Many immigrants into Toledo took the route of self-employment or owning their own shops–groceries, dress shops, tailoring, etc. Każmierz Czarnecki did just that–he was a self-employed businessman with several interests.
Month: September 2026
Helen Lewandowski, a World War I Immigrant
Helen Podlas Lewandowski was born about 1890 in Poland, likely somewhere near Warsaw. She was the daughter of Adam Podlas and Anna Nagorski. Helen’s parents came to the United States in July of 1914, just as World War I was starting in Europe.
Baby Dillinger, Steve Kotowicz
Inspired by John Dillinger, Toledo had seen crimes committed by “baby Dillingers” through the 1930s. Most of these crimes were committed by young men and were hold ups, robberies, car thefts.
Boleslaus Dalkowski
Boleslaus was born in Toledo to Adalbert and Michalina Pyszka on 14 July 1874 and baptized in St. Mary’s Parish on 19 July. He was one of two sons, the youngest, older brother was named Frank. The 1880 census shows the family living on Franklin Avenue.
A. A. Paryski: Ameryka-Echo
The Ameryka Echo had an interesting history and it had an interesting leader. Started in Toledo by A. A. (Antoni Alfred) Paryski in 1889, it was a cultural newspaper that was often pro-labor.
Edward Zygila
As mentioned in the post about the Junction Civic Club, Edward Zygila was a well-known photographer in Toledo’s Polonia, having two photography studios, one in Lagrinka off of Lagrange Street and the other in the Kuschwantz on Junction Avenue. For a time, his location in the Kuschwantz was on Nebraska Avenue.
Junction Civic Club
About ten years ago, I was corresponding via email with Fr. John Extejt for a short while. Fr. Extejt shared a photo of the Junction Civic Club, which was a group of men from the area who were involved in politics and civic engagement.