The United Polish Societies Drum and Bugle Corps was created in 1938. The corps made its public debut in that year's Halloween Parade, dressed in mummer's costumes. Later that year, they marched in their corps uniforms in the Armistice Day* parade in Beaver Falls.
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| United Polish Societies Drum and Bugle Corps on Laughlin Memorial Library steps circa 1938 25th Anniversary Program United Polish Societies of Ambridge |
The United Polish Societies 25th Anniversary Program identifies the band members as follows:
First row: Alfreda Ryzowicz, R. Giska, E. Gadomski, A. Barszcz, S. Barszcz, L. Grzegorek, D. Gadomski, A. Gause, H. Wolicki, R. Tomaszewski, L. Topolski, W. Ryzowicz, J. Lojek, F. Skindzier, Vaclav Klimek, instructor.
Second row: E. Terlewski, E. Kalinowski, F. Jankiewicz, G. Sulkowski, R. Makowski, L. Ostrowski, H. Urbanik, G. Lipinski, S. Gruszczynski, S. Malinowski, A. Kokoszka, D. Rubel, John F. Tomaszewski, president.
Third row: S. Kowalski, I. Bialorucki, R. Lojek, W. Swiniarska, G. Kokoszka, D. Wagner, D. Topolski, E. Pokryzwnicki, D. Tomaszewski, R. Szczepaniak, H. Wisniecwski.
Fourth row: W. Janicki, W. Bajek, H. Barszcz, J. Kosinski, A. Sowa, E. Rubel, V. Janicki, P. Lewandowski, R. Kasper, A. Janicki, H. Kowalski.
Drum Major First Half: Alfreda Ryzowiecz, Second Half: Dolores Tomaszewski. Flags donated by: Stanley Ference, Frank Ference, Stanley Jurkowski, Jr., and J. C. Smalling.
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There are a lot of familiar Ambridge family names on that list. I had to laugh, because my spellchecker was really busy, marking all the last names but one as misspelled. The only name my spellchecker approved of was "Wagner."
Vaclav Klimek taught music and led the Ambridge Community Band, Ambridge Symphony Orchestra, and Sewickley Symphony Orchestra, although he made his living as a home builder.
My mother's maiden name was "Gause. My sister who does genealogy is checking to see if the "A. Gause" in the photo might be related to us.
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The United Polish Societies of Ambridge was founded in May 1930 with the aim of working in the interest of all Polish people in Ambridge and keeping Polish language and customs alive.
Ambridge's Polish National Alliance, Gr. 1013, and Polish Falcons Nest 182 were the most prominent groups in United Polish Societies. I'm not sure which other Ambridge Polish groups were officially part of the United Polish Societies, but the 25th Anniversary Program has photos of members of the following groups:
Polish-American Citizen Club of Ambridge,
Polish Women's Alliance, Gr. 300,
Polish Army Veterans Post 60,
Women's Auxiliary of Polish Veterans Post 60,
St. Stanislaus Gr. 889, P. R.C.U. (Polish Roman Catholic Union),
St. Stanislaus P.T.O.,
St. Hedwig Society, Gr. 47,
St. Joseph Union, Gr. 58,
Queen Wanda Society, Gr. 2193,
Rosary Society (of St. Stanislaus?).
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* Now Veteran's Day
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