The surnames I'm searching info for:
Grzymala (aka Gimala), Sokolowski, Hereda, Yorkov all with roots in Poland or Polish Austria before coming to America in the early 1900's.
Sokolowski's settles in the Natrona & New Kensington areas of WesternPA. Some settled in Chicago building and selling furniture. Others then moved to Weirton, WVA. A nephew with the last name of Balinski was sponsored to come to America. After a while, he married and moved to the Chicago, IL area. He was a cake decorator.
The Hereda's lived in White Glen, W. VA; Clarksville, PA; New Kensington, PA; & Kinloch, PA. Two Hereda brothers came to America. One settled in the Arnold, PA. The other settled in nearby New Kensington, PA.
My husband's family: Jenkins and Minton from Wales; Knox (Scotch/Irish) who lived in Homer City/Indiana area of Western PA. Heubert who lived in the North side of Pittsburgh, PA, then called Allegheny City; and Cheswick, PA.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Catching the Genealogy Bug
I never dreamed I'd be so involved in genealogy! The way I caught this bug was quite innocent. When my "Babbu" (Polish grandma) was in a nursing home when she was in her nineties, my mom made her a photo album with pictures of her parents, and relatives most of whom were still in Poland. I have been the family photographer and keeper of the photo albums since I received a Kodak Brownie camera as a gift when I was in third grade. As I wasn't even aware that these photos existed, I became quite excited about them. I asked my mom if I could have Babbu's album when she died. Mom said I could.
I had that album for quite a few years & just kept it with my other photo albums. When my husband was suddenly thrown into an early retirement, I paniced. We had just bought a raised beach house in South Carolina. The problem was that we went from two huge homes with cellars and attics to 826 square feet! Needless to say, there wasn't much we could take south. Besides Babbu's & my albums, I had a plastic storage container full of photos our daughter gave us of her chidren. She always had double prints made and we got a set. I couldn't give or throw them away, so I bought a scanner then I could keep them on my computer.
After we were settled, I would periodically grab a handful of photos out of the tub and scan them. One day I decided, I should begin at the beginning. So I began scanning Babbu's album. As I did, I thought of the stories I was told about these people in the photos. Then I began typing short stories about the various photos. I asked my mom some questions about them and the bug bit me. I've been working on the family history and genealogy ever since!
I had that album for quite a few years & just kept it with my other photo albums. When my husband was suddenly thrown into an early retirement, I paniced. We had just bought a raised beach house in South Carolina. The problem was that we went from two huge homes with cellars and attics to 826 square feet! Needless to say, there wasn't much we could take south. Besides Babbu's & my albums, I had a plastic storage container full of photos our daughter gave us of her chidren. She always had double prints made and we got a set. I couldn't give or throw them away, so I bought a scanner then I could keep them on my computer.
After we were settled, I would periodically grab a handful of photos out of the tub and scan them. One day I decided, I should begin at the beginning. So I began scanning Babbu's album. As I did, I thought of the stories I was told about these people in the photos. Then I began typing short stories about the various photos. I asked my mom some questions about them and the bug bit me. I've been working on the family history and genealogy ever since!
Choosing a Blog Title
I wasn't prepared to begin this blog. I saw a link on a friend's wall and clicked it. So, it was difficult choosing a Display Name, Blog title, URL & Template. I am an American, but only the second generation here in America on my dad's side and third generation on my mom's side. In fact, my dad's first two siblings were born in Polish Austria.
I am very proud of my Polish roots. I've always told my husband that he got something very unique in me, a pure breed, as most people in America have a multi-ethnic background. For example, his mother was Scotch Irish and his dad Welsh.
I chose the title for my blog as a play on words (bred/bread). I am proud to be bred pure Polish, but I love all of the Polish traditions that my parents and grandparents taught by keeping them in our lives. Polish foods are a big part of our heritage and are found in all of our traditions, especially for the holidays. Also, I come from professional cooks and bakers on both sides. My mom's parents owned a restaurant called "Louis' Restaurant". I did not see it as they closed it right before World War I. My dad's family owned a cafe. Originally it was called "Hereda Cafe", but when they bought the property and buildings of a closed coal mine south of town in our Pennsylvania home, they made the largest building into a bar & hotel, later adding a separate six unit motel beside the hotel, they changed the name to "Hereda Hotel".
That hotel and the business it housed including a restaurant and catering lasted through three generations. I was there nearly every day of my life until I went to college. Twice I lived there; once with my paents and sister, after my father's vehicle accident, and I spent one summer living there, helping as a chamber maid and working and playing at a local swimming pool down the road.
Of all the Polish foods my family made and I make today, my favorite is baking a Polish Holiday bread called Paszka. It is a sweet bread filled with cherries and raisins. At Easter dough is rolled into coils and a cross is placed on the top before it rises and is baked. So that is why I named my blog, Polish Bread!
I am very proud of my Polish roots. I've always told my husband that he got something very unique in me, a pure breed, as most people in America have a multi-ethnic background. For example, his mother was Scotch Irish and his dad Welsh.
I chose the title for my blog as a play on words (bred/bread). I am proud to be bred pure Polish, but I love all of the Polish traditions that my parents and grandparents taught by keeping them in our lives. Polish foods are a big part of our heritage and are found in all of our traditions, especially for the holidays. Also, I come from professional cooks and bakers on both sides. My mom's parents owned a restaurant called "Louis' Restaurant". I did not see it as they closed it right before World War I. My dad's family owned a cafe. Originally it was called "Hereda Cafe", but when they bought the property and buildings of a closed coal mine south of town in our Pennsylvania home, they made the largest building into a bar & hotel, later adding a separate six unit motel beside the hotel, they changed the name to "Hereda Hotel".
That hotel and the business it housed including a restaurant and catering lasted through three generations. I was there nearly every day of my life until I went to college. Twice I lived there; once with my paents and sister, after my father's vehicle accident, and I spent one summer living there, helping as a chamber maid and working and playing at a local swimming pool down the road.
Of all the Polish foods my family made and I make today, my favorite is baking a Polish Holiday bread called Paszka. It is a sweet bread filled with cherries and raisins. At Easter dough is rolled into coils and a cross is placed on the top before it rises and is baked. So that is why I named my blog, Polish Bread!
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