This year PACT is organizing a trip to Hamtramck, Michigan; once a stronghold of Polish immigrants and Polish culture. Hamtramck was originally settled by German farmers, but Polish immigrants flooded into the area when the Dodge Brothers plant opened in 1914. Poles still make up a large proportion of the population. It is sometimes confused with Poletown, a traditional Polish neighborhood, which lies mostly in the city of Detroit and includes a small part of Hamtramck. As of the 2000 census, over 22% of Hamtramck’s population is of Polish origin; in 1970, it was 90% Polish. ST. Florian Church was the center of Polish culture and Polish events. It is named in honor of Florjan (Florian) patron of Poland and Upper Austria; his feast day is May 4. Today, you can still find authentic Polish grocery stores, bakeries, restaurants and an art center. Our tour will include a tour of St. Florian Church, the Polish Art Center, lunch at a Polish restaurant and time to shop at the Polish bakery and grocery store. If you have questions about this trip, please email us at www.info@polishcommunity.org. Deadline to sign up for this trip is May 1st, so reserve your seat on the bus early. The price of the trip is $40 per person for non members and $35 per person for PACT members. This price will include the bus trip to and from Hamtramck, a tour guide at St. Florian Polish Church, and lunch at the Polonia Restaurant. Lunch consists of soup, salad, pierogi, kielbasa and potato pancakes. We will also visit the Polish Art Center for a talk on Polish pottery and a shopping at the New Palace bakery and Srodek’s grocery store. There will free time to shop and browse.
Please send your check to PACT, P.O. Box 1033, Sylvania, Ohio, 43560 by the first of May. Also include the name and phone number of all that are going.
Don’t let the bus leave without you. Join us for a day in Hamtramck!
