Just as everyone can feel a little Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone in Montville could feel a little Polish over Labor Day weekend. That’s when the Polish-American Citizen’s Club marked 75 years as a community organization, with three days of traditional Polish and some all-American food and music at its hall at 85 Maple Avenue.
Started in 1932, the Polish-American Citizens Club was organized by three town residents: John J. Smith, Sam Onuparik and John Emilyta, according to club historian James Radgowski. They and Walter Walenzcyk went door-to-door to sign up members.
Thirty-three members, all men, attended the first club meeting that October at Papyris Hall in Uncasville, which soon became home of the club for three and one-half years. Stanley Zawieslanki served as the first president.
The club held its first public banquet in 1941 to celebrate burning the mortgage on a property that it acquired when Joseph Radgowski served as president. Somewhere in the following decade, as Stanley Smolen served as club president, members switched from conducting their meetings in Polish to English.
Members also started planning the current complex, which was dedicated in May 1951, during the second administration of Adolph Galor.
Expansions of the current facility have continued over the years, including the Pavilion added in 1979. As historian, Radgowski has compiled the full listing of club officers and milestones.
For more about the Polish-American’ club’s history and current activities, see the August 29 Montville Times blog posting about the club.