Polish Club History | polishclubtaunton

The History of the Polish American Citizens' Club

The Polish-American Citizens' Club of Taunton was organized in February 1913 by a group of twenty-one men for the purpose, as stated in an early history, "of encouraging and assisting in naturalization and citizenship, of supporting sound political principles, and of promoting and creating good will and cooperation in all matters pertaining to American citizenship."

The charter members were Kasper Banas, Wojciech Bury, Jan Bzdula, Josef Bzdula, Andrew Czufin, Frank Folcik, Konstanty Jazurkiewicz, Jan Kaminski, Jan Kmiec, Jan Kondej, Jan Konopacki, Jan Koss, Stanley Koss, Jan Majkut, Piotr Majkut, Franciszek Matuszek, Michael Rzasa, Jan Turowski, Franciszek Wilusz, Walter Wojcik and Jacob Wojnicki.

Later that year the group met on June 12, 1913 for what is recorded as the first official meeting of the Polish-American Citizens' Club in the clubrooms of the former Jan Sobieski Society on Lawrence Street in Taunton's Whittenton section, where immigrants from Poland had been settling since the 1890s to work in nearby manufacturing industries. At the meeting, the following were chosen as the Club's founding officers: President, Franciszek Wilusz; Recording Secretary, Jan Kondej; Financial Secretary, Michael Rzasa; and Treasurer, Piotr Majkut.

On July 22, 1913 the organization was incorporated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as the Polish-American Citizens' Club of Taunton with the stated purpose of promoting friendly association among members, maintaining a club house and educating its members to become loyal and patriotic American citizens.

A full slate of officers was then elected: President, Piotr Majkut; VicePresident, Kasper Banas; Recording Secretary, Jan Kondej; Financial Secretary, Michael Rzasa; Treasurer, Jan Majkut; and Trustees Andrew Czufin, Jan Turowski, and Konstanty Jazurkiewicz.

The Club's first decades were marked by ongoing activities to further its purposes and successive growth. In 1947, an important step towards expansion was taken. Membership approved the purchase of twelve stores located at West Britannia and Bay Streets from the Taunton National Corporation. The hope was to eventually relocate the Club's headquarters and business to the building at the corner location. This idea came to fruition on February 9, 1956 when the Polish Club moved into newly renovated quarters at its present location at 314-316 Bay Street.

In 1963, the Polish-American Citizens' Club of Taunton marked its 50th anniversary with a celebration filling its hall with over 250 members, guests and local dignitaries. Among those able to enjoy this milestone were eight surviving original members. From their first gathering of twenty-one members five decades earlier, they had seen their idea for a club develop into a very successful association of Polish-Americans and a respected institution in the city.

Over the course of its first half century, the Polish-American Citizens' Club was led by fourteen presidents: Franciszek Wilusz, Piotr Majkut, Jan Kondej, Franciszek Banas, Antoni Warchol, Michael Kuczek, Walter Juras, Antoni Zagrodny, Walter Szteliga, John Needs, Michael S. Rozowicz, Joseph F. Arcikowski, Bertha M. Bolster and Walter F. Strojny.

Moving forward through the years, the Polish Club continued to operate its successful bar business and retail block and to maintain an active calendar of events for members. Among annual highlights were usually the celebration of Saint Joseph's Day in March, the Club elections in November and the Christmas party in December. The Christmas party included the installation of officers followed by a banquet and music by a Polka band. Always popular, it was for decades a sell-out event.

The Polish Club also supported other organizations regionally and statewide in endeavors to celebrate Polish heritage and to recognize the contributions of the Polish and of Polish-Americans. As a means to do the same, it likewise participated in local civic events when opportunities arose.

In 1974, the Polish Club's second floor hall and kitchen were completely refurbished and modernized. In 1980, the Polish-American Citizens' Club Scholarship Fund was established to furnish financial assistance to worthy students of Polish descent and later to children and grandchildren of Club members who were attending college. Since its inception, more than $100,000 in financial scholarships has been awarded.

A February 1985 fire in the Club's retail block destroyed five stores and heavily damaged the remaining five. Upon consultation with architects after the fire, it was decided by membership to raze all of the stores and rebuild. Plans were approved in the spring of 1988 and work begun shortly thereafter on a new 3,500 foot retail building, partitioned into four units and complemented by landscaping and a parking facilities. Fortunately, the Polish-American Citizens' Club building itself was saved from the fire, although not without extensive scorching and smoke damage to its second floor.

An era seemed to come to an end in December 1989 with the passing of longtime Club President Bertha M. Bolster. After already having served as president, Mrs. Bolster returned to the office following Walter F. Strojny and she continued in the position until her death. Just one year before her passing, she had led the Club in the observance of its 75th anniversary; at the time she had been its president for a third of those years.

She provided steadfast leadership on Club matters upstairs and close oversight of the Club business downstairs. In gratitude for her exceptional service, Club members voted upon her death to name the annual scholarships in her-memory.

In 1990, Kevin J. Kiernan began his tenure as President. An updating of the Club Constitution was begun and membership approved proposed revisions in November of that year. These included the elimination of the age limit of 50 to join the Club and the creation of associate memberships to welcome the participation of members' spouses and patrons and friends who were not of Polish ancestry. The first associate members took their oath in March 1991.

A complete renovation of the downstairs bar area was undertaken in 1991. With signs of wear after so many years, the bar itself was removed and a new one built with a slightly different configuration. The renovation project also incorporated the installation of new handicapped-accessible bathrooms, improved access to the basement, new flooring and lighting and a dumbwaiter to move stock. Painting and the addition of pendant light fixtures spruced up the lounge side.

2013 marked a major milestone in the history of the Polish American Citizens' Club: its one-hundredth anniversary! Members of the Club commemorated its centennial with camaraderie at a dinner complete with a cake shaped like the Club itself.

In more recent years, the Polish Club has been sponsoring a variety of activities- dinners, social gatherings and occasional bus trips- as a way to engage members and patrons. Some of these like the Super Bowl party, Polish Night and the March corned beef and cabbage dinner have proved very popular and are now enjoyed annually.

The Polish-American Citizens' Club has long been a supportive member of the community at large. The Club has routinely contributed to national and local charitable causes and has provided financial sponsorship to many fund-raising endeavors in the Greater Taunton area. It continues to do this today to the extent it is able.

Beyond meetings and activities, the Polish Club has also played a part in the lives of many families in more personal ways. For generations of Polish-Americans in Taunton, "the Polish Hall" was the site of wedding receptions, showers, anniversaries and other gatherings to celebrate significant events in their lives.

Things change as years pass, and the Polish Club has had to evolve as emigration waned and assimilation took place. At almost 105-years-old, it remains vibrant and stands ready to continue a second century, bringing forth from its first a spirit of fraternity, a strong sense of community and a deep appreciation for its heritage.