Polish American baby boomer reflects

As a child I remember seeing pictures of my grandfather who had died thirty one years before my birth! That didn't register until I was much older. I just knew that he had died when my father was 13 years old. That part did register since I could relate to that as a child. What, indeed, would it be like to lose a parent that young, I remember thinking. Not easy. But imagine being the oldest of seven children born in America (that was my father, born in 1902) to Polish immigrant parents who only spoke Polish. So we can do the math together and understand that circa 1915 Wladyslaw Rogucki was deceased.

Wladyslaw was a handsome man of average height. He arrived in this country from Russian Poland (that's all I know) sometime before or at the 20th century. His looks complimented the beauty of my grandmother. They looked the match. I want to say that they were on the same passage to the United States. I also want to say that they came through Ellis Island and found their way to Detroit; the prosperous booming Detroit that was attracting Polish immigrant settlement for many years; a happy and strong Polish community by the time they arrived. I wonder who preceded them. Other family I know nothing about? Was it simply word of mouth; stories about prosperity making its way back to Poland? I would also like to suggest that since they met on the passage, they married soon thereafter in America. Was mutual attraction involved on that passage? Did it come later after they landed and settled? Did they never meet on the passage? Were they not on the same passage at all? Or, did they start the passage as husband and wife? Well, I sometimes like to pretend I know all the answers that would satisfy a hungry void inmy soul. Truth is, I don't know. It's the subject of movies but I just don't know the circumstances surrounding their decisions and arrival.

There is one picture I remember that speaks to me of a strong unbreakable admiration between Wladyslaw and Francyska. To Admire, as far as I'm concerned, has a stronger impact than to love. Love is the word of the day, but in those days words like mutual respect, admiration, honor seem better suited. Admiration suggests contentment. If contented can one possibly dislike the other? I think not. When things in my own life seem bleak, their portrait comes to mind and gives me an unspeakable calm. As you know, in old photographs/portraits it wasn't popular to smile for the photographer. Yes, well, I've seen Wladyslaw and Franciszka in those kinds of pictures too. But the one I remember most shows a couple that were charmed and harboring some playful mischief and amusement. In their eyes and through the slight upward curve of the lips I've tried to imagine: what were they thinking? Was their discourse humorous during this photo shoot? Did they just buy their first home? They were definitely piqued for the shoot.

How old were they? Forget about age. It truly is hard to tell age in ancestral photography isn't it? They could be eighteen and look thirty. That was a sign of the times. Now, just the opposite. My daughter, third generation Polish American is turning forty and still gets carded for a glass of wine! Perhaps my grandfather was considerably older than my grandmother. After all, he did die when his oldest was a teenager. I've never thought to seek out his death certificate. I know he died in his sleep, that's all I know. I'm saying that a lot, aren't I?

While looking for clues to learn more about my Detroit Polish roots, I stumbled on an article titled, The Polish Immigrant in Detroit [up]to 1914 written by Sister M. Remigia, Felician Sister, O.S.F. ,The earliest date I find in this article, which by the way shows every credited source, dates as far back as 1870. She writes: "Having established a home and acquired some surplus capital, the more enterprising Pole turned to industrial and commercial pursuits." I gleaned a little understanding of what life must have been like after Wladyslaw's untimely death. During this era, circa 1915, Detroit was a thriving industrial base driven by a supportive economy and growth spurt. Did they come with money?

What was the circumstance of their decision to start over? My father's birth certificate identifies both parents from Russian Poland. As I understand it this was Russian occupied Poland; not Russia per se or even Russian people. They were Poles governed by Russian monarchy. I used to think we were Russian, Polish, yes, but Russian. Not exactly. Since the borders of Poland yielded to the pressure of Russia, Prussia and Austria, over the years, and the identity is Russian Poland on my father's birth certificate, they must have come from that area which was partitioned by Russian defeat of the Poles. If this was the political climate it seems likely that they saw more than a chance to prosper financially in the US. Their decision was likely instigated by oppression they experienced and the late nineteenth century cry for independence that became universal amongst the Polish population (having started in the early nineteenth century as being of interest . They probably were looking for freedom and political stability. It couldn't have been an easy decision. My thoughts on this are supported by a post to Polonia Today, a website with much written from an historical perspective.

In one's youth, reaching for the stars, so to speak, is universally the real wealth that the young have to their advantage. Anything is possible when you are young. It isn't the time one would contemplate whether or not one would ever again step on one's motherland soil. I'm sure many that came to America during this period never did return or visit Poland again.

The immigrant generation of this time did achieve so much and at the same time did sacrifice so much. I know that Franciszka owned a grocery store and I know the oldest of the seven children helped with the store. While I don't remember if I ever knew whether or not the grocery business was entered into after Wladyslaw died, it might very well have been. Maybe Franciszka was left with seven children and women didn't work in industry back in those days. On the other hand, maybe the family including Wladyslaw saw opportunity to serve the Polish community upon arrival. Most certainly it was a Polish grocery in a Polish settlement, as neither spoke English. Regardless, Wladyslaw did die and the business, as I knew of it, was after that time.

postscript: At the very least I hope to partially piecing together an idea of what life was like for my Polish ancestors. Why now and how did this come about? I happened on an online catalog in which I saw items that triggered memories that stimulated my inquiry of just how much I could remember which then led me to just how much I can discover given the wonderful world of web (my name for www). The first item I saw was the book At Hanka's Table, by Hanka Sawka. I'm a sucker for ethnic cookbooks and this one doesn't disappoint. One hundred recipes, 1 cup of history and a helping of special holidays. All to tempt your palate and to awaken your senses.

The next book I discovered was Dreams and Stones by Magdalena Tulli, discovered after I wrote this piece. The research done to understand the era of my grandparents was fast forwarded with this book that speaks of the building of a city. What is extremely poignant are words that describe this book. "An inner-outer dance of cityscape with the taut emotion, terror and psyche of the 'human.' Where are we?" It asks the reader to consider, indirectly, that which I, finally, have begun to wonder about. "A dance of cityscape", is a perfect segue to my next muse.

Next: Polish Culture: A celebration of Polish music and dance. Join me next time as Katarzyna muses...

Quote from the link preceding: "In the face of the loss of the statehood and the defeat of successive uprisings, an enormous role in maintaining Polish identity was played by culture. This culture connection created two patterns in the 19th century that keep on influencing Poland and Poles even today: Romanticism and Positivism. "

My wish for you: Celebrate all of life all your life