Newsletter of of the the Polish Polish Cultural Cultural Council Council • Vol. • Vol. 14 •5 Spring• Spring 2016 2007 PCC is an Official Partner in Pittsburgh’s Bicentennial July 9, 1816 marks the date procured two flat bed trucks for when Pittsburgh’s first mayor, the float, the use of a white and Ebenezer Denny, took office. red convertible, as well as a red On Saturday July 9, 2016, the truck to pull the float. Now we City of Pittsburgh, under the need ideas for the float’s theme. guidance of Mayor Peduto, will We need people to design it and celebrate the 200th anniversary volunteers to help construct it. of the incorporation of the city of Pittsburgh, with a parade starting July 9th will be here in about at 1pm on Liberty Avenue at 13 weeks so we need to get 11th Street. The Polish Cultural started right away. This is a great Council is an official Bicentennial opportunity to bring families Partner with the city. We have A Message From together and to create something been asked to participate in the the President for the public. We are searching parade. And, we will. for a place to build the float before the parade. Polish Hill may No one can doubt the Polish Parish opened in the Strip be the perfect spot. So, if you contributions made by District, St. Stanislaus Kostka. want to help, and I hope you do, Polish Americans to Western please either email, write or send Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh We want to get the Polish a letter to: Polish Cultural Council, since the first arrival of Poles as Community in Pittsburgh P.O. Box 81054, Pittsburgh, Pa missionaries and traders with involved in the concept, 15217, [email protected], Indians in the mid-1700s. By design and construction of a 412-871-3347 1852, there was a large number “Polish float” for the parade. of Poles living on Pittsburgh’s Our parade chairperson, Ms. —Rick Pierchalski South Side. In 1875, the first Evanne Addams, has already It’s Spring! The time of renewal! Spring into action!!! RENEW YOUR 2016 MEMBERSHIP! online: PolishCulturalCouncil.org By mail: send the completed form on page 2 with your check The Polish American Congress Please Renew Your Membership Today! The Polish American Congress an argument with Senator Spector (PAC) was founded in 1944 by for his refusal to support Poland. Polish Americans concerned by the My point is that our lobbying is up Just fill in this form and mail it treatment of Poland by the front and personal with our senators, with your dues to the address Allies after World War II, congressmen and president, and it shown below. Thank You! and the eventual takeover is important and vital to the of democratic Poland security of Poland. by the communists. Recently, we had our The PAC has been latest meeting of the Keeping Polish at the forefront of Board of Directors lobbying the Congress in Washington, DC. Culture Alive! and the President We lobbied our on all matters representatives on behalf regarding Poland for of Poland. We reminded the last 70 years. The them of the US’s NATO PAC is recognized by both the Article 5 commitment, which states Republic of Poland and the United that an attack on one member is an States government as the true voice attack on all. Obviously, our concern of Polonia in the US, and, as such, is the Russian incursion into Ukraine. has been continuously consulted by Will Poland be next? the US State Department. Since the In addition, the PAC is very fall of communism, the PAC lobbied involved in international trade and vigorously for Poland’s entrance into business with the burgeoning Polish NATO, for fair trade agreements and economy. The PAC has hosted the Visa Waiver program for Poles business seminars on manufacturing, traveling to the United States. The energy, and legal topics. Our PAC has a full time lobbyist with seminars have been presented and offices in Washington DC. attended by Americans of Polish From a personal standpoint, I descent, Polish economic ministries, have been working in the PAC for Polish-American Chambers of the past twenty years and had the Commerce, and Polish businesses. responsibility of lobbying in person Why am I writing this? The PAC is President Clinton, Senator Santorum organized with chapters throughout and members of Congress for Poland’s the US, from California entry into NATO. I actually got into to Massachusetts. Western Pennsylvania has a chapter in need of Polish Journey is a publication of the Polish new members. If you are interested Cultural Council, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) orga- in international politics, care about nization. Please address your correspondence the future of Poland, and would to: Polish Cultural Council, P.O. Box 81054, Pittsburgh, PA 15217-0554, tel: 412.871.3347 like to hear about how the PAC is “The opinions expressed by authors do not organized, our annual Board of always reflect the views of the PCC.” Directors meetings, and our efforts, Rick Pierchalski, President; please contact me. We are planning Maria Staszkiewicz, Executive Director, to have an organizational meeting in [email protected]; Pittsburgh this year. I can be reached Eva Tumiel-Kozak, Editor-in-Chief; at 412-977-6968. If you are searching Veronica Wojnarowski, for further information, go to our Maria Staszkiewicz, Editors; website at PAC1944.org and look at Kasia Goszcz-Bruniany, Graphic Artist; some of our newsletters. Mary Seamans, Graphic Design; visit us @ www.PolishCulturalCouncil.org —RICK PIERCHALSKI 2 Polish Journey • Spring 2016 Pittsburgh, a City of History By Jan Napoleon Saykiewicz Two hundred years ago, a reporter described Pittsburgh as a “well-built town” comprised of these buildings: 11 of stone, 283 of brick, and 473 of frame and logs. That was the begin- ning of the growth of a city that has a well-defined position in American history, a city which has made sub- stantial contributions to the American economy. At that time, Pittsburgh was the leading producer of iron, brass, tin and glass. It also built superior quality steam engines and all kinds of machines. With the growth of these and other industries, Pittsburgh was no longer a frontier village. It was on its way to becoming one of America’s vital manufacturing centers. Situated on the banks of three navi- gable rivers, Pittsburgh was regarded as mountain. The Turnpike reduced and culture. the “Gateway to the West”. the journey from Philadelphia to less Some traditional trades continue. Because of economic and social than two weeks. The further devel- We still have specialized steel, al- development, Pittsburgh was incorpo- opment of water, and later, railroad loys, glass and paints, and also food rated as a city on March 16, 1816. Its transportation made Pittsburgh the products; however what really keeps government consisted of a mayor; the “making iron city”. people in Pittsburgh, and brings new Select Council; the Common Council, Indeed making iron was the prin- people to Pittsburgh, is a modernity whose membership included leading cipal industry in Pittsburgh for over based upon traditions, the quality of citizens; a recorder; and twelve alder- 150 years. From earliest times Pitts- jobs, schools, housing, cultural attrac- men. In the year of its incorporation burgh was a working town, a town tions, and sports. These elements as a city, Pittsburgh, itself, had 960 of business, a town where money create a unique quality of life. houses and a population of six thou- was made. Great fortunes were built So, the City of Pittsburgh, please sand. Its expanding suburbs raised the on the sweat and blood of work- accept our warmest and most sincere population to ten thousand. There ers, mainly immigrants from Italy, congratulations on your 200th an- were eight churches, three banks, a Poland, Germany, Ireland, and also niversary of incorporation. You theater, a Masonic Hall, three market other countries. have come a long way from Fort houses, a courthouse, and a jail. The The work resulted in growth. Pitts- Prince George (1754), through first two bridges were already char- burgh become the “City of Bridges”, Fort Duquesne, to the modern-day tered. There was also a public acade- the City of Steps, and the “City of Pittsburgh of 2016. We, the Polish my where Latin and Greek classes were the First Skyscraper University”, Cultural Council, which represents taught; however, according to an article when the Cathedral of Learning was Americans of Polish heritage who in the press in 1817, this academy was completed in 1936 at the University were with you from the very begin- not thriving. of Pittsburgh. ning, are proud of your and our The main obstacle for Pittsburgh’s Today’s Pittsburgh is a modern growth, and of your and our con- continued growth was transportation; “renaissance city” that changed its tributions to the greatness of the however, the invention and extensive character from a city whose industry United States of America. use of the steamboat changed a lot. was based upon steel to an industry The completion of the Pennsylvania now based upon education, medical Jan Napoleon Saykiewicz is Honorary Turnpike in 1820 provided a road by research and services, electronics, Consul of the Republic of Poland and which wagons could come over the sophisticated machinery, finances, Professor Emeritus, Duquesne University. Polish Journey • Spring 2016 3 Ambassador Urszula Gacek, the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in New York in conversation with PCC’s Eva Tumiel-Kozak PCC: Madame Ambassador, I’m very grate- ful that you found time in your busy schedule to share a bit of yourself with all of us at PCC.