The history of the Ukrainian immigrants in Syracuse, New York began in 1885 with the arrival of the Hungarian Rusyns which continued through 1888. A second group, known as Lemkos, from an area in Ukraine called Lemkivshchyna, came to the city between the years 1890 and 1895. A third group, from a region called Eastern Galicia or Halychyna, were the last to arrive in 1900.[1]
Regardless of what section of Austro-Hungary they came from, these first Ukrainian immigrants were forced to leave their native country because the land fell into the hands of the rich landowners and there was not enough left for the people to make a decent living. Immigration to the United States gave the Ukrainian people hope for greater economic opportunities and freedoms.[1]
Contents |
Ukrainian immigrants in the Syracuse, New York area arrived in three separate waves and were three disparate groups of people. This is because Ukraine had been occupied by Austro-Hungarians and each group of Ukrainians were known by different names, depending on the nationality of the controlling group in the section of the country they were raised. As a result, most Ukrainians who immigrated to America knew very little about their own culture and the history of their people or country because they were raised in the culture of the occupying nation and educated in occupied schools.[1]
Syracuse's neighborhoods reflect the historically divided population of the city. Traditionally, Ukrainian-Americans settled in the Near Westside on West Fayette, Marcellus, Otisco, Geddes and Delaware Streets; or the Far Westside near Wilbur and Ulster Streets and also the Westside in the Sacred Heart Church area.[1]
The first group to settle in the area arrived during the years 1885 through 1888 from a section of Austro-Hungary dominated by Hungarians and were known as Hungarian Rusyns, or Rusyny or Rusnacky. Some of these Ukrainians thought of themselves as Austrians because their immigration passports showed their country of origin as Austro-Hungary and their nationality as Austrian.[1]
The second group arrived between the years 1890 through 1895 from a part of Ukraine known as Lemkivshchyna and were referred to as Lemkos. This group was significantly larger than the first group of immigrants.[1]
Five years later, in 1900, a third group of Ukrainians arrived from a region called Eastern Galicia or Halychyna. Later this group was called Western Ukraine (Zahidna Ukraina). These individuals had retained more of their Ukrainian ways; as they had a better chance for education in their own language and history and they attended Ukrainian schools.[1]
The early immigrants worked under harse conditions in the foundries, steel mills, factories and the railroad "as common laborers." Despite many hardships they managed to save and finally were able to send for their families. Soon after the families arrived, ideas about building their own place of worship became an important goal.[1]
After working in the factories or the railroad for a few years, many of the early Ukrainian immigrants bought farmlands and became farmers, a skill they brought with them from their homeland. Most of the farmland they purchased was located in areas including East Syracuse, Minoa, Mattydale, Camillus, Split Rock, Jamesville and even communities further away such as Constantia and Cazenovia.[1]
Since most of the immigrants were of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic faith, they became members of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church. Many others, who were of the Ukrainian Orthodox faith attended services in the Orthodox churches in Syracuse. As more Ukrainian Orthodox immigrants arrived, St. Luke's Ukrainian Orthodox Church was established.[1]
St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church of Syracuse, New York, originally known as St. John the Baptist Greek Catholic Church, was constructed in 1913 at the corner of Tompkins Street and Wilbur Avenue.[2] It was the first "Eastern Catholic" (Greek Orthodox) church in the city and was built by the local Ukrainian population on the city's Far Westside neighborhood of Tipperary Hill.[3]
St. Luke's Ukrainian Orthodox Church is located at 3290 Warners Road in Warners, New York. The parish is a member of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the United States under the Omophorion of the Archbishop of Constantinople. The church was founded in 1950 by a "new wave" of Ukrainian Orthodox Christian immigrants under the direction of Father Simeon Hayuk.[4]
During the first few years, the church rented various facilities; however, not long after, the "parish family" bought a wooden building at 201 North Lowell Avenue on the Far Westside located on Tipperary Hill which became the Holy Sanctuary.[4]
The parish continued to grow and additional land was purchased in 1973 under the direction of Father Pawlo Szpiruk who was appointed in 1968. In 1979, a cemetery was established and construction of the church hall was begun with completion in 1980 which is used for wedding receptions, meetings and other gatherings. The Church was built to accommodate 150 parishioners and was blessed on November 3, 1985, by His Emminence Metropolitan Mstyslaw. The rectory was completed in 1986.[4]
The church's members are mainly second generation Ukrainians and services are conducted in both English and Ukrainian.[4]
ODESA Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Syracuse was established in 1950 and provides a program that promotes "pride in national heritage through song and dance." The group consists of 50 Ukrainian dancers in designated groups from 4 to 25 years of age. They perform throughout the Central New York region at festivals, museums, colleges, libraries and the annual New York State Fair.[5]
The Syracuse Ukrainian National Home (UNH) was established in 1933 and throughout the years has been a center for social and cultural activity in the community. The preservation of Ukrainian tradition and ethnic pride has been a chief goal of the organization. This is the home of the Odesa Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Syracuse CYM (SUMA) Ukrainian American Youth Organization and Ukrainian Sports Club. The organization is located at 1317 West Fayette Street and contains 13,000 square feet on three floors. There are five meeting rooms and a bar on the main floor as well as a small dining hall with a full kitchen and a large dance hall with a stage and parking for 300. The building is used to maintain "the custom and livlihood of the Ukrainian way and many Ukrainian ethnic foods are served including Kovbasa (smoked ham sausage), Kapusta Varenyky Pyrohy (cabbage perogies) and Holubtsi (cabbage rolls).[6]
The Ukrainian Cultural Center of Syracuse was established to encourage study, knowledge and interest in the Ukrainian language and culture. Additionally, to act as a service organization to the community in the areas of social, medical, legal and senior assistance for local Ukrainians.[7] The association provides contacts to various Ukrainian affiliations in the city including funeral homes, credit unions, soccer clubs and churches.[7]
|
||||||||||||||