The first meeting of the Polish Heritage Society was held on Tuesday, October 24, 2007. The group was co-founded by Harry Kozikowski and Mary Anne (Kelly) Zak, with a lot of help from Lorraine (Kulas) Rapacki. The inaugural members of the group defined their mission to collect, preserve, and perpetuate the history and culture of Polish immigrants who began arriving in the Suffield area in the late 1890s. The Suffield Historical Society adopted the PHS as a subcommittee in the spring of 2007.
In the early years, the PHS, predominantly comprising first-generation Polish Americans, made significant strides in documenting their family histories and interviewing others to gather more information about the immigrants who came to Suffield. These invaluable histories are now housed in the archive room of Kent Memorial Library. Notably, several members created a map illustrating the settlement patterns of the early Poles throughout Suffield, dispelling the notion of a singular “Little Poland.”
The group met ten months each year until COVID-19 prevented such gatherings. The meetings were lively, educational, and reminiscent of past experiences. Sadly, most of the first-generation Polish Americans are no longer with us, and meetings are not as regular as they once were. However, the 20th Anniversary of the Polish Heritage Society, a milestone that we are all proud of, is a perfect opportunity also to celebrate Polish American Heritage Month. We will meet on Wednesday, October 22, at 10 a.m. at the Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association (105 Bridge St.)
At the meeting, Sara Zak will discuss the “Polish Declarations of Admiration and Friendship.” See the Suffield Historical Society article for a description. Attendees are welcome to bring pictures or stories of their Polish and Lithuanian ancestors.