Boston Polonia Has Its Own Neighborhood

Massachusetts state Sen. Jack Hart reads a proclamation at the public ceremony in honor of Boston's Polish Triangle. Behind him, to the left, is Darek Barcikowski, co-publisher of the White Eagle News. (photos: Edward Bolec, WhiteEagleNews.com)

The following article is from WhiteEagleNews.com, a national Polish newspaper based in Boston.

There was a brisk chill in the air but the warm sun beat down on a large group of people gathered at the intersection of Dorchester Avenue and Boston Street in Andrew Square in South Boston.

What brought these people together on Oct. 18, 2008 was an appreciation for history, culture and the unique and special identity of the Polish-American heritage.

For decades, this area of the South Boston neighborhood has been home to many Polish Americans who have developed the community. 

Café Polonia, Baltic Deli, Euromart, and the Our Lady of Czestochowa Church are just some of the proof that this community still thrives today.

The City of Boston and Mayor Menino officially recognized the Polish community and its contributions to the city by naming this part of the city the “Polish Triangle."

A ceremony that brought out all that care for the Polish American community 

The ceremony, led by White Eagle Media co-owners Marcin Bolec and Darek Barcikowski, featured honored guests and dignitaries from the local community who had a connection with the neighborhood and Polonia in Boston.

Barcikowski, who was born in Poland but grew up in South Boston, said that his “first step on American soil was in this neighborhood.”

The performances of the American national anthem, sung by Natasza Gawlick, and the Polish national anthem, performed by the children of Our Lady of Czestochowa’s Polish Saturday School, opened the ceremony and signified the connection between the two countries and backgrounds.

Mayor Thomas Menino, introduced by Gosia Tomaszewska of White Eagle Media, addressed the crowd and talked about his experiences growing up in an Italian family in a Hyde Park neighborhood.

 “When I was young in Hyde Park, people wouldn’t talk to you if you spoke Italian,” Mayor Menino said. “Thank your community for working together and for being so proud.”

Mayor Menino also talked about the significance of the formal recognition of the area.“This triangle is a great landmark for our city,” he said. The blessing of the sign was led by Bishop Robert Francis Hennessey and Father Wiesław Ciemęga of the Our Lady of Czestochowa Church. A few words were offered by the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in New York, Krzystof W. Kasprzyk. Kasprzyk described the Polonia of Boston as “a community of Boston belonging to a very small group of exceptional Polish-Americans.” State Senator Jack Hart recognized the contributions of Polish Americans to “this great country of ours,” and said, “Often times we take what is right in front of us for granted.” Representative Brian Wallace, who grew up in the “Polish Triangle” area of South Boston, commented on the incredible diversity of the area. Just one sign of this cultural diversity was mentioned by Barcikowski, when he said that a Japanese-language newspaper published a write-up of Café Polonia, located on Dorchester Avenue. The resolution from the Boston City Council was read by Councilor Bill Linehan, who also grew up in the neighborhood.

Linehan said 60 to 70 percent of his friends when he grew up were first-generation Polish immigrants.

“We jumped many of these fences with my friends,” he added light-heartedly.

Andrew Square Civic Association President, Linda Zablocki, a second-generation Polish American, and McCormack Civic Association President, Michael McColgan, offered a few words on their thoughts of the new landmark as well.

The ceremony concluded with an invitation to the reception being held at St. Mary’s Elementary School by boxer Aleksandra Magdziak. 

Reception with Polish food, art and entertainment  

The reception, which immediately followed, continued the celebration of the “Polish Triangle” by featuring traditional Polish foods, cultural entertainment of dance and song, exhibitions of art, photographs, and even a coin collection.

Beata Kozak introduced the traditional Polish foods display table and welcomed everyone to try the signature dishes.

Grupa Lajkonik presented a ‘musical triangle’ including two songs performed by its youngest members, a musical interpretation of Chopin’s ‘Mazurek’ by its youth and closed by ‘Gaude Mater Polonia’ performed by the church choir.

A treat for all was the presentation of Polish costumes and dance.

Performers of the Krakowiak Polish Dancers of Boston not only showed off beautiful costumes from different areas of Poland, but traditional dances as well, such as the “Polka Gwóźdź”, or “Nail polka” of Nowy Sącz.

Costumes and dances were of regions like Pomerania, Mała Polska/Mazowsze regions, Szeczin, Lublin and Łowicz, along with a trio dance native of the Śląsk region and a national dance of Poland to conclude the presentation.

Another honorable guest who offered his thoughts on the occasion was former Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn.

Flynn, a native of South Boston, began his political career as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1971 to 1979, representing the South Boston neighborhood during the early 1970s.

Flynn was later appointed by President Bill Clinton as American Ambassador to the Vatican during the time of Pope John Paul II’s leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.

Other notable presenters and important guests included Anna Winek-Leliwa, who presented the art exhibition; Nina Kowalczyk and Wiesław Bielicki, who presented the display of the Polish coin collection; Szymon Tolak of PolBoston.com, who introduced the exhibit of the history of the Our Lady of Czestochowa Church; Kamila Kazmierczak of the Polish Cultural Foundation, who introduced the John Paul II exhibit; and Greg Bialecki, undersecretary of business development for the City of Boston. Also recognized were donors to the event, including the Andrew Square Civic Association, Arto’s Service Station, Baltic Deli, Boston Street Market, Café Polonia, Da Vinci Restaurant, DJ’s Market, Dunkin’ Donuts, Euromart, Kevin Kalunian, Morag MacLachlan, the Polish Veterans Army Association of America Post No. 37, Wayne Lopes Grading, Wojciech J. Kropiewnicki, and all others who generously gave gifts and their time for the event. Renata Tutko, a Polish American who came to observe the ceremony, commented on its significance to her.

“It’s important and it really filled me with a genuine pride because you separate yourself from your identity and your day to day self, and this is the sort of thing that people acknowledge in their everyday life,” she said. “All of that funnels into your national identity, your sense of pride, and your sense of community in the smaller way, and then in the greater way.”

Commander of Polish Army Veterans Post 37 Alfred Sosnowski, a veteran from World War II, has lived in Boston for 50 years, and is especially happy with the turnout of young people at the event.“We are proud,” Sosnowski said.

Sosnowski said that he still celebrates all of the Polish holidays, including the upcoming Polish Independence Day on Nov. 11.

Natasza Gawlick, who performed the U.S. national anthem at the beginning of the ceremony, said she travels every week from Newton to South Boston to come to the Our Lady of Czestochowa Church.

“It was such an honor and I love singing,” she said. “I think [Polish youth] hold a big part of the future and keeping it alive.”

The ceremony even brought people from New York. “It’s a good feeling that you can come here and most people have the same heritage as you do,” visitor Ania Witkowski said. 

Towards the Future  

Many have hopes that this ceremony was just the beginning of many new positive changes in the Polish community, and there is work that needs to be done in order to keep the Polish culture in Boston alive.

One idea, for example, is the possibility of the old St. Mary Elementary School to become the Polish Cultural Center of Boston, as the future of the building is in question.

The restoration of Andrew Square is  another and also an important topic for Polonia in Boston, as this area is central to the Polish community.

All are invited to attend the meeting of the Andrew Square Civic Association Meeting  on Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Courtyard Marriott near Andrew Square where the Boston Transportation Department will welcome comments from the community.

This will be an excellent opportunity for Boston’s Polonia to get involved and voice their opinions on this important project in the Polish Triangle neighborhood’s future.

The “Polish Triangle” event was another benchmark in the history of South Boston and Polonia in Boston, as well as within the 400 year Polish history in the U.S..

It is evidence of the determination and will of the local community to continue to ensure that this important area is recognized by other communities as well, and to uphold the tradition and culture of the native country of Poland.

Senator Jack Hart may have put it best when he said, “We may have come here in different ships, but now we’re all in the same boat.”

source:  WhiteEagleNews.com

Copyright 2008  New England Ethnic News, EthnicNEWz.org.  All rights reserved.  This material may not be published, rewritten, broadcast or distributed without the permission of the source.  Contact NEWz for more information at EthnicNews  {at}  yahoo  {dot}  com.

SEE ALSO:Consul General Lesniewski-Laas:  Since the 1600s, Poles Have Contributed to America's Economic and Social Well-being

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Polish Triangle Officially Recognized in Boston

My Polish America

photo: Krakowiak Polish Dancers at City of Boston's "Polish Triangle" Ceremony

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and two Krakowiak Dancers unveil the emblem for the city's Polish Triangle neighborhood. (photo: Edward Bolec, WhiteEagleNews.com)