Genealogy / Zelem family - Southeast poland [73]

Yes Marek..
as far as I know and from what I've managed to google...were in Malopolskie, east south east of krakow about 160km to Gorlice.in the Gorlice district. Bodaki,Malastow and Bartne lie South of Gorlice 15/16 km at the foot of the Beskid Niski's.

Would need to know where to stay, how would be best to get arround?. Is there suitable places to stay arround Bartne area?. Is English spoken, I speak a little Polish and I'm trying to study more, but my wife none at all.

As you see any help at all is good...Thank you

Genealogy / Zelem family - Southeast poland [73]

Thanks Tlum...

Have you been there??

Genealogy / Zelem family - Southeast poland [73]

I'll tell you all about it when I get back...Make a change from krakow reviews......

Merged:Tracing the Zelem family members
I'm tring to trace family members living in the Beskid Niski region of south east poland.
The family name is Zelem and I'm led to believe that at least two homesteads still remain in this area. Would like make contact with them on a trip to Poland in October.

Is there a dometic telephone directry online for this region ?? if so that might help.

Would be greatfull for any help..........

Genealogy / Zelem family - Southeast poland [73]

Ok. Ok! Nice one..:)..

Hi Tlum..I haven't been yet, looking at going in late october. I know its getting cold but my youngest son will be off school then. Just got accomodation sorted out in a pention house on the outskirts of Gorlice, at 40zl per person per night find it very reasonable. In fact there is a whole range of cheap accomondation in this area from hotels in the big towns to cottages, guest houses, farm and pensions, hostels, camp sites and mountian shelters in the villages and countryside. Im realy looking forward to it.

As bolo sugests it is a pity this area is not offered in English more. From what I've managed to gleane from the host of internet sites, of which have very few have english versions, it is a very beautiful area to visit , especialy if you like hill and forest walking, lake sailing and horse treking and more. Perhaps its meant to be a Polish secret, "dont want stag and hen parties "

Does anyone know what the name ZELEM could mean. It is a Lemko name as far as I know , but it does have a Hebrew ring to it , don't you think.

Food / Polish polskie pierogi recipe (prepared at home) [74]

Don't we all just love Pierodgi....Try this for the filling.

Precook and season a small amount of pork mince, mix with Chineese spring roll vegitables, you know finely sliced cabage, Bamboo shoots, onion and grated carrot. Fill your pastry and boil as usual, and its always best fried the day after.

Genealogy / Zelem family - Southeast poland [73]

It is as I said a very old Lemko name goes back to at least early 18th century, would like to know what it could mean ..

Language / Polish Swear Words [1242]

I think that should be........."Stara Baba" :)

You could also try ........."Grubas " Fatso. :)

Life / Barking Dogs in Poland [65]

steal it ....tie it up in your garden........see how he likes a neighbors dog barking at 7am. :) :) :)

Language / Polish Swear Words [1242]

Hey! I remember that... my dad used that all the time

Language / Polish Swear Words [1242]


True but it's good to know when you'r being sworn at.............

Food / What is your favorite Polish Vodka? [653]

Tell me guys....Why the ceremony of thumping the base of a new bottle of wodka on the forearm before opening ...........is it to wake the devil inside or what?............

Language / Polish sayings [237]

never grow on your face, that grows wild on your arse.............................
refred to a beard or moustache..........

Food / What is your favorite Polish Vodka? [653]


HUH ????????????????

you just unscrew the top and Hey Presto. Yeh ???

Life / The Polish Wedding - What is it Like in Poland? [338]

Thanks for the best read on this forum for months[b]aPOLE.....

Will be going to one next August, so I'd better start training for the event....

Food / Pierogi recipe and filling from my grandmother [179]


Had fried pierogi many times, usualy make too many to eat in one sitting, fry to warm up.
I think they taste better this way.
Good way to do them for events.

Food / Smalec - how to make it? [53]

...........and it tastes fantastic!!!!!!!!!!

Food / Smalec - how to make it? [53]

[[b][/b]quote=ale39] pork fat called 'słonina' [/quote]

Now there's somthing I haven't tasted for a l o n g time.....thin slices on bread...

1500 cal of pure pleasure......:)

Life / Polish Nursery Rhymes [253]

thought this was quite good..................

Slimak slimak pokaz rogi ........... Snail snail show me your horns
Dam ci sera na pierogi .............. I'll give you cheese for pierogi
Jak nie sera to kapusty ............ If not cheese then cabage
Od kapusty bedziesz tlusty ...... Off cabage you'll be plump

Genealogy / Zelem family - Southeast poland [73]

Hi Viddanuy....................Stephen I'm more than interested in what you have said, even though we cirtainly don't share the same grandad Zelem.
My Granfather was called Tadeusz born C1895 and Grandma was called Paraskiewia, both now lie in a Wroclaw cemetry. My mother is the last remaining of four sons and two daughters. Two of my uncles landed in Canada after WW11, one uncle and my aunt along with my Grandparents were relocated in Wroclaw district during Operation Vistula in 1947. My mother who was taken for forced labour to Hungary at the age of 17, eventualy resetled here in England.

The eldest sibling managed somehow to remain in Bodaki and the homestead still remains. I was there in late October last year and managed to find my cousin who runs the farm along with his wife and daughter, his two sons now work as haulage drivers in Germany, one is about to build a new house on the farm, so it seems that Chata Zelem has a future in the Gorlice district. There is another daughter who I didn't meet that has lived in the US for about fifteen years.

My Mother did mention in the past that Grandad Zelem did travel to the US on two occations but cannnot remember what the purpouse of these visits were. Also she said that she has a cousin who has lived in America for as long as she can remember, but sadly she do's not have contact with her. I shall go to see Mother this afternoon as usual and see if she can remember more details, She's 84 now and gets annoyed with too many questions.

On the Lemko issue I have recieved mixed opinions, Mother and Father spoke Polish and I was brought up as Polish. My uncles in Canada fell out with each other over the issue, one being Polish and married a Polish girl, the other was Lemko and proud of it and married a Ukrainian girl aparently some bitterness involved between the two ladies fueling the issue even more. My cousin in Bodaki when I asked say he's Lemko but speakes Polish and goes to a Roman Catholic church, as did his Father before him.(this is the old wooden built one in Ropica. )

The family in Wroclaw I haven't met as yet, but I shall make a visit this year and meet the rest of the Zelem Family and perhaps piece together more family history......

So Stephen any information you are willing to share I shall be glad of, and will gladly run it over with my Mother to see if she reconises any of the facts........... Genek.....

Genealogy / Zelem family - Southeast poland [73]

Hi Natasha ....where are you living now?

Genealogy / Zelem family - Southeast poland [73]

Wow ! ..........that sounds interesting, how much more do you know about your Grandads Polish past......do you know what regeon he came from / town or village ???

Genealogy / Zelem family - Southeast poland [73]


Yes we've been around for centuries and probably came from the Lemko regeons of the Carpathian Mountains, Lots emigrated to the America's in the 1890's, more were displaced during the two world wars and the depopulization of the Lemko's in 1946-1948.

here are some links........

lemko.org
carpatho-rustyn.org
nancy.polishsite.us

There is such a lot of US sites , but little or no UK based info. if anyone knows more please let us know............:)

Food / Smalec - how to make it? [53]

Add finely chopped mushroom and a clove of garlic and you're realy rocking............

Genealogy / Displaced Persons Camp / Work camp and concentration camp difference [86]

Yeh ! I was born in a displaced persons camp here in England . Hallburn in Cumberland, went and paid a visit there early in January.

Genealogy / Displaced Persons Camp / Work camp and concentration camp difference [86]


I've tried to google in the past and didn't get much at all.
However the camp was just outside Longtown in Cumberland, it was wartime service hostpital. Our family lived there fo about seven years.
In effect it was made up of nissan huts with round corrigated steel roofs and pot bellied stoves for heating, there was also pre fabricated huts in another section of the camp, later in the period of my being there one came available and we moved into it for a couple of years.

Gradualy as time went on the people moved on, most went to the industrial areas of the northwest and some stayed on but not many. I'd been to Scotland for the new year and out of interest stopped had lunch in the hotel at Longtown. Got talking to one person who had stayed in the area, he was a nieghbour living two doors down although I don't remember him personaly I certainly remembered the family name.

Not much left of the place now just a couple of the concrete buildings once used as a community hall, the rest have been demolished years ago and the land returned to farm land.

Will take my Mother up for a visit next month she and her old friend will enjoy the chat.

Genealogy / Displaced Persons Camp / Work camp and concentration camp difference [86]

Will ask her next time I see her.(Sunday).......But don't hold out on that, she's 84 and in good health but dosn't like being quizzed. I have a hells job asking about Stary krai.

Well see...............

Genealogy / Zelem family - Southeast poland [73]

Latest search on this name makes it likely to have Hebrew conections.

Zelem Elonim - " In the image of god" Gen.1. 26...

Genealogy / Displaced Persons Camp / Work camp and concentration camp difference [86]

Hi Polishdaz.....It's good to here from someone who has walked the same path.

I personaly do not remember your family but I shall ask mother if she remembers the names. You say you grew up in Bradford we still have contact with some families in Bradford who also lived in Hollburn,I'll get a list together and see if you know any of them.

I'll try and post a picyure of my first home .....don't know if it will work I'm quite hopeless.

I'll try again ... Nope still not working file too big I, ll try again when more time.

Well Polishdaz........I've just had a word with my mother and she says she remember's the name of pacyna quite well, but tell me did your family have red hair ?

Still working on resizeing the pics.

Genealogy / Displaced Persons Camp / Work camp and concentration camp difference [86]

Reason I asked Mother says she was Godmother to a Pacyna boychild but she couldn't remember the name. Could it be your Dad or Uncle maybe ?.............