It's obviously a photo of a Polish group in front of a church. There used to be a Roman Catholic Church there named "Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary", located on Second Street. It does not resemble the building there as it exits today. - RFL
This is a photo of the possible consecration of Assumption church (Wniebowzięcia Najświętszej Maryi Panny) in East Conemaugh., PA. A Polish American Roman Catholic parish, Assumption was a mission church established by St. Casimir's (Polish) Parish in Cambria City, Johnstown before the First World War. The building in question was the original Assumption BVM church and was used by the parish until the building of the new structure on Second Street in the 1960s. The building was then used as a community/event center with a stage and attached private club. It was often used for weddings and parish social functions. The orchestra in the photo is the “Polska Kapela” (Polish Capella) which functioned until WWII. (It was fondly called “Polska banda” by the community as a play on words - banda actually being an old Polish colloquial term for orchestra.) Many of the Polish immigrants to East Conemaugh hailed from the region of southern Poland between Krakow and close to the Tatra Mountains. (In fact, the Polish folk in Johnstown regarded the Poles in East Conemaugh as “gorale” or “mountain folk.”) Many East Conemaugh Poles came from the region around the city of Limanowa and the community of Iwkowa. In fact, Iwkowa has a long established brass band tradition dating back over 110 years and many of the Polish immigrants from that area were well aware (and perhaps even involved) in this tradition while still in Europe. My father, Joseph Motak, was born soon after my grandparents arrived in Conemaugh and played clarinet in the “Polska Kapela” until he was drafted during WWII. Interestingly, to my knowledge, St. Casimir Parish in Cambria City did not have the tradition of a performing orchestra such as in East Conemaugh. This is probably because the immigrants to St. Casimir’s came from more metropolitan areas of Poland, such as Warsaw, or other regions other than those from Conemaugh. It seems that the East Conemaugh Poles came from roughly the same area hence many of the families remained connected even after migration to the Johnstown area. Also, I find it interesting that you are listing a “copyright” alert on this photo as it is obviously over 100 years old and should already be public domain. (I remember this particular photo as having been in our Motak family album so it was probably in many collection of many East Conemaugh Polish families,) I, myself, would love to have a copy. Thanks, David Motak, Bethel Park, PA
So the original location the church became the YAPC? My Grandparents were from Jarabina and spoke Capata Rus, but my Dad had no difficulties speaking with the poles from Lemko. I knew many of the Motaks, Lottie Balya was my neighbor, and I tended bar at the fire club. Motsie was good friends with my Dad, George.
It's obviously a photo of a Polish group in front of a church. There used to be a Roman Catholic Church there named "Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary", located on Second Street. It does not resemble the building there as it exits today. - RFL
ReplyDeleteAugust 7, 2023
ReplyDeleteThis is a photo of the possible consecration of Assumption church (Wniebowzięcia Najświętszej Maryi Panny) in East Conemaugh., PA. A Polish American Roman Catholic parish, Assumption was a mission church established by St. Casimir's (Polish) Parish in Cambria City, Johnstown before the First World War.
The building in question was the original Assumption BVM church and was used by the parish until the building of the new structure on Second Street in the 1960s. The building was then used as a community/event center with a stage and attached private club. It was often used for weddings and parish social functions.
The orchestra in the photo is the “Polska Kapela” (Polish Capella) which functioned until WWII. (It was fondly called “Polska banda” by the community as a play on words - banda actually being an old Polish colloquial term for orchestra.)
Many of the Polish immigrants to East Conemaugh hailed from the region of southern Poland between Krakow and close to the Tatra Mountains. (In fact, the Polish folk in Johnstown regarded the Poles in East Conemaugh as “gorale” or “mountain folk.”) Many East Conemaugh Poles came from the region around the city of Limanowa and the community of Iwkowa. In fact, Iwkowa has a long established brass band tradition dating back over 110 years and many of the Polish immigrants from that area were well aware (and perhaps even involved) in this tradition while still in Europe. My father, Joseph Motak, was born soon after my grandparents arrived in Conemaugh and played clarinet in the “Polska Kapela” until he was drafted during WWII.
Interestingly, to my knowledge, St. Casimir Parish in Cambria City did not have the tradition of a performing orchestra such as in East Conemaugh. This is probably because the immigrants to St. Casimir’s came from more metropolitan areas of Poland, such as Warsaw, or other regions other than those from Conemaugh. It seems that the East Conemaugh Poles came from roughly the same area hence many of the families remained connected even after migration to the Johnstown area.
Also, I find it interesting that you are listing a “copyright” alert on this photo as it is obviously over 100 years old and should already be public domain. (I remember this particular photo as having been in our Motak family album so it was probably in many collection of many East Conemaugh Polish families,) I, myself, would love to have a copy.
Thanks,
David Motak,
Bethel Park, PA
So the original location the church became the YAPC? My Grandparents were from Jarabina and spoke Capata Rus, but my Dad had no difficulties speaking with the poles from Lemko. I knew many of the Motaks, Lottie Balya was my neighbor, and I tended bar at the fire club. Motsie was good friends with my Dad, George.
Delete