SNAPSHOTS FROM OUR PAST: East Harlem's Ukrainian school (05/26/02)

SNAPSHOTS FROM OUR PAST: East Harlem's Ukrainian school

by John P. Swystun

NEW YORK - During the 1920s and 1930s, there was an active and vibrant Ukrainian American community in East Harlem, N.Y. A Ukrainian school was established during this period by a committee composed of Peter Swystun, Konstantin Kosciw and Simon Kaftan.

Known as the Ukrainian National School of 106th Street, its classes were held three nights a week on the premises of the St. Cecilia Catholic School on 106th Street near Third Avenue. The school's first teacher was Prof. William Baron, who taught the Ukrainian language on Mondays and Fridays. He was soon joined by the Rev. Peter Poniatyshyn of St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church on Seventh Street, New York City, who provided religious instruction on Wednesday evenings.

After a few years, Prof. Theodore Onufrek also joined the faculty, contributing to the religious curriculum in addition to providing instruction in traditional Ukrainian songs. Ballet master Vasile Avramenko also joined the faculty during this period and provided instruction in Ukrainian folk dancing.

Somewhat later on the school was fortunate to obtain the services of Prof. Peter Zadoretzky, who taught Ukrainian history and was instrumental in organizing boy and girl scout troops.

While religious education and instruction in Ukrainian language, history, culture and traditions were the primary functions of the school, it also served as an important community focal point for the collection of funds to aid in the support of the "Ridna Shkola" in Ukraine. Numerous functions, from bake sales to Christmas caroling, were organized to raise funds to provide books and aid to these centers of Ukrainian studies in the homeland.

The school dissolved in the late 1930s, when second-generation Ukrainian American students began to reach adulthood. With the school's closing, the former students formed a social club, the Ukrainian Tridents - one of seven such Ukrainian American youth clubs active in New York City at the time. The club remained an important part of the East Harlem Ukrainian American community until the outbreak of the second world war.

Alumni of the school include: John Atamanchuk, William Belous, Walter Berkiw, Kay Berkiw, Ann Bobeck, John Brelus, Mary Burmas, Antonette Burmas, Tessie Burmas, Steve Czarnecky, Michael Czarnecky, Anastasia Drance, Nicholas Drance, Theodore Dusanenko, Walter Dusanenko, Harry Ewach, John Gregus, John Hrybek, Mary Hrybek, George Kaftan, Nettie Kodrubska, William Kodrubska, Mary Koniak, Nettie Kosciw, Ann Kosciw, Ann Maronyk, Nicholas Maronyk, Vladimir Melymuka, Ann Melymuka, Olga Nakonechna, Mary Nakonechna, Sophie Nakonechna, William Olinyk, Nicholas Olinyk, Zachary Palega, Henry Palega, Mary Palega, Marian Palega, Ann Partyka, William Partyka, George Pifko, Walter Pifko, John Piznak, William Piznak, Harry Polche, Elise Polche, Michael Putlowany, Mary Putlowany, Mary Roc, Ann Roc, Marian Roc, John Swystun, Anna Swystun, John Stadnyk, Nestor Stadnyk, Nellie Stadnyk, Mary Sawka, Henry Stelmachuk, Ann Stelmachuk, Olga Stelmachuk, Harriet Yalowega, Olga Yalowega, Anna Yalowega, Julia Yalowega, John Zahorodny, John Zalisnak, Ann Zyhailo and Peter Zyhailo.

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