Toast of the Town … Strawberries, crafts and a tribute to the Hamtramck Historical Museum

By Charles Sercombe
There’s something about the sound of a bagpipe and drum band that tugs at the heartstrings.
And it seems the older, and maybe more world-weary you get, the sound of the mournful wail of bagpipes tugs even harder at one’s emotions.
Such was the case during a busy Hamtramck weekend.
Saturday kicked off with the annual firefighters’ march from the station on Caniff and Mackay down to Jos. Campau, and then over to St. Florian Church, led by the Michigan Scottish Pipes and Drums band.
At the church, a special Mass was held in honor of firefighters – a fitting place for the service since St. Florian is the patron saint of firefighters.
After Mass, it was time to let loose at the Parish’s Strawberry Festival. Hamtramck’s favorite party band, The Polish Muslims, got the festivities started – as usual – under a big tent that was crammed shoulder-to-shoulder with fans and parishioners.
In the Parish’s basement, fresh home-cooked Polish meals were being sold, and a Polish combo played easy listening music for the dinner crowd.
In between the Mass and the start of the two-day Strawberry Festival, Toast headed over to the city’s Night Bazaar, held at Pope Park, where a series of tents were set up for local craft folks to hawk their wares.

Although Saturday morning started out with overcast skies and cold drizzly weather, by afternoon the sun peaked out, and spring-like temperatures returned.
Hamtramck’s only craft beer joint, Florian East on Jos. Campau – just down the street from the church — had its front door open, and inside, the Kielbasa Kings, a perennial favorite here in town, blasted out polkas.
Toast took Sunday off, but on Monday evening, a very special gathering took place at Polonia Restaurant to honor Hamtramck Historical Museum Director Greg Kowalski, who has been battling some serious health issues. On the agenda was an overview on where the museum has evolved over the past12 years ago, and also offered a glimpse of the museum’s future.
Greg, who is in his 70s, declined to make a speech, but museum boardmember Sarah Cook gave a presentation.
But first up was retired Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Tom Niczay.
He had originally written a speech to talk about Greg’s role in the museum, and the long crusade to begin collecting artifacts from Hamtramck’s storied and colorful past.
But Greg, a journalist who has authored about a dozen books, most of them on Hamtramck’s page-turning history, insisted the focus remain on his beloved mission and not him.
The museum’s growth from nothing into a brick and mortar building on Jos. Campau is an amazing story of perseverance, considering Greg and a band of volunteers started with nary a scrap of anything and somehow built the current collection of 10,000-plus items, housed in a two-story showplace.

In the early days, before the museum opened, Greg was storing items in his house.
Niczay said the museum’s task is a never-ending one.
“Thank you for your continuous support, stakeholders. Without you, there would not be a Hamtramck Historical Museum,” Niczay said. “The museum began in 2013, and now, in 2025, with your generosity large-scale operational and structural improvements are being planned. However, for the plans to be implemented your help is needed again.”
Sarah Cook, who holds the position of secretary with the museum board, said that Hamtramck’s ongoing support is a key part in the museum’s growth.
“Hamtramck’s community is engaged,” she said. “It’s a community project.”
And Greg, she said, “is the heart of it. He is passionate how this a shared project, and he’s truly Hamtramck’s historian – a biographer.”
And, speaking of the museum, once again supporters of the museum are throwing a fundraiser this Saturday, May 10, with another Roaring Twenties-themed night – you know, the era of flappers, gangsters and bathtub gin.
Attendees are encouraged to dress in appropriate 1920s-era clothing. Heck, it’s a chance for fellas to strap on a pair of spats, and molls to sport flapper dresses.
It’s all happening at PLAV Post 1 at 3105 Holbrook. Tickets are $50 per person, or $90 per couple, and offer an evening of food, music and entertainment.
The celebration goes from 6-10 p.m.

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 May 9, 2025