South Grafton’s Polish National Home may soon be for sale

The Polish National Home, shut down by COVID-19 since March 2020, will not reopen — but before membership sells the property, they are hoping the town will find a home for its World War II monument.

A letter to the Select Board written by Joe Kuras on behalf of the Polish National Home Association said the 7-foot monument would be presented to the town as a gift, with the request that it be relocated down the street to Mill Villages Park.

“The history of the Polish American Community of South Grafton, their integration with French Canadian co-workers in the Fisherville Mill which was located across the street, and the present day foot traffic within this park make it an ideal location in the eyes of the ‘Home,’” Kuras wrote.

The Polish National Home on 7 Main Street in South Grafton dates back to 1935, built by Polish immigrants attracted to Grafton by the mills in the early 1900s. The monument, erected in 1969, is dedicated to 80 Polish-American citizens from Grafton who served in World War II.

“These young men and women who served our country were referred to as second generation Polish-American citizens,” Kuras wrote. “Their parents were the first generation to immigrate here in Grafton from Poland. These individuals were born here in the United States, were raised in Grafton, and were the first generation of Polish-Americans eligible to protect and serve our country.”

Kuras said the decision to sell the building and property was brought on not only by Covid but also financial challenges in recent years. 

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