Hearthstone Manor (Depew), Chopin Clubrooms @ the Big Apple (West Seneca), Chopin Clubrooms on Kosciuszko Street (Historic Polonia)
Judge Ann T. Mikoll and her late husband Theodore V. Mikoll
Judge Ann Mikoll with Buffalo Evening News columnist Bob Curran. Curran LOVED Dyngus Day and wrote about the celebration for years.
From an old world tradition to a modern, world-class festival. Buffalo’s Dyngus Day celebration, now in its 50th year, is the largest of event of its kind in the world.
The days after Easter, signaling the end of lent, have been a joyous occasion for Christians for thousands of years. The ability to shed 40 days of fasting combined with the anticipation of spring became an important part of the European culture. These traditions were brought to the New World by thousands of immigrants, many of which made their way to the Eastern shores of Lake Erie. Although Dyngus Day has been celebrated in the City’s traditional Polish neighborhoods dating back to the 1870s, modern Dyngus Day in Buffalo had its beginnings with the Chopin Singing Society. Judge Ann T. Mikoll and her late husband Theodore held their first party at the Society's clubrooms on Kosciuszko Street in 1961. The idea was born after a trip to Poland where the Mikolls renewed their love of the colorful customs of the Polish people. The event, originally to boost its declining membership, soon became one of the most anticipated parties in Buffalo. Political and business leaders made their way to the Chopin’s Clubroom to begin the day with a ceremonial “swieconka” luncheon. Polka music was played throughout the building’s sprawling meeting and bar rooms. These parties were known to last until daylight the next morning. Steve Litwin, a noted polka historian, remembers one Chopin’s party that spilled out into the streets.“It had to the early 70s. Dyngus Day at the Club was winding down and the Dynatones were packing up. It was around two in the morning and we were carrying things back to the cars on Kosciuszko Street. Suddenly, it seemed like a good idea to play on more, and the band stopped in the middle of the street. Larry Trojak on snare drum and Dave "Scrubby" Seweryniak with his concertina. The next thing you knew, the street was filled with musicians with a horn, clarinet, and accordion. After about five songs, Buffalo Police arrive to break up the impromptu street dance. The band complied, until the cops rounded the corner. Now it’s 2:30 in the morning. We were all expecting that nearby neighbors would be swinging kielbasa or throwing frozen containers of czarnina at us. Instead, they were on their front porches, in robes and night shirts dancing.”
The success of the Chopin’s' Dyngus Parties led to other Dyngus events on the Eastside including those at the Broadway Grill, the Warsaw Inn, the Polish Singing Circle, St. Stan's, the New York Central Terminal and the numerous taverns that seemed to be on every neighborhood corner. Chopins left the Eastside in the early 1990s and moved out to new clubrooms in Cheektowaga where the festival attracted a new generation. The Chopins tradition continues with the party taking place at the Heathstone Manor in Depew.
Chopins, 80s: Picture from the collection of Peter Sloan.
Dyngus Day 1985 at the Chopin Clubrooms on Kosciuszko Street (Polonia District)
1970s
Photo from the collection of Peter Sloan
Photo from the collection of Peter Sloan
Photo from the collection of Peter Sloan
Photo from the collection of Peter Sloan
Photo from the collection of Peter Sloan
Photo from the collection of Peter Sloan
Photo from the collection of Peter Sloan
Photo from the collection of Peter Sloan
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