Recognizing Polish Heritage in Elmhurst, NY

Community members have rallied around the modest 1911 gambrel home located at 88-28 43rd Avenue in Elmhurst. A recommendation submitted to the city’s Landmarks and Preservation Commission details the historical significance of the home, which was formerly the longtime home of Walentyna Janta-Polczynska, the “First Lady of Polish Americans.”

Walentyna, a WWII Polish War Heroine, resided at this residence until she passed away on April 2, 2020 at 107 years old. She was the last living member of the Polish Government-in-Exile and from 1940 to 1943 she served as a confidante and secretary of the prime minister and commander in chief, General Wladyslaw Sikorski. Her home became an important stopping place for Polish emigre elite fleeing Communist Poland as well as distinguished scholars, professors, and dignitaries. 

This cultural site is a rare example of significance not only for Polish and Polish American culture but on the accomplishments of a modern female war heroine. To read more about Walentyna’s accomplishments, check out this article. You can also read our letter of support, which outlines the historic and cultural importance of this site.