Polish-American History in Buffalo - Index
Polish-American
History in Buffalo - Index
Dom Polski / Polish Community Center / Matt Urban Hope Center
1081 Broadway near Sears St., Buffalo, NY
Urban Center - Official Website (online
June 2022)
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Built: |
1905 |
|
Architect: |
Wladyslaw
Zawadzki |
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Original name: |
Dom Polski (Polish Home) |
|
Original function: |
Civic center |
|
Home of the Polish Cultural Center: |
1976 |
| Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Service Center of WNY: |
2000 |
| Status: | Contributing building in the Local Broadway-Fillmore Historic
District |
On this page below:
See also:
Broadway-Fillmore, Buffalo, NY Intensive Level Historic Resources Survey
June 27, 2022 photos
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  Dentil molding Gibbs surround using header and stretcher brick bond    Voussoirs in round Romanesque arches Corinthian capital  Gibbs surround Stone sills  “Dom Polski": Polish Home     Next door children’s playground  
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 Movie screen in the stage  Stage surround Cornice supported by modillions Dentil molding Frieze decorated with applied ribbons and bellflowers Paired Corinthian columns Movie screen in the stage Details below:  Stage surround Modillions  Stage surround
Modillions.
Dentil
molding
Ribbons
and bellflowers  Stage surround Paired Corinthian columns  Balcony Detail below:  Balcony paneled front  Auditorium entrance  Entrance surround Paired Ionic columns  Entrance surround Paired Ionic columns |
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Source: Polonia
Trail (online June 2022)
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Dom Polski History
Dom Polski building at 1081 Broadway (1905-1906, W. H. Zawadzki, architect) is significant
as an excellent example of a Renaissance-style institutional
building constructed in the early twentieth century in the
Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood. Designed by W. H. Zawadzki,
the building was originally constructed as the Dom Polski
(Polish Home), a secular organization not associated with the
church. It is also historically significant for its
association with the local Polish community. A central
gathering place, this fireproof brick building had rental
space and a restaurant on the first floor, offices and meeting
rooms on the second floor, and banquet hall and auditorium
with stage on the third floor. Here countless wedding
receptions, banquets, dances, plays, and political events took
place. Many local community groups were headquartered here
over the years, including the Polish Mutual Aid Society, the
Polish Businessmen’s Association, Polish Savings and Loan, and
several Polish singing societies; 48 Polish organizations
where housed here in 1932. Title to the building passed to the city in the 1970s, and was renovated as the Polish Community Center; it is now the Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center, and was recently restored. - Broadway-Fillmore, Buffalo,
NY Intensive Level Historic Resources Survey |
Lt. Col. Matt Urban
On November 11, 2000, the Polish Community
Center of Buffalo was renamed in honor of Lt. Col. Matt Urban.
Lt. Col. Urban was arguably the most highly decorated soldier in
American History. He grew up at 1153 Broadway, steps from the
Polish Community Center. In his youth he participated in the
Center’s social activities and the traditions of the Broadway
Fillmore Polonia neighborhood. The Center is proud to bear the
name of a true American Hero. A plaque hangs in the Center’s hallway as a
reminder of this remarkable American Soldier’s
achievements. It reads:
Lt.
Col. Matt Urban was born on August 25, 1919 in Buffalo
of Polish immigrants and raised at 1153 Broadway and attended
School #57. He entered the U.S. Army in 1941, serving as a
Captain with the 2nd Battalion, 60th Regiment, 9th Infantry
Division in France during World War II. He
received 28 decorations, including the Silver Star (1 OLC),
Bronze Star (2OLC) with “V” device, Purple Heart (6 OLC)
and NYS Conspicuous Cross with 4 Silver and 1 Gold Clusters.
In 1980, the U.S. Congress awarded Lt. Col. Urban the nation’s
highest award for valor, the “Congressional Medal of Honor”.
President Jimmy Carter described Lt. Col. Urban as the
“Greatest Soldier in American History”. Lt. Col. Urban was
laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery in March 1995. |
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Special thanks to Ben Hilligas, Executive Director of the Matt Urban Center, for his cooperation and assistance in 2022
