . It’s a round pastry filled with jelly or pud-ding. Some
describe the shape as symbolic of the tomb of Christ and
the sweetness inside represents the resurrection and
sweetness of Christ. The name pounchek (paczki) comes
from the shape. It is round, fresh like a bud of a rose. In
Polish bud is pak and small bud is pouncek. There are
special fillings made with rose marmalade made from
crushed rose buds from a very special rose, and sugar.
Marcene Kaslon of Ashton, NE is locally famous for her Paczki,
which she sells on special occasions throughout the year.
Marcene uses a secret family recipe. For more infor-mation call
308-738-2131.
Basic Paczki..family recipes are closely
guarded, but you can make your own
with LOT of TIME and EGGS
6 cups of flour 3 yeast cakes or packets
20 egg yolks 1 teaspoon salt
1 and a half cups of milk (one half cup warm and 1 cup
scalded)
1 cup less 2 tablespoons butter l-cup sugar
1 jigger (1 and a half ounce of rum Cherry, prune, or
pudding filling.
Dissolve the yeast in one half cup warm milk (110
degrees) for five minutes. Make certain the milk is not
too hot or it will kill the yeast and you will have a hard
lump) Sift the flour into one cup cooled scalded milk
gradually while mixing. Add the yeast mixture, stirring
until smooth. Let rise until doubled. Beat the salt into
the egg yolks, add to flour mixture, mix well. Add the
sugar and rum. Mix well. Knead until the dough no
longer sticks to the side of the bowl. Turn to coat and
let rise until double. Punch down. Let rise. Cut in half.
Divide dough into golf sized balls. Place on greased
sheet leaving room for rising. Allow to rise for one
hour, or until balls are softball size. Heat oil in deep
fryer to 360 degrees. Deep-fry each paczki until golden
brown. Fill a pastry bag with your favorite filling and
using a plain tip, pipe into each Pazcki. Sprinkle with
confection-er's sugar
Traditionally, on fat Tuesday the older generations
needed to use up their butter, sugar, and eggs before Lent
began so different countries made different sweets, or as
in the case of Germany and Brazil they consumed beer and
Rum respectively. In France they made Crepes, in England
they made a sweet pancake called the Shrove pancake and
the women don their best aprons, grab their best skillet,
and run a race with a Shrove pancake in the skillet. The
object of the race is to be able to run the race while
flipping the pancake at least three times to the finish line.
In New Orleans they eat All Hail the King cakes which are
round and purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power)
in color and have a plastic baby Jesus buried inside. (The
person who finds the baby supplies the cake next time).
The New Orleans celebration is called Mardi gras, which means
Fat Tuesday and Carnival, which means Farewell to the Flesh, in
Latin. The idea behind it is to party and enjoy all the sweets you
can because tomorrow, which is Ash Wednesday, begins a period
of forty days of ab-staining from sweets and praying for Lent. Lent
is cele-brated by the Christian faithful as a time for making
sacrifices on behalf of Jesus who paid the ultimate sac-rifice for
the sins of the world.
For Polish Catholics the traditional Fat Tuesday treat is a
Paczki . It’s a round pastry filled with jelly or pud-ding. Some
describe the shape as symbolic of the tomb of Christ and
the sweetness inside represents the resurrection and
sweetness of Christ. The name pounchek (paczki) comes
from the shape. It is round, fresh like a bud of a rose. In
Polish bud is pak and small bud is pouncek. There are
special fillings made with rose marmalade made from
crushed rose buds from a very special rose, and sugar.
Marcene Kaslon of Ashton, NE is locally famous for her Paczki,
which she sells on special occasions throughout the year.
Marcene uses a secret family recipe. For more infor-mation call
308-738-2131.
Basic Paczki..family recipes are closely
guarded, but you can make your own
with LOT of TIME and EGGS
6 cups of flour 3 yeast cakes or packets
20 egg yolks 1 teaspoon salt
1 and a half cups of milk (one half cup warm and 1 cup
scalded)
1 cup less 2 tablespoons butter l-cup sugar
1 jigger (1 and a half ounce of rum Cherry, prune, or
pudding filling.
Dissolve the yeast in one half cup warm milk (110
degrees) for five minutes. Make certain the milk is not
too hot or it will kill the yeast and you will have a hard
lump) Sift the flour into one cup cooled scalded milk
gradually while mixing. Add the yeast mixture, stirring
until smooth. Let rise until doubled. Beat the salt into
the egg yolks, add to flour mixture, mix well. Add the
sugar and rum. Mix well. Knead until the dough no
longer sticks to the side of the bowl. Turn to coat and
let rise until double. Punch down. Let rise. Cut in half.
Divide dough into golf sized balls. Place on greased
sheet leaving room for rising. Allow to rise for one
hour, or until balls are softball size. Heat oil in deep
fryer to 360 degrees. Deep-fry each paczki until golden
brown. Fill a pastry bag with your favorite filling and
using a plain tip, pipe into each Pazcki. Sprinkle with
confection-er's sugar
