.....My Melting Pot.....

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This photo was taken circa 1925 in Centralia, Columbia Co, Pa.  - probably at St. Mary's (Ukrainian) Church. The only identified person is Mary (Potochney) Joyce, pictured second row, second from the left.   Mary Potochney was born on July 2, 1908 in Centralia, daughter of John Potocheny and Mary Imbro of Voctovce and Kurima, Slovakia.  Mary married Charles Patrick Joyce on January 30, 1928 in St. Ignatius Church, Centralia, and died on August 1, 1980 in Ashland, Pa.

Several people have been gracious enough to offer their opinions about this photo.  The following paragraphs are a compilation of their responses:

"The men appear to be dressed in Rusyn/Ukrainian style clothing, demonstrated by the cone-like hats, sheepskin vests on the right, and the embroidery down the front of the shirts.   One woman on the left appears to have small rectangular embroidered panels on her upper sleeves which also suggest the Rusyn/Ukrainian part of Slovakia.  The musicians are playing fiddle, a cello which played bass notes to keep the rhythm, and a portable hammered dulcimer.  Hammered dulcimers were primarily played by Rusyn/Ukrainians and Gypsies.   Slovaks didn't use dulcimers very often, except in town bands where they would play large heavy Hungarian concert dulcimers; as big as pianos.

The two men standing near the middle look like they're dressed up as the local policeman and a Jew (the man with the big beard and dark coat & hat).   The costumed group may have been acting in the roles of various village characters in a pageant as part of a church celebration."

Click here to see a similar photo taken in Freeland, Pa.

If anyone can tell me ANYTHING more about this picture, PLEASE email me.