On the evening of April 20, 2013, over 400 people gathered in St. Mary’s Recreation Center in Bremond Texas for “An Evening Of Heritage”, an event sponsored by the Bremond Historical Society that celebrated Bremond’s Polish community and the Polish Oral History Project. In February of 2012 the Bremond Historical Society was awarded a grant from the Baylor University Institute of Oral History to record oral histories from the Polish Community.
Guests of honor at the banquet were those citizens who were interviewed for the Polish Oral History Project and those who conducted the interviews. As the participants entered the church hall they quickly migrated to the many tables full of old Bremond memorabilia which included photos, newspaper articles, historical papers, old farm and home instruments, pottery, music albums, quilts, flags, Polish school books and a gorgeous display of old wedding dresses. Musicians Leonard Kasowski and Charlie Kubeczka provided plenty of good old Polish tunes for the guests.
Next on the agenda was a blessing by Msgr. Bole Zientek, followed by a delicious Polish meal consisting of kielbasa, gołąbki, kluski and other delicacies. After the meal, introductions of the people that were interviewed for the project along with readings of excerpts of the oral histories began. The large crowd listened intently to the very interesting readings of the quotes from the people interviewed for this project which included a whos-who of Bremond including Florine Yezak Bartkowiak, Agnes Wrzesinski Bashinski, Ted Bashinski, Leonard “Al” Bielamowicz, Elenor Nobra Bielamowicz, Floyd Bielamowicz, Beatrice Tomczeszyn Bielamowicz, Richard “Pop” Bielamowicz, Joe” Lee Cicherski, Helen Burda Grocholski, Nancy Swick Heaton, Ralph Hopcus, Augustine “Tinka” Wierzbicki Hopcus, Margaret Swick Johnson, Tommy Kotch, Chester Kubiak, Bernandine Woychesin Kubiak, Regina Bielamowicz Swick Lloyd, Brian Marshall, L. B. Mushinski, Fred Novak, Mildred Tomczeszyn Nowak, Josephine Nobra Okonski, Ernest O’Lexy, Wanda Kotch Ray, Frances Szymanski Robertson, Florence Szymanski Smith, Ricky Swick, Stella Groholski Yanowski, Betty Supak Yezak, Bruno Zajac and Marie Yezak Zan
Due to the hard work of the Historical Society and the many volunteers, the banquet was a huge success. It’s always nice to see such a large turn out of people interested in their Polish heritage.
Below are a few photos of the banquet and there is a slideshow of many more photos on page 2.
Slideshow of many more photos on page 2.
James Smock has always held an interest in his Polish ancestors and heritage. He is a native Houstonian with Polish roots in Bremond, Marlin and New Waverly, Texas.