Yesterday…I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Peter Jablonski and Boy Scout Troop 261 as they were doing an urban dig behind a closed East Side gin mill on the corner of Clinton and Fillmore.
This type of urban exploration is very cool. It gives you a glimpse into the not too distant past of Polonia.
This is the second of Peter’s digs in Polonia…the first was the old “Stock Exhange Hotel” on William Street…he has done over 100 digs in total.
Peter is the son of East Side historian Fred Jablonski who passed away in 2006.
After I met with the group, I wondered if a program like this could be expanded. With the number of vacant lots and abandoned homes throughout B-F, it would be an innovative way to help bring interest to the neighborhood and its history.
For the YouTube challenged, here is the Windows Media Version. (click to view)
What a great way to see and feel history. Kudos to Peter and his troop.
As a relative of the Zoladz family, I and my parents and brother spent many fun-filled moments at 957 Clinton with my cousins, Aunt and Uncle. Viewing the video inspired my day with pleasant childhood memories and historic incite. Thank you to Peter, his scout troop for providing such an educational opportunity and the historic memories.
This is a perfect way to involve suburban kids in what really is their city, too. So many suburbanites are afraid of the city and hesitate to visit it. Giving them a stake in its future would surely help toward its revival.
I believe suburban school districts could take inspiration from this and schedule regular field trips to the city to familiarize their students with the rich and fascinating history of the area.
Kudos to Peter, whose expertise enriches the entire experience.