The beginning years were under the charter of "The Polish Library Association Of Philadelphia". All activities took place at 332 Girard Ave., the property of a Czechoslovakian group. Polonia’s support of the newly formed organization grew and it was apparent that larger quarters were needed. On January 18, 1907 the property, where at a Polonia meeting, the original motion was passed for the inaugurate conception for a Polish Home, The Arbeiter-Sangersbund at the address of 209-15 Fairmount Ave. was purchased for the sum of $17,000.00. Eventually a new charter was obtained under the name of "The Associated Polish Home of Philadelphia". The official opening under the new charter at the Fairmount Ave. property took place on Feb. 5, 1907.
 

The Polish Home Family

Polish Home's tradition has always been to house Cultural, Fraternal, Veteran, Civic and Community organizations. Accepted as customary is a practice that members of one group will also be members of another group housed within Polish Home, thus interrelated, yet active regular members of The Associated Polish Home.

Education

In September of 1923, a Polish Language School was organized and named after a Polish literary giant "Adam Mickiewicz". Through the years, unto the present, the school continues to perpetuate the Polish language and traditions through Polonia's youth. In its early days the School also provided English classes and courses in preparation for U.S. Citizenship, when required to incoming Polish immigrants. Today, this service is now largely provided by other Polish organizations in the City of Philadelphia and in the Delaware Valley as a whole. 

Over the years several educational groups have found a home at Polish Home. Included are The Polskie Kolko Miedzykolegjalne (PKM) or Polish Intercollegiate Club, an organization housed at Polish Home since 1915 whose purpose was to unite college students of Polish descent for participation and support in social, intellectual and cultural activities. The year 1918 saw the beginning of The Polski Uniwersytet Ludowy (PUL) or Polish Peoples University. The mission of this organization was to maintain the Polish language and broaden the knowledge about Poland and her culture amongst Polish emigres and Polish Americans in order to maintain a link with the Polish homeland.

The Polish High School Alumnae was founded in 1935 at the Polish Home to act as a vehicle for bringing new members into the organization. In 1981, The Polish Youth Organization (PYO) was founded to offer high school students the opportunity to participate in Polish culture. 

Drama

From within the Polish Home membership, a Polish Theatre was organized in 1917. Through the years the Theatre had it's name changed on several occasions from "Teatr Laura", "Treatr Sztuki", "Zwiazek Teatrow Polskich" until in the year of 1928 it adopted the name of "Teatr Stanislawa Przybyszewskiego", The theatrical group gained popularity and a total of 20 plays in the Polish language were performed. It was well received in Philadelphia and in many other distant cities where they were invited to play. In 1973 Polish Home again, acquired a theatre group under the name of "Polski Teatr Dramatyczny", the premier play "Niespodzianka" was performed at the Polish Home in March 23, 1974. The theatrical group also played in Camden, N.J. and Wilmington, Deleware. While dormant for nearly 25 years, the group was recently resurrected with the Premier presentation of the play "Werbel Domowy". The group continues to flourish and grow. 

Choruses

Another cultural group, The Paderewski Choral Society was organized in 1938. Prior to that date a choral group under the name "Halka" had been active for a period of time. The Paderewski Choral Society in its prime years gave a two act opera titled "Verbum Nobile" (Moniuszko) and sponsored many concerts deriving music from works of famous Polish composers such as; Gorecki, Moniuszko, Oginski, Chopin and Paderewski. In 1953 the chorus initiated in the Philadelphia area the colorful, Polish Harvest Festival. Until the 1990s the Paderewski Choral Society concentrated on light classical and Polish Folk music. Today the chorus focusses on more modern songs. Also in the 1990s, the Paderewski Choral Society evolved into asecond chorus, The Paderewski Female Chorus which as member of the Polish Singers’ Alliance is a consistent winner of many singing awards.

World War II and Veteran’s Groups

During the 2nd World War the members approved a committee in support of the U. S. Savings Bond Drive. The Polish Home Committee was instrumental in a total Bond sale in excess of $300,000.00 and the administrative expenses incurred during the drive were covered by Polish Home. In response to a need for assistance to Veterans of the 2nd World War, an American Legion Post, "C. Pulaski" was organized, whose task was to give aid to Veterans and their families according to need. Mothers and wives of veterans organized and were active in raising funds for the "War Chest", and were directly involved in helping the wounded by working with the American Red Cross. For their efforts, they received a certificate of Commendation. 
 

Other veterans organizations that found a home at Polish Home during the war years were the Zwiazek Wolnych Polakow, (Union of Free Poles) Polish Kombatants (SPK) Gr. 36, Polish Home Army (AK - Armia Krajowa), and the Polska Liga Morska. Fraternal organizations such as Polish National Alliance Gr. 1 also maintain Polish Home as their base. 

Moving on

Up until World War II, the majority of the residents of the Fairmount area/Northern Liberties neighborhood was populated with Polish people. After the war, the Poles began to move to the suburbs much like many of the other ethnic groups did at that time. This move created a loss in membership and necessitated the transfer of the organization to another section of the city. The present site at Academy Road was decided upon and the property purchased in the late fall of 1958. The official opening event took place in Dec. 21, 1958. 
 

Due to the cramped quarters in the original building, in 1960, a Fund Raising Committee was re-organized with plans for building larger accommodations. By coincidence, in Poland's Millenium Year of Christianity, in 1966, the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner in November was held in a new auditorium. Even though there was still much to be completed, members rejoiced to see the net results of many years of struggle. The new building cost $68,000.00. The Fund Raising Committee with the support of the members raised $54,000.00 through the sale of bonds. A loan was acquired from the Union of Polish Women to cover the rest of the debt. By 1969 the bonds were paid off and a bronze plaque was placed in the clubroom foyer listing the names of the organizations and the many members who have made contributions to the building fund.
 

From the year of 1934, a Ladies Auxilliary had been active at the Polish Home and was reorganized in 1961. These ladies took upon themselves the task of refurnishing and remodeling the interior and exterior of the Polish Home buildings. In addition to this, over the years, an approximate sum of $27,000.00 was donated by the Ladies Aux. to defray expenses and towards repayment of bonds to Bond Holders. In the 1990s, the next phase of Polish Home remodeling was under taken with the helpby a younger second generation of directors and members. 

Entertainment

In addition to being a cultural hub of Polonia in Philadelphia, in the past, Polish Home was a social hub as well, particularly in the 1940s and 1950s. At the Fairmount Avenue location, the second floor ballroom was the scene of elegant banquets hosting hundreds of people. There were also regular dinners held in a smaller hall off to the side of the main hall. The first floor boasted several bars and dance floor that was busy every week, with the bar customers often standing 2 to 3 people deep. Long-time members recall that on weekends, the clubroom was "standing room only". In those years, anyone who was Polish in the city of Philadelphia, spent some time at the Polish Home whether for cultural or social reasons. Even Polish visitors form other cities and from overseas made Polish Home a mandatory visiting spot. 
 

The move to the suburbs in the late 1950s offered some other entertainment opportunities. The new Academy Rd location came with a large property that was soon fenced in to provide a lovely picnic grove for Polish Home members. An outdoor stage and bandstand were built and picnics were held every Summer Sunday afternoon. It was not unusual to have crowds in excess of 500 people at these picnics dancing to the music of popular Polish bands both from within the city and from more distant places. A prize wheel booth was built and was very active during the picnic season as was the outdoor kitchen run by the Ladies Auxiliary. 
 

At about the same time the grounds were being prepared, the original bar from Fairmount Avenue was disassembled and brought to the new location, part of which was transformed into the first clubroom. The huge crowds that came to Polish Home for weekend entertainment early on demonstrated that the club was quickly outgrowing the capacity of the original building. (This building had previously been a three story private residence, most likely a farmhouse.) Efforts were soon undertaken to build a new building that would boast a 3000 square foot ballroom that would rival its Fairmount Avenue predecessor along with a new clubrooom in the lower level of the structure. 
 

The tradition of banquets, theme nights and other parties continued into the 1960s and 1970s in the ballroom, and music and dancing entertained packed houses in the clubroom on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. As membership declined in the early 1980s, music was discontinued on Sunday nights. Friday nights were soon to follow. To supplement declining revenues from both the clubroom and a dwindling membership, Polish Home entered a new era as a rental hall that is still active today. In addition to hosting weddings and other parties, Polish Home has become the home base for various non-Polish organizations which at one time or another included String Bands, a Magicians Clubs, Unions, The Boy Scouts and several Singles and dance clubs. 

Challenges

The Associated Polish Home through its history has housed over 15 different Polish groups in the City of Philadelphia and has provided space for numerous other civic groups as well. At one time the organization could boast a membership of well over 1000 people whose variety of skills were donated to the organization over the years. The Polish Home early on helped Polish immigrants get their start in this country before these responsibilities were inherited by other organizations in the city, and was the well from which many other Polish organizations drew their inspiration. In its heyday, Polish Home helped the veterans and victims of war, sent assistance to Poland and offered entertainment as well as a social and cultural haven for people of Polish descent. Today, it continues to be a home to many Polish organizations. However it faces many challenges ahead in the new century to come.
 

Changing demographics once again threatens future membership of the organization. In the 1950s, Polish people were moving more or less as a group to the northern and northeastern neighborhoods of Philadelphia. A simple change of location was the solution to Polish Home’s original problem of declining membership. Today, people of Polish descent are moving out of primarily Polish neighborhoods into ever further suburbs are now spread out over the entire tri-state area. There is now more competition from other Polish organizations and all clubs have to look harder and further for new members who are no longer localized in distinct neighborhoods. 
 

More disturbing is the fact that there is increased competition with other forms of entertainment along with an overall decline in interest in traditional membership clubs. Those members who are still active are aging and departing at a faster rate than they can be replaced. All this is happening at a time when the cost of maintaining a club with its huge overhead expenses, aging infrastructure and tax liabilities has never been greater. 

Future

Looking forward to Polish Home’s second century, a glimmer of hope can be seen on the horizon. Historical trends are often cyclical and there is evidence of new life being breathed into many of Polish Home’s affliliated organizations. Increasingly, Polish-Americans and Polish immigrants alike are attempting to rediscover or maintain their ethnic identities. Today, interest in a particular aspect of Polish culture draws new people into the building and frequently results in membership in several other organizations as well. This happens as individuals quickly learn about Polish Home’s other activities. Mutual membership in other organizations used to be a traditional courtesy. It has now become a functional necessity. This multiple interest and membership is beginning to spill over into Polish Home as a whole as members of affiliated organizations discover the needs of the organization and try to help out where they can and as a result become more invested in the success of the entire organization. 

Teamwork

Teamwork is a corporate buzz-word of the 1990s and will undoubtedly be a necessary ingredient to Polish Home’s survival and success in the 21st century. There have been many members of the Associated Polish Home who have given countless years of service and made personal sacrifices for the betterment of the organization. This degree of dedication will still be necessary. In addition, the Associated Polish Home will have to reevaluate the way it operates and remain flexible to changing times and attitudes. This will all have to accomplished in the face of smaller membership roles and scarcer resources. All the affiliated organizations and the Executive board will have to work together and together share in the successes of the culture that brought us all together 100 years ago. 

Respectfully submitted by Stephen S. Skorczynski 
(Edited and updated from synopses authored by Mrs. Dowgul and Mr. Wajda from the 75th anniversary).