by Barbara J. Wood
KOSCIUSKO
Kosciusko weddings
During war times, it was difficult to find enough bridal gown material to sew a traditional wedding gown. Therefore, the ladies used discarded parachute silky fabric to design into lovely wedding gowns. One fiancee, Sharon Scheffler, living in Kosciusko sewed her beautiful wedding attire from her fiance's, Joseph L. Soikowski, personal silk parachute. The parachute saved her husband-to-be's life during World War II.
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Courtesy/ History of Kosciusko, Texas (Information extracted from Obituary in the San Antonio Express News
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Courtesy/ History of Kosciusko, Texas (Information extracted from Obituary in the San Antonio Express News
Traveling Through Kosciusko Texas in 1954....
Traveling Through Kosciusko Texas in 1954.... As observed by a traveler, EC Sallis, for the Star Herald in Kosciusko, Mississippi. I love the references to Mr. Pruski at Pruski's store and that people were keeping to themselves.
The Star Herald - January 14 1954
I thought you might be interested in another Kosciusko - Kosciusko, Texas. I have passed there several times and saw the sign and arrow pointing to Kosciusko. Being born in Kozy and raised there and at Sallis, I was interested in curious about another Kosciusko . I was on my way back to Corpus Christi from Austin a few weeks ago and decided to investigate this to Kosciusko .
It is on Texas highway number 123 between Karnes City and Stockdale. It is not an incorporated town, however. It has two stores and filling stations combined, a cotton gin, a good size school, a large community house and a beautiful new church.
I want into one of the stores to ask a few questions. At first the man, a Mr Pruski, didn't seem to want to answer my questions. I told him I was born in a town in Mississippi by the same name and didn't know there was another by that name in the US. He looked up a little then and talked a little. He said the community of Kosciusko would celebrate it's 100 birthday in 1954. That the whole district around there was solid Polish and was settled by people direct from poland.
The people around there speak the Polish language about as much as they do the English language.
Mr Pruski told me about this new church and told me to go inside it and look at it. He said the building alone cost $230,000 I went inside it and it had the most elaborate altar and fixtures I had ever seen. The community is solid Catholic.
There are several other communities right around there about the same as Kosciusko.
Their names are, did hankin Denhankin, Path, Paulekville, and Czestochawk.
I noticed these names on mailboxes: Gawlek, Dugi, Pruski, Kolodzey, Skloss, Pawlek, Jaskina Mankas and Yaska.
Each community has an expensive Church and a large community hall. They have dances quite often in the halls and almost everybody in the vicinity attends. The old people in small children and babies all.
The people live pretty much to themselves. They don't go out and mingle with people on the outside very much and they don't encourage others to come there. They seem to be a clannish type.
They all seem to be good farmers and hard workers. Most of them have nice homes and good equipment for farming.
You are such a good Kosciusko booster, and have done so much for it, that I thought you might be interested in this other Kosciusko. I noticed that it is spelled the same as our Kosciusko, too.
E.C. SALLIS
PS I spent Christmas with my father, Cecil Sallis, and Kozy this christmas.
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COURTESY/ History of Kosciusko, Texas by Brandon Darr
St. Ann's dedication of new church, 1951
Seventy-three years ago ... St. Ann's Parishioners and Visitors ... gathered for the dedication of the new church. August 26, 1951. Over 5,000 people attended the Church dedication, requiring local barbed wire fences to be removed to allow for parking.
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COURTESY/ History of Kosciusko, Texas by Brandon Darr
CIBOLO CREEK BRIDGES.....
Have you ever crossed Cibolo Creek on Farm to Market Road 541 in Kosciusko on your way to Poth? Did you know the history of the many bridges to cross at this location? You will now through Brandon Darr researcher/writer of History of Kosciusko, Texas in a three part series.
First Bridge:
The first known bridge to cross the Cibolo creek at what is now FM 541 in Kosciusko was an iron truss bridge with a wood deck built in 1907. It was one of three iron bridges ordered by the county at the time. At this time, bridges were ordered in "kits" from the northeast United States and shipped by rail, hauled by mule and assembled on-site. The bridge constructed over the Cibolo was a rather large (especially for the time) Warren Pony Truss bridge with a wood deck which crossed the Cibolo River at a medium height (about 20-25 feet above typical water level).
This bridge was washed out and severely damaged by the great flood of October 1913. This flood also washed out several other bridges in the area, which you can read about in the article from the San Antonio Light Newspaper I've previously posted. In 1914, following the flood, this bridge was salvaged, repaired, and raised several feet to provide extra clearance with flood waters. This bridge would remain in-place as the "high" bridge until about 1948 when the road to Kosciusko became FM 541 and it was removed.
The old truss bridge was well known amongst locals for the rattling its boards would make when being crossed by vehicles, often scaring the younger children riding along. One can only imagine high flood waters below the bridge would make the journey over the rickety old bridge even more terrifying. Today, two of the bridge's original piers remain, visible as both the original piers and the white concrete extensions on top from when they raised the bridge in 1914.
KOSCIUSKO MAP - 1942
KOSCIUSKO MAP - 1942 Army Core of Engineers. Map includes house locations with some local family names. Note the Kosciusko School, Pulaski School, St. Peter's School, Dry Creek School and Cestohowa School referenced on the map. At this time, state law required a school to be within a 3 mile walking distance from every home. Thus, there were numerous schools in the area.
Also note the misspelled "Karzekwa" (Korzekwa) name on the top-right.
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COURTESY/ History of Kosciusko, Texas by Brandon Darr
Original Polish choir at St. Ann's Catholic Church
St Ann's Catholic Church in Kosciusko in the original church. Circa late 1940s - almost certainly 1948 at the 50th parish anniversary.
Choir members included:
Steve Kotara, Alphonse Kotara, Pete Scheffler, Vincent Dzuik, George Dzuik, Henry Lyssy, Edwin Dzuik, Ben Jarzombek, Emil Skloss and Edmund Skloss. Anton Scheffler (seated) was the organist.
Photo submitted by the Anton Scheffler family to History of Kosciusko, Texas , and cleaned and converted to living color by Brandon Darr . St. Ann's is celebrating its 125th anniversary on October 29th.
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COURTESY/ History of Kosciusko, Texas by Brandon Darr
Pruski's store, Kosciusko
An old aerial photo of Pruski's store in Kosciusko. Circa 1986. From Vintage Aerials. Brandon Darr shares this vintage photo from History of Kosciusko, Texas. What fantastic aerial photo!
Wilson County Under Flood's Grip.
Wilson County Under Flood's Grip. Kosciusko Bridge over the Cibolo River reported lost! Value of lost bridge $12,000. San Antonio Express reporting. October 4, 1913.
[Click on image to view full size]
COURTESY/ History of Kosciusko, Texas Brandon Darr
[Click on image to view full size]
COURTESY/ History of Kosciusko, Texas Brandon Darr
DWORACZYK'S MEAT MARKET
Courtesy/ History of Kosciusko, Texas
By Brandon Darr
By Brandon Darr
An advertisement for and picture of Dworaczyk's Meat Market in Kosciusko. If you look closely, the comic has "Dworaczyk's Meat and Beef" in the window. Even though the meat market is now gone, it's fond memory remains with many. People drove from all around, including from San Antonio, to buy meat at Dworaczyks.
This ad was run in the San Antonio Light Newspaper on August 9, 1973 almost one year after Hagan Dworaczyk's (the owner of Dworaczyk's Market) wife Pearl passed away. The market sadly closed in 2014 after its last owner, Hagan's brother - Stanley Dworaczyk, passed away.
St. Ann's Catholic Church
This vintage 1900 - 1915 UTSA Library photograph shows the congregation posing in front of their church, St. Ann's Catholic Church, Kosciusko, Texas. In first row are first communicants, dressed in white. Picket fence in foreground.
Steve Pruski home in Kosciusko
KOSCIUSKO TEXAS ... Photograph of Steve Pruski's frame unpainted house with three windows with shutters and two trees in front. Seven people in white shirts are standing on the front porch. One man wearing a hat and overalls stands to their right. Another person stands in the shadows to his rights. A windmill is visible to the far right of the photo. (Courtesy of The Portal to Texas History) It must have been a special day with everyone dressed up and posed for a portrait.... would so like to know details.
Kocsiusko's first church, 1910
Brandon Darr came across this picture of Kosciusko's first church. Circa 1910. It was built in 1898 and measured 40 feet wide by 80 feet long. The present day church building is shown as well. (No photo references)
History of Kosciusko
COURTESY/ History of Kosciusko, Texas by Brandon Darr
Source: Texas Co-Op Power
Source: Texas Co-Op Power
1916 San Antonio Express News article
Kosciusko Texas ..... Brandon Darr of History of Kosciusko, Texas found an interesting news article in the 1916 San Antonio Express Newspaper Drinking became legal in the Kosciusko Precinct thanks to a passing vote on July 5th 1916. Darr adds that the National Prohibition would mess this up four years later. Thankfully Kosciusko was then home to the largest illegal moonshine operation in Wilson County. A story for another day so stay tuned for more sharing from History of Kosciusko. ( Thank you Brandon Darr)
Kosciusko 1930
Kosciusko Wilson County TX .... 1930 Students at St. Ann's School. Archie Moczygemba, photo owner, is on the bottom row third from left. COURTESY/ History of Kosciusko, Texas by Brandon Darr .