gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Jul 23, 2008 18:33:41 GMT 1
I thought that it might be interesting to learn more about the Polish settlements found in the U.S. Hopefully some of my fellow Americans will add their stories/photos as well. Personally, I would also enjoy learning more about Polish settlements in other parts of the world (hint, hint) and the how the people incorporated their Polish culture and traditions into these settlements. I will start by sharing with you some information about the city of Winona, Minnesota. Winona is a beautiful city located on the Mississippi River in south-eastern Minnesota. It is an area with a large population of Polish immigrants and their descendants. Here is a link to a great book - The Kashubian Polish Community of Southeastern Minnesota by the Polish Cultural Institute of Minnesota. It contains some interesting photos and information! books.google.com/books?id=yGAHcv64I2MC&printsec=frontcover&dq=winona#PPA5,M1 |
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Post by tufta on Jul 23, 2008 19:41:28 GMT 1
I thought that it might be interesting to learn more about the Polish settlements found in the U.S. Hopefully some of my fellow Americans will add their stories/photos as well. Personally, I would also enjoy learning more about Polish settlements in other parts of the world (hint, hint) and the how the people incorporated their Polish culture and traditions into these settlements. I will start by sharing with you some information about the city of Winona, Minnesota. Winona is a beautiful city located on the Mississippi River in south-eastern Minnesota. It is an area with a large population of Polish immigrants and their descendants. Here is a link to a great book - The Kashubian Polish Community of Southeastern Minnesota by the Polish Cultural Institute of Minnesota. It contains some interesting photos and information! books.google.com/books?id=yGAHcv64I2MC&printsec=frontcover&dq=winona#PPA5,M1 Wow, Gigi, great idea! Although I cannot post much in such a subject , I would like to state I hope this thread will expand. Right now my knowledge is only that the first Polish immigrants village was probably Pana Maria in Texas. |
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Post by valpomike on Jul 23, 2008 20:11:40 GMT 1
Do you have any ideas on any places in the Midwest, like Chicago, Gary, Ind. or Detroit Michigan?
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Post by locopolaco on Jul 23, 2008 21:51:01 GMT 1
Do you have any ideas on any places in the Midwest, like Chicago, Gary, Ind. or Detroit Michigan? Milwaukee, Pittsburg, Cleveland... here is the website for poles in Indy: polishcsi.org/ |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Jul 23, 2008 22:29:15 GMT 1
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Post by valpomike on Jul 23, 2008 22:33:18 GMT 1
Yes, I do know of him, and thank you very much. Also, I Chicago there is a Lodge called Knights of Dabrowski.
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Jul 24, 2008 3:21:03 GMT 1
Wow, Gigi, great idea! Although I cannot post much in such a subject , I would like to state I hope this thread will expand. Right now my knowledge is only that the first Polish immigrants village was probably Pana Maria in Texas. Thanks Tufta! I hope it will be enjoyable for all of us to learn more about Polish culture in other parts of the world.  For those who don't know about Panna Maria, this link has a lot of information: www.texasalmanac.com/culture/groups/polish.html |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Jul 24, 2008 14:16:16 GMT 1
This is another great link for Polish-American history. If you scroll down to the bottom, there is a listing for more Polish-American communities listed by state. www.answers.com/topic/polish-american |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Jul 24, 2008 14:50:15 GMT 1
A few beautiful examples of Polish churches found in America: St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Chicago:  St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin:  Interior of St. Josaphat Basilica in Milwaukee, Wisconsin:  |
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Post by franciszek on Jul 24, 2008 23:36:15 GMT 1
Yes, I do know of him, and thank you very much. Also, I Chicago there is a Lodge called Knights of Dabrowski. Mike you should try contacting my cousin Leonard Kniffel the editor of American Libraries he lives in Chicago speak to him from time to time via email im sure he would have useful information for you let me know if you have any success |
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Post by franciszek on Jul 24, 2008 23:36:54 GMT 1
Yes, I do know of him, and thank you very much. Also, I Chicago there is a Lodge called Knights of Dabrowski. Mike you should try contacting my cousin Leonard Kniffel the editor of American Libraries he lives in Chicago i speak to him from time to time via email i am sure he would have useful information for you let me know if you have any success |
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Post by valpomike on Jul 25, 2008 0:44:31 GMT 1
Please give me his full name and E-mail address. I will try and reach him.
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Jul 25, 2008 14:09:25 GMT 1
In 2008 we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first Polish immigrants to the American continent!
They contributed very significantly to the survival of the first English colony at Jamestown. Since then, numerous Poles have fought in the struggle for independence, in the Civil War, and in the defense of the United States in other wars to the present day. Poles have also contributed to the economy and the culture of North America.
Jamestown 1608-1609
Capt. John Smith was fighting in the Austrian Army against the Turks when he was 20 years old. Captured and made a slave, he managed to escape, and spent some time in Poland on his way home to England. He was in the original expedition sent by the London Virgin1a Company in 1606 to set up a colony, and was one of the original 7-man governing council of Jamestown, and Governor 1608-1609. He recognized that trained craftsmen were essential for the survival of the colony and recommended ".... the hiring of the Poles and Dutchmen to make pitch, tar, glass, mills, and soap-ashes....". About October 1, 1608, the Second Supply convoy arrived, under command of Capt. Newport.
There were 5 Poles in the ship "Mary Margaret". Only Lowicke was listed by name, the others included among "eight Dutchmen [Germans] and Poles" listed at the end of the manifest. Their names have been established from other sources:
* Michaell Lowicke - or Lowicki, listed as a "Gentleman", believed to be a Polish trader resident in London,
* Zbigniew Stefanski of Wloclawek,
* Jur (also known as Jan) Mata of Cracow,
* Jan Bogdan of Kolomyja,
* Stanislaw Sadowski of Radom.
The struggle for Independence
Almost everyone knows the two Poles that fought in the American Revolution: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and Count Casimir Pulaski. Many streets, schools and buildings have been named for them in towns all across America. Both of them had military experience fighting the Russians in defense of Poland's freedom. They both met Ben Franklin in Paris and came to America to help the American fight for Independence. They both became brigadier generals of the Continental Army.
Pulaski was an accomplished cavalry officer and in 1778 he created one of the only cavalry units in the Continental Army, called Pulaski's Legion. In the battle to retake Savannah from the British, he was mortally wounded and died October 11, 1779, he was 32 years old. In September, 1929, Congress designated October 11 as Pulaski Day to be observed by Presidential Proclamation. However Pulaski Day is celebrated by parades in communities with large populations of Polish descent on March 4, his birthday.
Civil War
The most prominent Pole in the Civil War was Wladimir Krzyzanowski , known to his army friends as Kriz. A cousin of Frederic Chopin he fled Prussian occupied Poland after the failure of the 1848 revolt against Prussia. He settled in the United States and worked as a surveyor and civil engineer. After the outbreak of the Civil War he organized a volunteer unit from Poles and Germans resident in New York, which became the 58th New York Infantry regiment, known as the "Polish Legion". It participated in the battles of Cross Keys in the Shenandoah Valley, Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Chattanooga. He was promoted to Brigadier General by president Lincoln in 1865. After the war he worked in various government administrative functions, including early administrative duties in the Alaskan territory.
Source: biega.com
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