St. Joseph School Museum

The Oldest Private Polish School in the United States
by Betty Kowalek
St. Joseph’s School in Panna Maria is recognized as the oldest private Polish School in the United States. Education was important to the early Polish settlers and a small Polish school existed in Panna Maria as early as 1855 with classes being held in various sites. In 1866, St. Joseph’s School was organized by the priests at Panna Maria and, in 1868, parishioners constructed a two-story stone building to serve as a convent and school. The site chosen for St. Joseph’s School was the location of the first cemetery. The graves were transferred to the current cemetery site. Classes were conducted on the first floor of the building and the second floor served as the convent. Catholic and non-Catholic children attended the school. The tuition charged in 1869 was 50 cents per month and parents insisted that their children learn English as well as Polish. Panna Maria was the Mother house of the Immaculate Conception Sisters Community who served at St. Joseph’s school approximately seven years. In 1881, the Sisters of the Incarnate Word undertook education in Panna Maria. In 1934, St. Joseph School became a public school and was called Panna Maria Public School. The Incarnate Word Sisters remained in Panna Maria until the Felician Sisters began teaching in 1948. In 1989, the school, which was no longer located in the original building, was closed and the students were bussed to Karnes City to attend elementary school. The Felician Sisters were offered jobs in Karnes City and they remained in residence in Panna Maria teaching CCD and directing church music until 1997.

For many years the first floor of the St. Joseph School building was used as a museum; however, the entire building became greatly deteriorated and the artifacts were in jeopardy. Loretta Niestroy, who is the savior of Panna Maria’s history, worked diligently to secure grants and private donations to restore it. In 2002, renovation of the building began. The project was completed in August, 2005.

The museum reopened in October, 2005. The first floor displays furniture and items used by the early Polish settlers, artifacts used in the church, family photos and a sign showing the documented surnames of the immigrants who came to Texas in 1854, 1855 and 1856. Tours of the museum are available upon request from the volunteers who run the Visitors Center.