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Taylor White
HON1000
Prof. Fowler
October 8, 2015
Assignment #1: Coming to Detroit
My name is Tymon Gorski and I am originally from the country of Prussia. I was
born there with my twin brother Izak. Now I currently call Detroit, Michigan my home.
My brother and I were raised solely by our mother because our father was in the
military branch. The land of Polonia was always occupied with wars and politics, which
is one reason why my brother and I decided to travel to the United States. 1 Growing up
we had a piece of farm land whereas my brother and I would grow crops such as corn,
or beans in attempt to sell them for income. Down the road from where I grew up lived
the love of my life, Izabella. When I turned eighteen years old we married right away.
When my brother and I reached the age of twenty-one we realized it was time to move
out and increase our incomes. My brother and I left Prussia, land of politics and war, to
travel to Detroit, Michigan, land of opportunities, in search of industrialized jobs to raise
our financial status so we could support our families and experience American life.
The journey to the land of the Americas began with hundreds of others from Prussia,
Austria, and Russia crowded and compacted on to one boat. In several days, we landed

1 DETROIT POLES WONT GO. Detroit Free Press (1858-1922): 5. Nov 05 1905.

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in Ellis Island, New York.2 Once arrived, health inspectors examined passengers for
health issues, those who were extremely sickly were sent back to their home countries. 3
Izak and I passed the examination and were cleared successfully. Shortly after, we then
had to pick our destination and conclude how we will arrive there. We decided we will
go where work is, which will most likely be an urbanized city. My brother and I had no
experience in anything other than laborious work, so our occupancy could be limited. 4
We both did not grasp an education form Prussia, as a result getting a higher paying job
would be difficult for us.5 While reading all the different types of newspapers in search
of work, I came across an opening for coal shovelers in The Detroit Free Press.6 This work
sounded ideal for us because of the conditions we were in. With the little money we
have saved up to bring to America we purchased the next train ticket to Detroit,
Michigan. With this opportunity in mind, Izak and I set off to Detroit by railway. 7
2 Jean A. Roth. "Ellis Island: "Gateway to America." Journal Of The American
Historical Society Of Germans From Russia 35.4 (2012): 7-14.
3 Roth, 8.
4 "Polish Americans." Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life. Ed.
Timothy L. Gall and Jeneen Hobby. 2nd ed. Vol. 2, (2009): 452.
5 Chmielewski, Edward A. Polish Settlement in East Minneapolis Minnesota. Polish
American Studies Vol. 17, no. (June 1960): 14-27.
6 "Classified Ad 1." Detroit Free Press [Detroit] (2 June 1901): 3.
7 Roth, 11.

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An unforgettable experience while in Detroit was joining Detroits Polish Catholic

Church.8 Once arrived in Detroit I knew it would be the perfect new home to my brother
and me. We naturally moved into the area of Detroit where most Polish migrants lived,
there we quickly became a part of the Poland community.9 While living in Detroit, my
brother and I became a part of the local Polish Catholic Church. There we feel more at
home while practicing our religion; we also speak our native language and practice
traditional rituals. As a Polish American it is very important to me to keep my Catholic
status to maintain my identity, and who I am. The communities of polish people in
Detroit all support each other very much.10 To support my own people I purchase my
goods, such as, bread, butter, vegetables, clothing, form Polish-ran stores. I also buy my
products from Polish stores to retain the tie to Prussia while adapting to America. 11
Interacting with the people form Polonia made me miss my old home, and my wife. It
also reminded me of them, which was refreshing because of all the change my brother
and I had been going through.

8 Polish Americans, 455.

9 Cord, Scott. "Polish Americans in Cities." Encyclopedia of American Urban History.
Ed. David Goldfield. Vol. 2, (2007): 582.
10 Cord, 583.
11 Cord, 583.

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The experience of working at a laborious job in Detroit was definitely different than
working on the farm like in Prussia.12 When my brother and I arrived in Detroit we were
both successfully hired to shovel coal. As simple as the job sounds, I reassure you that
the job itself was not easy. After only a few weeks of shoveling coal for forty cents an
hour I came to conclusion that I would like to find a different job that perhaps pays
more.13 Having no experience except with farming I had no choice but to apply for only
labor jobs.14 Soon enough, I found myself working in an assembly line at a factory that
produces car parts for the automotive industry. I am much happier working at the plant
and my pay has also increased.
Once I was settled in in Detroit and saving up my money, I returned to my
country to bring Izabella back with me to start a family.15 Once we returned to our new
home Izabella very quickly went to work. She was also not educated and had only
experience in cooking and cleaning, so she got hired as a maid. Izabella and I then
started a family, with our three children. We would attend church together regularly, in
importance of remembering our heritage and never forgetting where we came from.

12 Polish Americans, 453.

13 Classified Ad 1, 3.
14 Polish Americans, 453.
15 Polish Americans, 453.

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Living in Prussia with my family while being poor my whole childhood was only
one reason why I moved to Detroit with my brother. My brother and I needed to
become more financially stable to support ourselves, and our soon to be families as well.
Also, Prussia was always involved in wars and controversy with Russia and Austria and
coming to America was the best solution to get away from the politics and war. Living
in Detroit I have become a part of the communitys Polish Catholic Church, stabilized a
factory job, and started my family with Izabella. I am proud to call Detroit, Michigan my
new home.

Works Cited
Chmielewski, Edward A. Polish Settlement in East Minneapolis Minnesota. Polish
American Studies Vol. 17, no. (June 1960): 14-27.
"Classified Ad 1." Detroit Free Press [Detroit] (2 June 1901): 3-4. . ProQuest. Web. 9 Oct.
2015.
Cord, Scott. "Polish Americans in Cities." Encyclopedia of American Urban History. Ed.
David Goldfield. Vol. 2, (2007): 582-584. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9
Oct. 2015.

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"DETROIT POLES WON'T GO." Detroit Free Press (1858-1922): 5. Nov 05 1905. ProQuest.
Web. 9 Oct. 2015.
"Polish Americans." Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life. Ed. Timothy L. Gall
and Jeneen Hobby. 2nd ed. Vol. 2, (2009): 453-455. Gale Virtual Reference Library.
Web. 9 Oct. 2015.
Roth, Jean A. "Ellis Island: Gateway to America." Journal Of The American Historical
Society Of Germans From Russia 35.4 (2012): 7-14.