This coming Sunday, May 29, 2022 on-line here on The Historians

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Bob Cudmore Focus on History column about Joseph and George Tralka.  A native of Poland, Joseph came to Amsterdam by way of Brazil and Pennsylvania and was longtime organist and choir director at St. Stanislaus Church.

"The coin of the Realm"  

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Amsterdam judge was noted talker

By Bob Cudmore

          When Marilyn Zierak Betz was growing up, her father frequently sat at their dining room table--writing speeches on a yellow legal pad.

          Amsterdam native Raymond J. Zierak, who died this year at 92, was a bilingual attorney, 24-year City Court Judge, New York Assistant Attorney General and counsel to Poland’s American consulate.

          Zierak spoke frequently at occasions honoring fallen soldiers.  For example, he was main speaker at Memorial Day observances at Green Hill Cemetery in 1952 sponsored by the John J. Wyzomirski Post of the American Legion.  Zierak had served as a lieutenant in the intelligence operation of the Marine Corps in the Pacific in World War Two.

          Judge Zierak also was a much-requested speaker and toastmaster at Polish American events and other dinners put on by the Republican Party and organizations ranging from St. Luke’s Lutheran Church to the Soap Box Derby.

          When he died, Zierak left behind legal pads filled with speeches and jokes.  He also saved programs from numerous occasions, some marked with handwritten notes to refer to when he spoke.

          Zierak was toastmaster at the 65th anniversary of the St. Michael the Archangel Society of St. Stanislaus Church in 1957.  His program has a handwritten note saying that D. Paul Wojcicki, one of the speakers, was “responsible for helping acquire real property and other assets.”  Another short note is in Polish.

          The 1957 program from the St. Michael the Archangel event has a full-page ad from Brownie’s restaurant on Reid Street, along with greetings from politicians on both sides of the aisle ranging from Republican Judge Malcolm Tomlinson to Democratic mayoral candidate Thomas F. Gregg.

          The oldest program Zierak saved was the 25th anniversary of the Polish National Legion from 1934, when he would have been 20 years old.  All the editorial copy is in Polish but most ads are in English.  Prohibition had ended by 1934 and taverns ranging from Patsy’s Grill on Lyon Street to B. Adamski’s Restaurant on Grand Street proudly advertised beer on draught.

          Zierak grew up on Reid Hill’s Hibbard Street, where his sister Regina Wytrwal still lives.  His father was a loom fixer and his mother also worked in the carpet mills.  His father died when he was young and his mother later married Louis Zajaczkowski.

          Zierak earned money at an Amsterdam dairy and other jobs to work his way through Union College and Albany Law School.  His legal practice to some extent focused on Amsterdam’s Polish community because Zierak was fluent in Polish and Polish Americans trusted him.

          He married Lucy Drzewicki from Amsterdam’s Park Hill neighborhood in 1942.  Her family operated S & D Bakery on Park Hill’s Third Avenue.  Raymond and Lucy Zierak settled nearby on Locust Avenue.

          Their son, Raymond S. Zierak, recalled he was born while his father was training with the Marines in Quantico, Virginia.

          Raymond S. Zierak also became an attorney and today specializes in land use law in New Jersey.  The younger Zierak at one time practiced law in Amsterdam and was an unsuccessful candidate for State Assembly, running against Mary Ann Krupczak.

          When Judge Zierak presided over City Court, its work consisted of civil cases.  After 24 years on the part-time bench, Zierak became an assistant to New York Republican Attorney General Louis Lefkowitz.  He did work for the Polish Consulate during the Communist era, helping Americans of Polish descent who had to deal with wills and other legal issues in Poland. 

          Zierak’s wife died in 1999.  The judge passed away April 3 of this year.  In addition to his son, he leaves two daughters—Marilyn Betz and Patricia McCarty—six grandchildren and other relatives.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 25, 2022-Amy Catania of Historic Saranac Lake explains how that upstate New York community became a center for the treatment of tuberculosis.

Thursday, May 26, 2022- From the Archives of the Daily Gazette-American Legion memories.

Congress declared war on Germany in April 1917, bringing America into the World War that had begun three years earlier.  The first Amsterdam National Guard members departed for World War I in August of 1917.

Friday, May 27, 2022-Episode 424

...including balladeer Tom Kilboy

David Brooks from Schoharie Crossing State Historic site in Fort Hunter takes a look at life on the wild side of the Erie Canal with tales about the Kilboys, including balladeer Tom Kilboy.  Schoharie Crossing in Fort Hunter, where the old Erie Canal crossed the Schoharie Creek, is now open for the season.

Old English-Tiw's Day

Mohawk Valley Weather, Tuesday, May 24, 2022

https://dailygazette.com/

https://www.recordernews.com/

Leader Herald

Safe Boating Week provides reminders ahead of Memorial Day, summer

by Andrew Pugliese

https://www.leaderherald.com/