Poznan Zdrojewskis: From the Old Country, Part 3

We move to five photos from 1958-1959.  I don't see any of the Sabina nuclear family in them.  Are they in-laws?

Transliteration of the reverse of the photo:  Kochanemu Wojkow(?) i Cioci Ofianye(?) Teresa, Zdziszek. Renia i nasz wilk muszel . . . Vinisz??a, dura 8.II.58

Wojkow is likely a diminutive of Wojciech.  Muszelka are seashells.

"Our dear Wojkow and Auntie (????) Teresa, Zdziszek.  Renia and our wolf Muszel.

(?)  (?)   August 2, 1958

The second one is the same style and size of print, but the handwriting is different.

Stawek moj synek moya matka i siosta Hela.

"Stawek my son my mother and sister Hela."

The third one seems to be in a third hand, although the writer refused to use any of the same capitals or numerals as on the first two, so I can't feel sure.

Na wie??oi Pommioitke Kocham emu Wiy???? Ciosi i Kungmom ???? toi Pomietak . . .?no 16.3  59r.

"Our darling Pommioitke . . . "

"Kocham" is "beloved."

The fourth photo, stylistically similar, is of this young lady with the lovely lace collar.  The first word of the caption I can't even transliterate - can someone help me out here?  The second word is Marija,  which is "Mary."  Is this cousin Mary?

Fifth and final entrant in this series from the late 1950s is Alinka.

Who is she?

Looks like masculine handwriting.  Who wrote it?

Anyone with the remotest clue as to the identity of these people, or to the spelling or meaning of the inscriptions, is invited to Comment.

Any time you wish to review all the Poznan´photos, just go over to the right sidebar to the "Labels" section and click on what you wish to see.  Also, the Archives, farther down on the sidebar, list the titles of all previous posts.

  

Poznan Zdrojewskis: From the Old Country, Part 2

I'm going to put up these photos chronologically.  This means that we won't see Sabina or Alinka for a bit, and in the meantime we will see people we don't know.  But we'll keep our historical perspective straight, and in a forward direction.  I'm Dr. Z., not Dr. Who.

Please remember that you can avail yourselves of the search function, sitting handy on the right sidebar of the webpage.  Can't think of a good search term to type into the search box?  Well, there is also a list of "labels" right there on the search bar.  I attach multiple "labels" to every post.  I do it  on purpose!  So you can search!  Yes - all posts in the series on these Poznan´ Zdrojewskis shall have the label "Poznan´."

1956:  a lot of Poland is still ashes and rubble, and the Communists have been in power ten years.  Stalin never succeeded in collectivizing the Polish farmers.  That's quite a difference from Ukraine, say, or the other captive nations, or Russia itself.  So why was that?  If anyone has read enough history to answer that question, that individual is invited to write up some ideas for a post, a comment, or a guest-post.

Anyway, look at the flat topography, mixed forests with lots of pine, and barns and outbuildings obviously designed for security.  The farmsteads look like fortresses, and against what?  Wind, snow, Mongols, Tatars, Russians, Prussians.  But eventually mechanized armies of the Third Reich and the USSR swept across those northern plains of Poland.

"1956r" means "1956 roku" - "the year 1956."

"Dziadek" means "Grandpa."  Marty and I were taught to say "Dziadzi."

"Joasia" must be a granddaughter.  Who are these people?

Imagine that Dziadek surviving two world wars, seeing the Polish Republic born and then enslaved, seeing millions of countrymen killed, and having living descendants and wondering what will become of them.  

Dissident literature often expresses the feeling of desperate isolation that people felt -  as if those in the West neither knew nor cared about them.  Once the Berlin Airlift was over, the West went home.

Who is this girl?  The farmstead looks the same.  She looks like she's all dressed up for her First Holy Communion.

Books of history, historical memoir, historical fiction, and Polish films, beginning of course with the films of Andrez Wajda, help in the understanding of what we see here: glimpses of the lives of our ancestors and of their descendants collateral to us.  I invite readers to write up book reviews and film reviews for posting.  We can help each other improve our understanding.

Julie

Poznan Zdrojewskis: From the Old Country, Part I

A cache of photos fell out of a manila envelope onto the work table upstairs.  These had been mailed over the years to May Street by Zdrojewskis in or near Poznan.

Enough of them had names or dates noted on the back that it was possible to sort them by decade and by event.

The first two photos may show the link between Buffalo and Poznan Zdrojewskis.  Are the couple in the left photo pair related to the people in the right photo?  If so, how?

The two portraits below are unlike any other in the envelope.  They are older; I would say turn of the century, or end of the 19th. Note the Germanic name of the photographic studio; this is late C19 partition time, perhaps, or at least it is prior to the exodus of German-speakers from Poland in 1939.  Is the man Ludwig at a young age? Looks like him. Or is he a brother who stayed in Poland? Is the lady Victoria?  Or a sister? - they look so similar.

The two photos had been pasted into a photo album, then torn out.  Did "Alina" or "Sabina," ladies in the later Poznan pictures, mail photos to JPZ of JPZ's parents who went to America?  Or of his aunt or uncle in Poland?

The poses look like identity-paper mug shots, don't they?

 Below is the household roster from partition times.  If you click to enlarge, you can see that there was a household member named "Franciszek" who was born in 1900.

The family portrait below is the one of the earliest in the set, being dated 1947.  Is the gentleman with the eyeglasses Franciszek?  He looks like he could be 47 years old in the photo.

Is he a nephew of Ludwig?  If so, he is first cousin to the six sons of Ludwig and Victoria, and his descendants are cousins to their descendants.

The reverse shows that the photo was printed on postcard stock.  Someone noted the place and date: Poznan´ dnia (day, date) 30th July 1947.  

These individuals, plus others, will feature in subsequent posts on Poznan´ Zdrojewskis.

Julia Mostkowska Zdrojewska

There's a photo over the fireplace in the main office of the Coot Hill Family Historical Preservation Society.

                 

                          The elk antler is from Wyoming, but the photo is from Buffalo, New York.

The frame is of wood, carved to resemble braided leather, I would say.  This is a scan of the framed photo, glass and all.  The ghostly appearance of the image is appropriate to the fact that this is my paternal grandmother, whom I never met, but after whom I was named.

The backing came off easily.  Here's the straight scan.  From the clothing can we guess a date around 1920?  Note the round collar in velvet, and the belt that sits low on the hips.

She married JPZ, John Paul Zdrojewski, in - what year??  JPZ, my Dziadzi, told me that the proposal went like this (in what language was not specified):

He: "Julia, do you think you might marry me?"

She:  "Well, I think I like you well enough to marry you."

The color changes a bit toward the red when I click "Enhance" in IPhoto.  That's not the true color of the print, but it does lighten it up to show more clothing detail.

She and JPZ had Eugene in 1923, and Casimir  (what year, please??), and Melania.  Melania died at about age 12, most probably of scarlet fever.

Nowadays, photos of the lost first wife and the lost daughter would remain on display, honored by both the husband and the second wife.  But in those days, they put everything away and never spoke of it.  I've never seen a photo of Melania.

The photo was printed on postcard stock, then addressed, but not franked.  Somebody  decided to keep it and frame it instead.

Remember this photo from the earlier post, "Zdrojewski Identification Contest"? (Click on that; it's a link.) I think the lady on the left is Julia.  The top photo in that post is Julia also.  Look closely, and you will see she is wearing the same coat and hat.  I think my friend Laurie Harvey is right, and the noses clinch the identification.  I think that Grandpa Ludwig stands here with his daughter-in-law Julia Mostkowska Zdrojewski, and perhaps a sister of Julia's.

She looks that same as she does on the boat in the Orchard Lake graduation film.

My Grandma Julia died of a heart attack in 1943.  My Dad, Eugene, was away from home, in Army boot camp in Fort Benning, Georgia.  I never heard that they let him come up for the funeral.

Zdrojewski Identification Contest

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JPZ and who?  Where?
JFZ figures that the lady is Julia Mostkowska Zdrojewski.  See John's comment, below.

Would someone please write a caption for this?  Who's that by the mirror; he looks like Casey! but as JFZ points out, this grouping is all Kaminskis.    Cecelia is on the right with  son Paul and daughter Celine.  I bet the beautiful lady with a glass in one hand and Celine in the other is Celine's grandmother; Cecelia's mother.  Who are the others? The youth behind Cecelia looks like my son Andrew; the whole thing freaks me out. I like those wall sconces.  I like the party atmosphere.

Anthony Zdrojewski was the third son of Ludwig and Victoria.  These are his wife, Anna ("Auntie Anna") and one of their daughters, Mariane.

Tony and Anna had two daughters - who was the other one? - and a son Ray.

The dining room at 175 May Street.  Ludwig, Victoria, Uncle Frank smiling!,Celine, John Peter, Casey, Eleanor with Electronics Johnny, little boy Paul, Cecelia, Aunt Julia??.  Next, the lady in the darker dress, seated at the corner, and : gent seated at the front end of the table: Eleanor's parents, Joseph and Louise Kotwas.  See JFZ's Comment, below.
  I remember so many details of that house, such as the gigantic padded rocker in the kitchen.  Check out the terrific telephone.  John, did you tell me once that your Dad phoned you at college every Friday night at 8pm?  Or am I making that up?

Identify these people and win a prize!  Fur coats and shoes.  The shoes are coming back in style, aren't they; but the fur has to be fake in the US in order to be correct.

"News from Poland," Radio News at thenews.pl

Annie Zdrojewski wrote a while back with a news flash about Bogdan Zdrojewski.  What, you don't remember Bogdan?  Well, Bogdan Zdrojewski is the Polish Minister of Culture, that's what.  His office last July released a publicity item in which he praised the chosen design for the new Polish History Museum to be built in Warsaw.

"Culture Minister hails Polish History Museum design"

This site has some fun stuff, as I found by looking around a bit.  There's an announcement of casting efforts for a bilingual production of Romeo and Juliet, to be produced in London. The idea is to demonstrate the opposition of the House of Montague with the House of Capulet by having Romeo's family speak Polish and Juliet's speak English!  What a great way to dramatize communications problems - although probably in the original tale the two houses understood each other perfectly well and hated each other for other reasons - but that is no matter.

Very striking, to me, is hearing the radio announcer speak.  I nearly fell out my chair.  His first language is obviously Polish, and his second is BBC-style British English with all those "plummy vowels."  It's not what one heard on the East Side of Buffalo back in the day!  So I recommend heartily the link below;  one then clicks the little black-and-white audio icon just under the main title of the news item.

"Polish Romeo and English Juliet"


Julie

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Uncle Joe, Aunt Julia, Joseph Jr.

Celine's birthday party, about 1947, correct? John was born in late 1947, so this is maybe 1948?  Next to the birthday girl is Paul Zadner, then his mother Cecelia, then Aunt Julia.  Julia is married to Joseph Zdrojewski, and maybe Uncle Joe is taking the photo.  Their son, also Joseph, sits in Julia's lap.  Next we have Eleanor Zdrojewski and her son John, aka "Electronics, Johnny."

Standing, back left, is Paul's and Celine's Daddy, Casimir.

Uncle Joe and Aunt Julia at their son Joseph's Christening.
Joseph Zdrojewski was the fifth son of Ludwig and Victoria.

What did Joseph do for a living? Answer:  see JFZ's Comment. Is this photo taken at Joseph's house, or on May Street?  I like Ludwig's snazzy tie.  And vests on gentlemen are  sexy, aren't they?  Sort of Bat Masterson-ish.

This isn't Joe at all, but rather Johnny, "JFZ," with his godfather, Uncle Stanley, and his godmother,  Emily.
See JFZ's Comment, below.

This is uncle Joe's house, Paul Zadner tells me.  Let's see:  Joseph Jr. in the rocker.  Check out those white shoes. My mother put bells on my brother Marty's white shoes.  Was it for fun, or to know where he was?  Delightful, anyway.  (Hey, I didn't get bells!)  Celine, looking dazed.  Aunt Julia, hands on rocker.  Eleanor and Johnny. The beautiful Cecelia, mother of Paul and Celine.  Paul in cowboy shirt.  Grandma Victoria with star at throat of her dress; Merry Christmas, dear.  Casimir by the window? Nope, JFZ says that's Uncle Joe.  Grandpa Ludwig, looking pretty happy.  Nice wallpaper and cabinetry:  look, joinery in the room divider, and a glass-fronted cabinet, all built into the house.  Even modest homes in those days had the work of craftsmen in them.

Uncle Frank

Frank Zdrojewski, one of the six sons of Ludwig and Victoria, has been the subject of family secrets recently revealed to us, his collateral descendants.  Apparently, he was married for some time, then divorced, divorce being highly unusual at that time.  No one spoke of it.

As well, it is thought that he had a son.  None of us know his name, date of birth, fate, or descendants.  Wish we did.

May Street living room, wartime: Ludwig, Victoria, son Frank with necktie, son Stanley in uniform.

Frank Zdrojewski lived in the upstairs apartment at 175 May Street.  My brother and I only knew him as a recluse with a soft voice and a soft face.  My parents would take us to see him every year at Halloween, all dressed up in costume, as well as at Christmas.

He has his Christmas things up, but alone, alone, alone.

Mystery Photo Re-Redux: New Relatives?

Paul Zadner spoke recently with Joey, son of Joseph Zdrojewski, one of the six sons of Ludwig and Victoria:

"So I told Joey that you had been bugging me all day about people in this photo. Now Joey is the same age as  John so What he told me must have been told him by his parents. I cannot believe that my parents did not tell me this  but maybe it was of no interest to me as a child so I dropped it from my memory bank.

That is Frank's wife and that is Uncle Frank's son. I never knew that Frank had a son. Uncle Frank was probably divorced before I was ever born. Joey's Mother, Julia, was friendly with Uncle Frank's wife but after the divorce, Uncle Frank frowned on this friendship so it ended and they lost contact ."

John, aka Johnny, aka JFZ, has also weighed in with a dissenting opinion:

"This is a mystery but not without speculation. The man next to Ludwig is my Uncle Frank, the second oldest son. Now Frank was married for a short time. Logically, but not necessarily, the woman may be his wife. If so, wouldn't the boy be their offspring? Yet, I never heard they had had children. But, my father was never very open about this matter probably because of the shame of divorce,much stronger in those times. In recent years I have had other thoughts about Frank that I shared with your father and our brother Casey, as well as with Paul, but there was no consensus. Although Stanley was the youngest son, it is very unlikely that the boy is he. The person seems too young in comparison to the others for that to be true."

So, not my Daddy but my great-Uncle Frank's son?!  If that is true, then where is he?  Didn't he see his father after the divorce? Does he have descendants?  Where are they?  

If this is true, then people devoted a great deal of energy into the conversion of data into secrets.

This investigation has revealed some confusion about the birth order of the Ludwig and Victoria offspring.  Here's the birth order; thanks John.

John Peter
Frank
Anthony
Casimir Joseph
Joseph
Stanley