Toast of the Town … Celebrating a mover and shaker and honoring MLK

By Charles Sercombe
Winter’s icy, bitter cold couldn’t keep Hamtramck home this past Sunday and Monday.
On Sunday, Toast bundled up and braved Hamtramck’s slippery sidewalks and alleys to very carefully walk over to the Hamtramck Historical Museum.
That’s where, oh, about 100 or more people jammed inside to honor museum director Greg Kowalski.
Greg, who is in his 70s and in failing health, is credited with spearheading the establishment of the museum, and for the past 25 years has been the chairman of the Hamtramck Historical Commission.
Greg is a longtime journalist, now retired, who has also written about a dozen books on the colorful history of Hamtramck. To say that there are many tales to be told about this historic town is an understatement.
(Toast even gets a brief mention in Greg’s book about the city’s bars. Thanks for the infamy!)
The gathering was an outpouring of love for Greg, and it was also to present him with a replica of an honorific street sign in his name that is just like the one the city installed on the street where he lives, Wyandotte Street.
On a personal note, Toast owes an immense about of gratitude to Greg for showing a cub reporter the ropes, and how to navigate Hamtramck’s tricky political and cultural scenes. Those were life lessons, indeed.
Thank you, Greg, for your generosity – and for your encouraging advice when the going got tough.
As you can guess, Greg is phasing out of the museum – given his declining health –but, of course, there is no rush.
The praise was overflowing Sunday afternoon. Former City Councilmember Phillip Kwik credited Greg with kickstarting a passion for Hamtramck’s history, and the need to preserve all sorts of artifacts.
“It is that hard work, dedication, and love of Hamtramck that ultimately led to this beautiful museum that we gather in today. This was exactly what the council of 1998 envisioned when we created the Hamtramck Historical Commission,” Kwik said.
Event organizer Lynn Blasey said that Greg has helped many folks realize their connection to the community. In asking folks to recount their interactions with him, she said, “a recurring theme was that, for the first time, Greg helped them understand and frame the context of their own family’s place in this city’s history. Greg helped us feel we belong here.”
Blasey continued: “Greg’s work touched people across generations and cultures. You haven’t just documented Hamtramck’s history; you helped build its future.”
Greg was also honored by the city council, which passed a resolution of thanks, saying:
“Through his many published books, public talks, and community engagement efforts, Mr. Kowalski has brought Hamtramck’s story to audiences throughout Michigan and beyond, ensuring that the city’s proud legacy of diversity, resilience, and hard work continues to inspire future generations.”
Greg, in a hushed tone, got the last word in.
“I cannot express to you how that touched me, and how much that affected me,” he said. “I mean, it’s just overwhelming to have such an honor.”
Greg said he never looked at his involvement in the museum, and the effort to make it grow, as work.
“Not one minute of it was all work,” he said. “Every minute of it was a joy doing it. I love doing this for the museum. It’s part of my life. It has been ever since we started it. And I love all of you for coming here, and especially those who are involved in this process.”
The applause was deafening. And in a way, sad — sad that an important part of Hamtramck’s history is fading away. Life is unfair. The legacy, however, will live on.
Thank you, Greg. Hamtramck will be forever indebted to you and your dedication; to making us all realize just how very important Hamtramck has been, through the decades, to us all.
Take a moment. A deep breath. Time and history move on. Maybe too quick.

On Monday, Toast headed over to the Hamtramck High School Community Center for the annual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
This was the 28th year that the Concerned Women of Hamtramck hosted the civil rights program.
This year’s theme was “Faith, Courage, and the Dream.”
About 200, or so, people braved the bone-chilling cold and were treated, as usual, to a hearty breakfast, followed by a talent show featuring public schools students.
This year, the talent mostly zeroed in on dance and poetry. One student sang English singer-songwriter Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” a cappella, which is pretty gutsy. And, as for the choice of song, shows pretty sophisticated taste.
Toast left the meeting thinking about the nature and state of the country, and this MLK quote came to mind – given these politically troubled times:
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
When it comes to good food and great times, Hamtramck has plenty to offer. In this column, we’ll talk about what’s happening at our bars, restaurants and at other events throughout the city.
Posted Jan. 23, 2026