A-Z Blogging Challenge - The letter P is for Poland!

In 2017, there was a challenge. I heard about it from jillballau blog and more information can be found out about it on the A-Z Blogging Challenge (which was at http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/) page itself. However, as I was testing links I found the A-Z Blogging Challenge link is no longer working *frown*

Many people had done this challenge in April 2017, but I’m a rebel and do things when I have time, so I’ll do mine now. I’ve been working on it over many days, and was hoping to get it all done before posting BUT it’s taking me a lot longer than I expected. I’ll do a few posts now and work on the rest. 

I know I have about ½ of this challenge done in draft format, so not too bad.  J

What can I say – I’m an original. So, here I go…

The letter P is for Poland!

If you have been reading the past postings, you have noticed I have mentioned Poland more than a few times. 

My Paternal side comes from around Nur, Poland which is on the North East of Warsaw. Where the Bug and Nurzec Rivers meet. 

Google Earth map of where the 2 rivers meet as my grandmother described.

When my paternal grandmother told me, when I was a child, was her and her cousins loved to play in these rivers. It was some of the best times of her childhood. Later, I got to know just how rare good times were at anytime in Poland. 

Anyhow, where my paternal grandmother and her side came from was Poland but before 1919 it was Russia. It was only known as Poland once again after the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919. Then Poland reemerged. This was good and bad. Good because Poland, after 123 years, was back on the map, but bad because this treaty didn't make mention just how much land Poland was to be. Because of this, Russia was trying to take over as much as it could. 

This was led to the battles all around Warsaw in 1920 when it fell. It feel and my grandmother and great grandmother were trying to get out of Poland. Eventually, my grandmother and great grandmother got out in August 1920 and arrived at Ellis Island in September 1920. 

From Google Earth on 24 December 2016. The white lines could be the track Genowefa and Maryanne took to get to Danzig (Gdansk).

From Google Earth on 24 December 2016. The white lines could be the track Genowefa and Maryanne took to get to Danzig (Gdansk).

Shortly after than the iron curtain was put up and very little information was able to get in and out. Apparently, from what I've learned from our cousin who still lives in Poland, they did write back and forth to each other keeping in mind the mail was being read before they would get it so they had to be careful. I know this as a fact because our cousin had a picture of my father when he was a boy and they had the same photo as I have of my great grandmother, her sons and my father. 

Picture of my father which is 1st cousin had in Poland. It was taken in NJ.
Credit Krzysztof Wyrzyskowski

Then World War 2 happened, and communication was cut off again. My grandmother thought everyone was killed and told me this growing up. 

I can only imagine she's smiling down from heaven at me for finding our one cousin that's left on her mother's side. I haven't been able to find any on her father's side -- yet. 

Other Poland

Golina, Poland

We do have another connection to Poland. This is from my maternal grandfather name Apolonius
Jagodzinski who is an interesting character. I've written about him before in blog posts. 

I have been able to find another naturalization paper which list Golina, Poland as the area he came from. However, I haven't traced this side - yet - because of the other areas were my research has taken off. 

Google Earth placement of Golina, Poland

Another reason is because before you can go back to the country the immigrant has come from you must gather all the information you an in the last/current country. I'm still doing this as this is a person who's changed his name countless times and has moved around a lot. I still haven't found where he's buried or when he's died. 

I do know, according to his ship manifest, he has a sister, but I haven't been able to find information on her either. 

His 1905 Ship manifest where his sister information is. Credit

This is an area for more research which I think is going to be hard because it was one of the worst parts of World War 2 was here. I've read some information on people searching here and it wasn't very easy at all. 

Wilno/Vilnius Poland

Google Earth of the area around where they lived

My maternal line, the Ostrzycki, came from Poland as well. I've done a write up on them previously.

Again, I haven't had much time to research this area of Poland. Although one of our cousin's still lives nearby and has taken some other relatives to a nearby mock up of what the house and living was like back then. She's given me some pictures of the area.

Outside of a house in the same town as my ancestors. Credit. Anna Ostrzycki

Inside of a house in the same town as my ancestors. Credit. Anna Ostrzycki

As you can see much different than what we currently have and think of for Poland!