Polish American Group Hopes For Permanent Home

Camden Courier-Post - August 22, 2004

Members Recall Club's Heyday in Camden

By LUIS PUGA

Charlie Korostynski, the president of the Polish American Club of Camden County, can't walk around the club's fifth annual picnic for long before someone yells out his name.

Korostynski is one of 300 Polish Americans who attended his club's picnic Saturday on Soupy Island. For many it was a chance to catch up with members who have spread across southern New Jersey.

“It's a reunion for people who have not seen each other in years,” said Korostynski, who said members were once centered in Whitman Park in Camden. “They get to meet and enjoy themselves.”

Now, club members are spread out and the club rents space in the VFW hall in Oaklyn. It's a situation they hope to change with younger members who they hope will sustain the club. And, they hope to inspire them with a new and permanent club location.

The club opened its doors in 1914, a year after St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, a Polish parish, did.

But as the city and neighborhood deteriorated, members of the club and parishioners moved out.

“People became afraid to even come out for even social events or the weddings,” said Ed Zbikowski, the club's treasurer from Washington Township.

What they left was a unified community that held Polish/English classes for recent immigrants, raised funds to bring new immigrants over to the United States, and neighbors who had a strong sense of community.

“In my day, one key fit all the houses,” said Henry Baldyga, 86. “In fact, people seldom locked their doors (in Whitman Park).”

Older members said the 3,000 club members held meetings in Polish, with an opening rendition of “God Bless America” and the Polish national anthem sung at the end of the meeting. Now, there are 180 members.

“It's pretty tough,” he said. “It's not what it used to be. Polish was Polish.”

“That means a lot to me as a Polish person,” she said.

“It's a melting pot and we are certainly melting,” said Walter Piatek, 75, of Berlin.