A SHORT HISTORY OF THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL HOME

OF JERSEY CITY, N.J.

Once again, as during its founding years and at times in between, the Ukrainian National Home of Jersey City has weathered difficult times of economic crisis with its attendant unemploy­ment. Once again our community has proven its pride in their Ukrainian heritage and in their loyalty to our city by modernizing and beautifying the Jersey City Ukrainian Community Center.

The building of each of the three successive Ukrainian National Homes was never an easy task and today we pay homage to ourfounding fathers of 65 years ago, to our parents and now to our second and third generation of typical Ukrainian do-ers and builders in our community. With pride we can recount a short history of this, our third Ukrainian National Home. This present building which we call our Ukrainian Community Center now celebrating its 25th anniversary, was begun in October, 1957 and completed in September 1958.

The Opening Day ceremonies on September 23, 1958 began with the blessing of the new building by Rev. Zenovij Baczynsky and Rev. Jaroslaw Sirko. The cornerstone was laid by New Jersey Senator A. Harrison Williams. The Grand Opening banquet was attended by 650 guests, among them Jersey City Mayor Bernard Berry.

This third Ukrainian National Home was dedicated anew to serving the Ukrainian Commu­nity, with hopes of becoming the center of harmonious activity for all Ukrainian organ­izations and a popular meeting place for our Ukrainian youth. These hopes have been fulfilled. The Community Center of the Ukrainian National Home is the meeting place for Ukrainian organ­izations such as the local branches of the Ukrainian National Association, Inc., of the Providence Association, of the Ukrainian Frater­nal Association, of the Ukrainian National Women’s League, the Sisterhood of St. Mary Immaculate (uptown) and the Democratic clubs, and the local chapter of the Ukrainian Congress Committee.

Newly completed, the National Home was mortgaged for $80,000, granted by the Ukrainian National Association plus a contractor’s bill due of $20,000. Today the Home is free of debt and it has its own treasury. From this treasury, the Ukrainian National Home has been serving the community by its numerous donations to the annual scholarship awards which now totals $14,000, won by children of members and who are attending colleges and universities.

The Ukrainian National Home has made numerous financial contributions to Ukrainian and American charities. Donations include $1,000 to the fund for the erection of a monument to Taras Shevchenko in Washington, D.C.; $2,400 to the Ukrainian Catholic University in Rome, founded by his Eminence Joseph, Cardinal Slipyj; $1,000 to the Chair of Ukrainian Studies at Harvard University, $1,000 to aid the victims of the earthquake in Yugoslavia; $2,000 in support of Jersey City’s “Ridna Shkola” — The Saturday School of Ukrainian Subjects. Donations were given to the Ukrainian Orphan’s Home in Phi­ladelphia, to the Catholic Sisters in Argentine and many, many more.

Youth continues to be served at the Ukrai­nian Community Center. Local branches of National youth organizations such as Plast (Scouts) and SUMA (Youth organizations of America), hold their meetings and programs here. Courses in Ukrainian Folk Dancing, music lessons on the bandura are offered. Popular courses, open to young and old, are offered in Ukrainian folk arts and crafts such as embroidery, Easter-egg decorating, ceramics. Students of these courses are frequently invited to exhibit these Ukrainian folk arts and dances for the American public in schools, colleges and at festivals, where they win first prizes. The students of the Ukrainian National Home have appeared for eight years at the Garden State Art Center, garnering publicity and praise for our em­broideries, Easter eggs, ceramics. The Home’s courses were established and developed under the tireless leadership of Cultural Director Mildred Milanowicz, who has devoted many years of working for the Ukrainian National Home, as English recording Secretary, and as member of the Board of Directors.

The National Home sponsors popular soft-ball and dart teams for young people.

To date the Home has contributed over $50,000 for national, cultural and sports causes.

Members of the Ukrainian National Home are entitled to a 20% discount when booking a wedding or other family affair at the Center. Members are also entitled to a death benefit of $200.00. To date, the sum of $10,800 has been paid to beneficiaries of members’ death benefits.

In November, 1979, the National Home purchased an adjacent property which was turned into a parking lot.

In April 1983 the Main Ballroom was re­modeled and modernized at a cost of almost $50,000.

Plans are under way to remodel the entire building of the Ukrainian Community Center.

The over 200 members of the Ukrainiar National Home today can be justly proud of their Community Center, one of the finest in the country. From past performances, we have every right to look forward to the further growth and development of our Center, our Ukrainian bul­wark, because of the past and present fine cooperation of both the Ukrainian-born and the American-born members, as evidenced by the Presidents of this third Ukrainian National Home: Michael Tizio. Stanley Stine. Anthony Sharan. John Berwecky. Peter Lahosky. Adam Tizio. William Zarsky. Walter Bilyk. Alexander Blahitka. Peter Zapple. and Stefan Czujko.

Walter Bilyk, now serving his 8th term as President, was also an auditor for many years Walter Semchesyn has faithfully and devotedly served for many years as Treasurer. Mykola Petryshyn has been reelected to the post ol Recording Secretary for 32 years, with a brief 2-year respite, when the post was taken over by the late Myroslava Dragan.

Today full cooperation reigns between Officers and members of the Ukrainian National Home.