Thanks to Ron Skvir for sending me a copy of this photo along with a document made by those in the photo identifying most of the people in it. In the future I hope to have an image as with some of the others I have made where I identify the people I can.
At the very least, however, I can describe and transcribe the document.
The authors were the surviving members of the congregation. They typed it in the early- to mid-1980s, as they wrote my great-granduncle Peter Youchison’s wife, Katherine, who died January 1983, “died a few years ago’ and he “lives in Williamsburg alone”, and he died in 1991.
There is at least one inaccuracy when they describe John Miller as having hung himself off Ganister Bridge. One could argue they are partially correct, as he did attempt it, but he in fact survived his attempted suicide and died many years later.
Nevertheless, their descriptions of their fellow community members provides some insights into the tight-knit nature of the community but also hint at its early 20th century precariousness, given the dangers in many of the men’s occupations and the emerging technologies of the day, as well as the migration patterns to and from the Old World and away from Ganister to other Ruysn communities with Ganister connections in upstate New York and Chicago.
You can click on the image below to see it larger.
Church Roster
RIGHT TO LEFT—STARTING AT (NOW—ANNIE BUTCHER’S HOUSE)
Mr. Martin—Johnny’s, Mick’s, and Andy’s Father.
Mr. Sokol—Huncha Sokol’s Father.
Andy Pedani
Joseph Homsey and small son Joe—with floral bouquet.
John Homsey—brother to Joseph
Mr. John Homyack
Mr. Mike Wapner (Gypsy Street)
Mr. John Skvir (with Cross)
Mr. Evan (so they called him)—directly behind Mr. Skvir. He was the old man that lived in that small (Buda) up on Andy Pedani’s Hill. We remember him going up the hill—to school.
Back Row: (Men): Mr. John Homsey—that lived in the Paper Mill Houses. He had a daughter (Helenka) that used to visit us. They moved to N.Y
Mr. Youchison: Father to Mary Wapner, Ann Natali, Joe, John, Wassil & Pete Youch
Mr. Kurty: (a little behind).
George Homsey: (a little to the front).
Johnny Wapner—(Hoople) holding Church Lodge Flag, directly behind Geoge Homsey and Mr. Kurty.
Mike Conrad: Annie (Luchen’s) husband.
Mr. Toth: or now known as (Mr. Martin)—They live in Chicago. They changed their name because people started to call them (Toads). [editor’s note: Toth is the Hungarian word for Slovak]
John Fitzingo: Son of Mr. Fitzingo, married Elsie Verbonitz in Anadale, now both dead.
George Conrad: Mary Conrad (Nanashka’s) husband, killed in Auto Wreck coming down McKillips Hill.
Andy Martin: Johnny’s brother, son of the first man on picture.
Mike Cramer.
Joe Cramer—directly behind them (holding Church Lodge Flag. He is old Mr. Cramer’s son. He used to live in Ross Lantzers house in Williamsburg. Later moved to Youngstown. He drank very heavy, died from Lieukemia [sic].
Mr. Rupeka: Katy (Rupeka) Carrol’s father. (Little man with only head showing.)
Mr. Novak: The taller dark haried man.
Mr. Miller: The gray haired man—(Hung himself off Ganister bridge.) [editor’s note: He did, though he did attempt suicide, see his biographical sketch for more details.]
John Jackanin—directly between them.
Frank Feck: lived in that big house—passed Hunch’s—across crossing to the Right. Remember their “Big Barn” on the road up to Pichania’s.
Mitro (Kemack) Magnus.
Mr. Orenich—Annie Cramer’s Father. He went back to Europe to live. He got hit by a car—crossing road—died.
Steve Feck—brother to Frank. (Susan’s father)—you can only see his head directly in front of Wassil Speck.
Wassil Speck: directly behind Steve Feck. (Brothers, but changed their names.
Pete Lopit.
Mike Holovich, Sr.—(to the front of Pete Lopit.
We don’t know next man in back or man next to him.
FRONT ROW (RIGHT TO LEFT—FROM CROSS (The smaller boys:)
Michael Feck: (Who married Mary (Kemack) Magnus—Died many years ago. Killed at work—squeezed between two railroad cars.
Pete Youchison: Still lives in Williamsburg alone. Wife died few years back.
Joe Speck: Wassil Speck’s son—died many years ago.
Mike or [editor’s note: underlined in the original] Aleck Homyack.
Aleck Feck: Frank Feck’s son. Died many years ago—bad kidney’s.
Michael Skvir: Died of heart attack.
Mr. Mitro Carrol: Holding Black Hat.
Mr. John Fitzingo, Sr.
Wassil Cramer: now in Morrison Cove Home. Leg removed.
Mr. Jackanin, Sr.: John’s father.
priest: Father Stephafin.
Mr. Joseph Cramer—(Holding Bible).
Mr. John Wapner, Sr. (Elsie and Johnny’s Father.
Pechinia (Mrs. John Wapner), directly behind Priest. Mother of John, Joe, Helen, Ainka, Mike Wapner
Mrs. Paraska Skvir—(with Babushka).
Mrs. Annie Homyack—(also with Babushka).
Mrs. Frank Feck—(She was a Monarch).
Mrs. Mary Wapner (Strona)—Just her head showing. (We still remember her hat).
Mary (Youchison) Wapner—Mike’s wife—holding son, Jackie Wapner.
Paraska Homsey—holding daughter Helen.
Nancy (Cramer) Homsey: is peeping through (Paraska and daughter Helen.
Mrs. Suzanna Cramer—(Nancy and Elsie’s mother)—“Only half [editor’s note: underlined in the original] seen.
Mrs. Jackanin—John’s mother. (with stove-pipe hat).
Pechania’s daughter (Fat Mary)—You can only see her head.
Mary Skvir—(we think)
Elsie Feck—Steve Feck’s daughter. Married Steve Domitrovich—now living in Anadale.
Elsie Pedani—(we think).
Mary (Kemack) Sottile
Mary (Kurty) Martin.
Ann Natali
Elsie (Cramer) Wapner.
Elsie Lopit—(we think).
Mary Carrol
John Wapner, Sr. (BYGOLOIJI)—Holding Church Banner (BACK ROW)
Mr. Kluba—(Honey Szuhaj’s Father) to John Wapners left [editor’s note: underlined in the original]. Mr. Kluba used to go to Ganister Church for a while.
Directly in front of Mr. Kluba is someone holding a baby—we don’t know.
LITTLE GIRLS IN FRONT ROW COULD BE:
Pechania’s Helen—also her sons.
Frank Feck’s Sons and Daughters.
Also Steve Fecks, possibly Homyack’s also.
We don’t know who is holding a baby behind the “LITTLE GIRLS—IN FRONT”.
[Editor’s note: the following was in all caps, but I have made it sentence case for easier reading.]
Our church used to be “white wood with green trim”. Notice the large gate in front is green and two white Russian crosses on each side.
The trees were green (Lepina)—used on Pentecost Sunday. They were cut down—as they made so much dirt.
We don’t see any of the Morrison family on the picture.
Also Mrs. Speck and Mrs. Holovich.
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