STEVENS POINT, ANYONE?

Anyone live in or has visited Stevens Point, Wisconsin? It was once heavily Polish, maybe still is. There's a Polish language newspaper Gwiazda Polarna, and some fine brews come out of the local Point Brewery.

I heard of this place. In fact, I worked in Gwiazda Polarna as editor and paste-up artist a few years ago. It is true, that it's the first Polish Newspaper in America.

The Polish immigrants settled in Polonia in the 1800's, which meant away from home. It was one of the first largest Polish community located about 15 miles from Point.

Yup, they still around, but most are in cemeteries and nursery homes.

Oh really so have I:)

I like that sky club restarurant and the miles and miles of snowmobile trails, the parks along the Wisconsin river and winning money at the casino:)


I took the tour of the brewery last summer, they do have really good beer.

If all the Stevens Point Polonians are in graveyards or old-people's homes, then that must mean that either:
1. Nearly all their descendants have leftz the area for big cities, and/or:
2. They are stilll there physically but have drifted away from and no longer identify with their Polish heritage, preferring to be "just plan Heinz 57 Americans".

3. There is been no or only a negligible injection of new blood such as an influx of Polish immigrants during the post-Soldiarity and visa-lottery periods.

You will find this to be true all over America. The original immigrants died off. The few that remain are too old to practice the old traditions. The kids married, prospered, and moved to other locations. Some taking the parents with them. The second generation have lost the ability to speak the language. I think that it still prevails in Chicago, due to a new influx of Poles.

When its over then its over.. The good old days are gone.
(Jescze Polska nie zginiela) might be true in Poland, but in America it is all history

From what I gathered going up there is that most of them moved to Chicago years ago to make money.

Unless youre a Farmer or want to work in the Paper Mills your entire life?

Not much really going on up there at all, execpt its a great place to visit if you like the outdoors and nature.

Thats if if you can put up with them ya hey Cheeseheads:):)

I was born and raised not too far from there...in the Wausau area, several miles north. I miss it terribly. (Currently living in the Milwaukee area.)

The Polish community was quite strong even when I was a little girl. We'd have big Polish weddings with live Polka bands. It was great.

Where I currently live, there is mostly German and Irish descendants. After moving here for my husband's job transfer (after which he asked for a divorce! Gratitude!), I realized how much I missed the Polish traditions. I have since made friends with a Polish couple and actually had the chance to visit Poland last fall!


I'm not so sure I agree with this. The one thing I noticed after moving to the city was that a lot (NOT ALL!) of the people here "need to be stimulated" constantly (going to the mall, going to sports events, going to concerts, etc.). They just seem to have a hard time knowing how to "be with themselves" or others when there isn't some other distraction going on. Please note, this is just my opinion and observation. It is in no way meant to criticize anyone.

Once I get settled and my children off to college, I hope to live north again. All of my family is there.

Karinka

my grandmother was from Stevens Point and very Polish. She moved away before I was born but all of her family is still there and still playing Polka at the weddings. I am now a Heinz 57 American but would love to know more about the Polish part of me.

I too am from Wausau and have moved away - I miss it very much! Anyway, Point/Mosinee/Wausau has a Polish element alive and well. Polka fests throughout the summer and plenty of polka bands/dances throughout the area. One of the Wausau radio stations does a Polka show every Sunday. Open the phone book and you will find plenty good Polish names throughout central Wisconsin.

WDEZ 101.9 FM, Wausau Sunday Polka 7-12AM
WSAU 550AM sat 9-11 Wausau Polka show
WSPT 1010 AM Sat 8-10 Stevens Point Polka time
WYTE 106.5 Sun 7-12 Plover Polka
After hearing all those Polkas you wonder "who did steal that kiszka"?
Every wedding has "Polka Music", every church event has "Polka Music", every year 4th of July has "Polka Music", every corn roast, fair, festival.

The local favorite one is "there is no beer in heaven".
I like walking in the cemeteries in Stevens Point, there are many Polish and German names, I know a lot about the history of early settlers, towns that are no longer here and churches built by mostly German, Irish and Polish settlers. Scandinavians settled in a town west from here, it is called Scandinavia.

It goes: In heaven there is no beer, that's why we drink it here!