The History Of Nest 86

By Druh Joseph M. Sobota, M.P.A. (9/22/07)

On April 14, 1907, a group of men, including Pawel Zabkiewicz and Mieczslaw Pawlik, met in a building on Harper Avenue in Detroit between St. Aubin and Dequindre and elected officers to form what is today Nest 86 of the Polish Falcons of America. Boleslaw Lisowski (1873-1936) was elected as the first president of the Nest that was given the temporary number 4 by the Alliance of Polish Falcons of the United States of America, at that time based in Chicago. The idea for organizing a Falcon Nest was not new to the area. Druh Lisowski, who was born in Poland in 1873 and immigrated to the United States in 1893, joined Nest 31 in 1895. Therefore, Nest 86 was formed out of Nest 31. The other officers elected at that first meeting were: Vice President Michal Kluczynski, Financial Secretary Blazej Zabkiewicz, Recording Secretary Antoni Szperling, Instructor Mieczyslaw Zawadzki, and Assistant Instructor Franciszek Zawadzki. The new Nest adopted Wladyslaw Reymont (1867-1925) as its patron. Reymont was a Polish novelist who was known for his realistic portrayals of peasant life in Poland; he won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1924.

The organizing members of the new Nest were committed to the Falcon ideals of a “sound mind in a sound body” and needed a location for gymnastics classes. Soon after organizing, a search began for a building for the new Nest. An existing structure was found near the corner of Chene and Ferry. Around this time, because of a numbering problem with national headquarters, the new Nest was given a new number - 86 - in July of 1907. In 1915, reorganization occurred within Nest 86 resulting in the formation of Nest 671 in Hamtramck. Nests 86 and 671 were reunited on January 13, 1922. During the merger, the decision was made to relocate to the Village of Hamtramck. Another merger with Nest 818 in 1927 increased the size of the Nest. Until Nest 86 acquired its own building, the Nest met at 10330 Jos. Campau. In 1944, Nest 820 merged with Nest 86. Meetings and activities were conducted in the Polish language until as recently as the 1970s, in deference to our senior Falcons who did not understand the English language.

Living the Falcon Motto

The early years of Nest 86 were marked with activity at the National level. In July 1909, members of Nest 86 were observers in the Falcons Alliance Ninth Convention in Cleveland. At that Convention, several Nests split from the Falcons Alliance and formed their own organization, the Free Falcons. This split was due to a disagreement with the Falcons Alliance decision to merge with the Polish National Alliance. In 1911, Nest 86 sent two members to compete in a Zlot in Warsaw. The Nest also sent athletes to compete in the Free Falcons National Zlot held in Toledo and returned with seven awards. In 1912, the dissident Nests reunified with the Falcons Alliance resulting in the national organization that exists today.

The members of Nest 86 took pride in their homeland and new country. In 1914, 18 members of Nest 86 joined the Polish army and some joined the American army to fight for the liberation of the motherland. All members saw action in both France and Poland. During the Second World War, 76 members of Nest 86 answered the call. Fortunately all of our members returned, but six returned with a Purple Heart. After the War in 1946, a banquet was held to thank and honor all the member veterans and each was presented with a check for $25. Some of the attendees at the banquet were Congressman Albin Okonski of Wisconsin, District Judge Joseph H. Moynihan, National Instructor Mieczyslaw Wasilewski, Hamtramck Mayor Dr. Stephen Skrzycki, and Judge Tadeusz Machrowicz who later became a congressman.

July 4 and 5, 1925, Nest 86 hosted the District Convention and Zlot. A huge parade started at St. Florian, following a Mass said by Bishop Joseph Plagens, and marched along Joseph Campau, Conant, and Caniff to Playfair Field where the Zlot drew huge crowds for a good program that made Hamtramck Mayor Peter Jezewski very proud.

In 1930, Toledo hosted the Nineteenth National Convention and Fifteenth Zlot. Nest 86 members participated. Members paid for their trip to Toledo by soliciting donations from various businesses. They received donations from the Hoffman Specialty Cake Company, Kowalski Sausage Company, Jaworski Sausage Company, Chene Baking Company, and Liberty Dairy. Connell Chevrolet donated the use of a vehicle to transport the membership and equipment. The Depression years were not kind to our members. Many times, members would come to the club to ask for assistance, and they were never turned away.

Nest 86 has hosted many district events. In 1935, Nest 86 hosted the District Convention and Zlot. The City decorated the town with flags and extended a warm welcome to its guests. In recent years, Nest 86 also hosted District Conventions in 1985 (in conjunction with the Zlot), 1997, and 2008. Nest 86 has also hosted the District Swieconka, District Wigilia, and the District Bowling Tournament. These events help us live our Falcon motto.

In 1938, Nest 86 participated in a Slovak zlot held at the State Fairgrounds in Detroit; the Falcons participated in several Slavic events through the 1960s. The year 1941 found the Falcons in Toledo for the District Convention and Zlot. Nest 86 sent 12 adult participants and 10 youth and returned with eight awards. At the Convention, two of our members were elected convention officers. In 1939, Nest 86 sent members to participate in a zlot in Windsor, Ontario, and returned with 14 medals.

In 1942, Nest 86 was prepared to celebrate its 35th jubilee on April 14th, but because Nest 31 was going to celebrate its 50th jubilee in June, Nest 86 postponed its jubilee banquet until November 22nd. The banquet was well publicized and every major organization in Hamtramck was represented. National President Dr. Teophil Starzynski was the main speaker.

In 1945, Nest 86 threw a wrinkle into the business of District XIII when the Nest filed a protest with National Headquarters that the District Convention Chairman was an officer of the PRCU and thus legally unable to chair the convention. National President Starzynski agreed and nullified the convention.

The proudest moment in the history of Nest 86 occurred in 1948 when Nest 86 proudly hosted the Twenty-fourth National Convention and Nineteenth Zlot held July 20 though July 28. This marked the first and only time that both events were held in Hamtramck. Delegates packed St. Florian church and were joined by the Blue and Gold Star Mothers. The convention committee worked intensely for ten days during the festivities to make our guests feel welcome. Delegates stayed at several hotels in downtown Detroit and sessions were held at the Copernicus Junior High auditorium. The banquet was held at the Book-Cadillac Hotel. Zlot participants stayed in the gymnasiums at Copernicus, one block away from the Nest, and track and field meets, which featured over 1,500 participants, were held at Keyworth Stadium. Ten years later, Nest 86 hosted another national event in Hamtramck – the Twentieth National Bowling Tournament, which featured 188 teams.

Our First Sokolnia

Beginning in 1922, Nest meetings and activities were held at rented facilities, but the number of activities and need for its own building grew. Member Adam Ostrowski offered $100.00 for the first six months of rent at the new temporary location. Soon a need for the club’s own building resulted. A committee consisting of John Ronkowski, Franciszek Huminski, Fred Pabst, Franciszek Grabowski, and J. Przedpelski was charged with the task of finding a location and constructing a new club building. Over the years, members put money aside in a bank for the purpose of building a new club. But in 1930, during the Great Depression, the bank went under and the Nest lost all the money. Still determined to have their own building, the members of Nest 86 put their money together to buy a house on the corner of Charest and Caniff and converted it to a hall. The club moved quickly on this purchase because the City was buying property for the purposes of constructing a new school. On November 2, 1930, the first hall at 3201 Caniff was officially opened. After the dedication of the building, the Nest formed a drum and bugle corps that played not only for Nest events, but also for Nest and National Falcon parades and festivities.

At a banquet held on April 25, 1935, Stanislaw Sporny became the first member of Nest 86 to be awarded the Bronze Legion of Honor. On November 27, 1940, Nest 86 acquired a new Falcon Banner. The Banner was blessed by Fr. Wolshon, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Apostles, and Falcon National President, Dr. Starzynski, pinned the Bronze Legion of Honor on the new Banner. At that same banquet, longtime Nest President Tadeusz Komorek was awarded the Bronze Legion of Honor.

Our Second Sokolnia

As the membership and activities of Nest 86 grew, the need for a newer and larger facility became more apparent. Nest 86 shared the building with Nest 821 and the Post 10 of the Polish Legion of American Veterans. In 1944, the Nest allocated $27,000 for a new building. In 1945, the Nest acquired a 94 by 112 foot parcel at the corner of Caniff and Klinger. The Nest formed a building committee consisting of M. Stankowski, Joseph Merchut, F. Huminski, Edmund Cichecki, Tadeusz Komorek, Wincenty Rozycki, Walter Hyso, Adam Ostrowski, Michal Papuga, and Edward Krzesiak. The plans called for a three-story steel supported structure on the corner of Caniff and Klinger at an estimated cost of $114,000. Druhowie Komorek, Rozycki, and Hyso were charged with overseeing the project. Construction began on the new building on August 14, 1947. Mayor and Nest 86 member Dr. Stephen S. Skrzycki placed the cornerstone on November 2, 1947, which was blessed by Msgr. Peter Walkowiak, pastor of St. Florian. The official opening took place on June 25, 1950 at 3501 Caniff –– a black tie affair. Though intended to be one of the highlights of the history of Nest 86, the details that led to the eventual construction became infamous in our Nest’s history but truly demonstrated the dedication and sacrifice made by many members of the Nest.

In 1947, Nest 86 initiated a campaign to raise funds for a new building. Thirty-two members of Nest 86, along with Nests 79, 821, 897, 939, and 940, and District XIII loaned Nest 86 $22,900 for the building. Post 10 loaned $3,000. In 1950, National Headquarters loaned $10,000 to Nest 86. The balance of $50,988.93 was a loan obtained from Liberty State Bank and Trust in 1951. One of the builders selected by the Nest in 1947 was Macomber Detroit Sales “to furnish and erect in place” certain steel on a “cost plus basis”. Nest 86 did not believe that the contractor was performing the work as directed and thus withheld payment. In July of 1951, Macomber filed suit in Wayne County Circuit Court for breach of contract. Trial began on December 16, 1954 and ended in twelve days with a verdict to Macomber. The Nest did not have a healthy balance sheet in December of 1954. Combined assets consisting of real and personal property totaled $81,500 and combined liabilities totaled $87,400 and was unable to pay the judgment to come. Nest 86’s motions for a vacated judgment and new trial were denied, and the court entered a $51,171.30 judgment against the Nest on February 2, 1955. Nest 86 refused to pay. In an attempt to collect its judgment, Macomber served a writ of garnishment upon Liberty State Bank but discovered no indebtedness to Nest 86! In the period between the verdict and the judgment, Nest 86 had successfully renegotiated its loan repayment schedule to its member debtors, created a trust mortgage, and conveyed all the property to National Headquarters which assumed the Nest’s $45,050.00 new trust mortgage obligation and the $37,723 loan made by Liberty State Bank, and forgave $4,950 owed on the National’s original loan to Nest 86. National would lease the building to Nest 86 for $950 a month for the first year and $900 a month thereafter. Nest member Walter Bielski, who happened to be Hamtramck City Treasurer, was named trustee of the trust mortgage. Druh Bielski was responsible for collecting payments made by Nest 86 and disbursing them to the creditors of the new trust mortgage. In March of 1955, three officers of Nest 86 opened an account at Liberty State Bank in the name of the Polish Falcons Alliance of America. This account was used to make deposits for all claims drawn against the account. Macomber once again filed suit, this time against Nest 86, National Headquarters, and trustee Bielski, alleging fraudulent conveyance of the property and that the bank account opened at Liberty State in the name of National Headquarters was improper. Judge Victor J. Baum ruled that the sale and transfer of the Nest’s property to National Headquarters was not fraudulent and that the bank account opened in the name of National Headquarters was proper because the money deposited in the account were dues and insurance premiums collected by the Nest on behalf of Headquarters. The judge also ruled that “[t]he trust mortgage agreement and trust mortgage, as well as the conveyances to the Alliance, have the earmarks of careful legal planning by highly competent counsel.” In conclusion, Nest 86 never paid the judgment because the Nest never had a penny in its name in the bank.

Over the years several events were held at the new club. The main fundraiser was the weekly bingo held on Tuesdays. The new club also featured a club room, game room, meeting room, and large room, bar, and kitchen for rentals.

Nest 821

The history of Nest 86 could not be complete without remembering the support and dedication offered daily by the members of Nest 821. When the Polish Falcons of America was first organized, many nests were organized by gender. Nest 821, the ladies’ Nest, was founded in Detroit on January 28, 1925, organized on October 17, 1925, and assigned its number on November 19, 1925, and placed under the patronage of Maire Curie-Skladowska on June 18, 1927. The first officers were President Zofia Stawicki, Vice President Leokadjia Grycki, Recording Secretary Klementyna Mikrut, Treasurer Natalja Tyrka, and Instructress Emilja Bojanowska. The Nest sent participants to the 1928 Zlot in Syracuse. Participants were sent to other Zlots, through 1976. Members were active participants in the festivities and functions of District XIII and engaged in various humanitarian causes such as the Red Cross and March of Dimes and for various charities supporting Poland. During the War, members helped to sell war bonds. The Nest organized parties and dances for Valentines Day and Halloween as well as a Polish Falcon ball. On April 30, 1944, Maria Godlewska became the first member of Nest 821 to be awarded the Bronze Legion of Honor. Members of Nest 821 who were strong leaders and made considerable contributions to the Falcon effort were Mary Bus, Helen Gill, Maria Godlewska, Stanislawa Kancyjan, Janina Krzesiak, Sophie Hyso, Florentyna Merchut, Ann Ogryski, Genevieve Roginski, Marcella Sobczynska, Regina Trzeciak, and Mary Wolny. Nest 821 voted to merge with Nest 86 in March of 1977.

Recent History

The City of Hamtramck and the membership began to change in the 1980s as the active membership began to age and the younger members were not active. Furthermore, the membership was no longer concentrated within the Hamtramck city limits. The youth gym classes were suspended in 1984. Weekly bingos were held into the early 1990s, but when both attendance and volunteers declined, and it was no longer profitable to keep the clubroom open, the decision was made to sell the building. On April 15, 1993, 86 years and one day after the founding of Nest 86, the building was sold.

Since the sale of the building, a small but dedicated group of members has been conducting the business of Nest 86. Meetings have been held at various sites in Hamtramck and Warren, and currently at the American Polish Century Club in Sterling Heights. The gym classes, suspended in 1984, were revived in the 1990s and held in conjunction with Nest 31. Youth members participated and placed in the 2007 National Zlot. Nest 86 sponsored an adult softball team in the 1990s and regularly sends participants to the National Bowling Tournament, National Golf Tournament, and National Softball Tournament.

The Nest remains active on the business-side of the Falcons by sending representatives to the district and national conventions who take an active role in the deliberations and operations. Nest 86 throughout its history has sent delegates to the National Convention and athletes to compete in the National Zlot and continues this tradition today. Two members of Nest 86, Tadeusz Komorek and Walter Hyso, and Sophie Hyso of Nest 821 served as National Director. Nest 86 also had a Detroit Tiger as a member: pitcher Steve Gromek.

The Nest continues to honor the active members with awards. The Nest has continued to award its dedicated members with Stars of Merit and Legion of Honor. Current Legion members are: Irene Cichocki, Stella Hyso, John Kmiec, Al Knauber, Janet Knauber, Philomena Kotowski, Regina Olszewski, Lillian Petrykowski, Louis Petrykowski, and Sabina Stucki.

Although no longer physically based in Hamtramck, Nest 86 continues to support the city through annual donations to the Hamtramck Public Library and the Hamtramck Goodfellows. Today Nest 86 has 400 benefit members and is the second largest Nest in District XIII. As Nest 86 enters its second century, the membership must continue to meet and exceed challenges to keep the Nest active and viable just like our founding membership did for us.