POLISH HOME CLUB

History from 1918 - 1993

The Beginning - 75th Anniversary

​

The three story building at 510-512 South Broadway, with a double front entrance flanked by stores, serves the purpose of community center for people of Polish origin. There, they meet to celebrate national anniversaries and hold dances and banquets. It is the home of most societies, clubs, and committees. On the ground floor is the lounge called Polska Wioska (a Polish Village), serving refreshments which is the source for the maintenance of the building and its activities.

​

Alongside is a well equipped kitchen with a dining hall for special festivities. Its main hall is on the second floor.

​

The Dom Polski did not come into being until many years of constant efforts on part of a group of individuals from among the early Polish Settlers in Baltimore. In 1906, the Polish Home Association was organized with the late Wladyslaw Urbanski as its president. The Association depended on voluntary gifts. After two years of solicitation, only $1,560.00 was collected. Then it was decided to incorporate a stock company and sell stock at $10.00 a share. By 1916, the amount on hand was $26,360.00 and the buildings were purchased and were practically rebuilt. At the time young men were being drafted. Volunteers were being called for the Polish Army. The cost of Polish Home when completed was $81,000.00. The difference between the amount on hand and the cost had to be supplied by mortgage. After twelve years, the Dom Polski was opened for public use on Sunday, August 11, 1918.

​

With a huge mortgage debt, and income hardly sufficient to meet the maintenance cost and interest payments, the investment value of its stock disappeared and the Dom Polski faced a crisis. To appeal for donations seemed hardly consistent with the fact that Dom Polski was a private property owned by a stock company. In September 1927, the directors and stockholders of the Polish Home Association decided to donate the stock and transfer the building for use of the Polish Community. The Trustees of Dom Polski incorporated and a group of business and professional men with Adam S. Gerorius. They refinanced the existing mortgage and gauranteed its payments, each limiting his liability to $1,000.00.

​

With additiional borrowed money, the omprovments were made and liberal policy adopted for use of the facilities. The venture might have proved successful had it not been for the depression in 1929. Unemployment was high, income from rents and donations fell off, and a new crisis was approaching. An energetic group of young men with John DeBald at their head, organized The Polish Home Club. On the 12th day of February, 1933, the Club was incorporated. That effort might have saved the Polish Home were it not for the failure and receivership of one of the two building associations which held the mortgages. It became urgently necessary to refinance the mortgage, but with real estate values down and lenders extremely cautions, that proved impossible. The Dom Polski was sold at a foreclosure sale on November 1, 1934 to The Kosciuszko Permanent Savings and Loans Association, the other of the two building associations which held the mortgage.

​

The Directors of the Kosciuszko Saving and Loan Association, under the leadership of George W. Wiwinski, realized that they had an obligation to the Polish Community. They therefore offered the Polish Home Club an opportunity to purchase the Polish Home, but the club was required to run the property efficiently.

​

Those conditions were accepted by then president Dr. Theodore Zamecki and its counsel Adam Bartosz. On April 15, 1935, the Club took title to the home for the sum of one-hundred dollars plus a mortgage of over thirty-thousand dollars. As a further evidence of the Association's good will, the Club was able to borrow seven thousand dollars more in November of the same year for improvements.

​

In 1936, John DeBald again became president of the Club and was succeded by Thomas Trus in 1937. Trus was an able leader who died in that office.

 

In 1939, Peter Yankoski succeeded him serving until the end of 1951 when illness forced him into retirement after serving twelve successive years. During that time in 1943, the Polish Home Club, Inc. acquired the title and deed to the building and its contents known as the Dom Polski.

 

On October 16, 1944, the last installment on the mortgage was paid and the institution was free of debt. Other improvements, however, were in view, which were accomplished in 1946 and paid about $56,000.00.

 

Louis Bonczek succeeded Yankoski serving for two years, 1952 and 1953. John Gorny was elected to serve the year 1954, during which term he died after serving for ten months. Karol Grecki became President serving from 1955 until 1962.

​

In 1962, Stanley Palcek became president. During his term of office, the Polish Home spent $34,000.00 for improvements and alterations of the Polska Wioska and $55,000.00 for the main ballroom.

 

omen's Circle organized in 1968 under the direction of Gertrude Jankiowiak, vice-president, and Mrs. Helen Darden. First officers were Dorothy Grabowski, chairlady; Gertrude Jankowiak, co-chairlady; Theresa Rykiel, recording secretary; and Irene Nichols, therasurer.

 

November 3, 1968 was the opening of the Golden Jubilee of the Polish Home Club. The celebration opened with a blessing of the Club by the pastor of Holy Rosary Church, Fr. Chester Mieczkowski. A week of festivities began with a Polish Art Show and Bazaar, various Polish groups and organizations participated. Friday and Saturday evenings for dancing with an out of town band. Concluded with week of festivities, a huge successful banquet was held on Sunday, November 19, 1968.

​

In 1969, Melvin S. Laszczynski became president of the Polish Home Club. He was succeeded in 1974 by Theodore Ozarowski. In 1975, Melvin S. Laszczynski again became president. At the start of his term in 1969, Polish Home Club had approximately six thousand dollars in their treasury.

​

During his administration, a sum of $50,000.00 was spent on renovating and improvement of the building. Including the dining room, lower part of the front building and improvements of 510-510 South Broadway. Improvement to the main ballroom and third floor. Through his efforts, the constitution was revised and rewritten, and a scholarship fund was organized. At present, there is approximately eighty thousand dollars in their treasury.

​

Laszczynski was succeeded in 1979 by Joseph J. Borzymowski. During his administration, money was spent for renovation and improvement of the building. at present, there is approximately eighty-six thousand dollars in their treasury.

​

Borzymowski was succeeded in 1986 by Melvin Szczybor. During his administration, money was spent for improvement of the building. At present, there is approximately one-hundred and thirteen thousand dollars in their treasury.

​

Szczybor was succeeded in 1990 by Leopold Luberecki, Sr.. During his administration, money was spent for improvement of the building. At present, there is approximately one-hundred and thirty-three thousand dollars in their treasury.

​

Luberecki was succeeded in 1992 by Thomas Cero; however, illness forced him into retirement.

​

Cero was succeeded in 1992 by Gertrude Jankowiak. During her administration, money was spent for improvement of the building. At present, there is approximately one-hundred and twenty-seven thousand dollars in their treasury.

​

Jankowiak was succeeded in 1993 again by Leopold Luberecki, Sr.. The financial stability of the Polish Home is that we are debt free. It has been assured by the unselfish, energetic volunteer efforts of its officers and members.

​

Our interest is in development of social and cultural activities, there-by creating the better type of citizen who would strive to cherish and praise their adopted country of this great United States of America and give moral and financial aid to its needy in the country and forefathers in Poland.

​​

​-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

​​

History from 1993 - 2018
75th Anniversary - 100th Anniversary

​​

Since the 75th Anniversary of the Polish Home Club in 1993, the Club has continued to maintain its neighborhood presence and remain a place for the people of Polish and Polish-American descent to call Home. The Club continues to host a variety of dances and social activities for its Members and their guests.

​

In 1994, Edward Wojnowski became President of the Club and served for 2 years until 1996.

​

In 1997, John Giza became President for 1 year until Ed Wojnowski was again elected in 1998 for 1 term.

​

In 2000, John Giza again became President of the Club for a number of years. During his time, the Club had many repairs done. One of the larger undertakings was to replace the roof of the building. A majority of the funding came from the generosity of its members and through fundraising. John Giza passed away while serving as president in December 2011. He served as the president for 11 years. Upon his passing, Stephen Lesniewski, Jr. became President and served the remainder of his term until 2012.

​

In 2012, Theresa Giza became President of the Club for 6 years. During that time, a number of social activities were brought back to the Club. Members enjoyed bingo and karaoke and a variety of neighborhood bands were welcomed into the lounge. The monthly dinner dances continued, including the New Year's Day Ball and famous Bean Pickers Dinner Dance.

​

In 2018, Lewis Hubbard became one of the youngest Presidents of the Polish Home Club after serving as the immediate past Vice-President and prior member of the Board of Directors. During that time, the Crab Feast and Bull & Oyster Roasts were reintroduced to the Polish Home Club with much popularity and success. Work was completed to improve the front of the building with money received through a Facade Improvement Grant through the State of Maryland.

​​

Over the past 100 years, the Polish Home Club has overcome a lot of challenges and obstacles. We continue to remain a vibrant and welcoming place in the even changing community. We carry on the traditions and history that was given to us by our descendants and we look forward to forging a new history for future generations.

​​

​-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

​​

History from 2018 - Present

100th Anniversary - Today

​​​

We are all part of this present day story of the Polish Home Club. Let's all write this story together!