A Short History Of Nest 725

Nest 725 was founded on December 10, 1916 by a group of Northside residents who felt that they could further the well being of Polish Americans. There were about 25 members in the beginning.

In November of 1918 one of the members also founded a second nest. This Nest was for junior girls and in January became known as Nest 755. In 1927 the two nests were joined and became known as Nest 725.

In April of 1940 the Nest purchased its first quarters, at 2939 North Fratney Street. In 1941 the Nest sent four bowling teams to the National Tournament in Kensington, PA. and won a Trophy Cup for the highest total score. In 1942 the Nest hosted the Polish Falcons National Tournament, with over 1,000 participants.

Due to the fact that the building on N. Fratney Street became too small, the nest set out to find larger quarters in the same area. They found the current building at 801 E. Clarke St. They purchased this building in 1945, and have been there ever since.

The building itself has a very large and interesting history of its own, dating back to 1882. In 1913 the basement was dug up, and three two-lane bowling alleys were installed. Through the course of the years the building has seen many different and colorful interests come and go. Since 1945 when Nest 725 bought the property, it has been used as a tavern, hall and bowling alley.

During World War II, Nest 725 had 41 of its members serve in the United States Armed Forces. Some of those members were a former Nest President, Druh Raymond Zareczny, and a former Vice-President, Druh Stanley Orlikowski and former Board member, Druh Raymond Bronk.

In 1972, Nest 725 participated in their first National Zlot, and continued to participate throughout the years on District and National levels, taking 1st place in the 1988 National Zlot.

Gymnastic drills are still held every Tuesday night at the current Falcon Home. Boys and girls are invited to join.

Founder Of Nest 725 Passed Away

A loyal and longtime member of The Polish Falcons, and one of the founding members of PFA Nest 725, Milwaukee, WI, Druh Bolesaus Orlikowski, age 97 passed away in his sleep on April 3rd, 1990. He was a member of Nest 786, Milwaukee.

Druh Orlikowski was born March 19, 1893 in Plock, Poland. He came to America in 1911.

When Nest 725 was organized on December 16, 1916, Druh Orlikowski served as the first Vice President of the new organization. He became very active in Nest affairs and in its gym class. He became quite a physical culturist; in fact, he was a pretty good amateur wrestler.

When the call to arms came in 1918 in the First World War, there were only six members remaining in the Nest. After one left to work in West Virginia that left only five members in the Nest.

At the next Nest election, Druh Orlikowski was elected Vice President and Instructor, but he had no one to instruct, but that didn't stop him. He rounded up seven boys from the neighborhood and started a gym class. He asked that the next time they came to class they bring another boy with them, which they did. In no time there was a class of 70 boys, and they progressed very fast and were very good.

At that time the Nest was located in District XI, but after the war was over there were only three Nests left in the Milwaukee area. SO after a meeting in Chicago, the Milwaukee area became known as Sub-District II. The Nests got along fine together.

Sometime in the late 1920's, Druh Orlikowski moved to Cudahy, WI, just south of Milwaukee. Once there, he found out that there was a group of boys there who were known as Polish Scouts who were led by a group of women. Druh Orlikowski got in touch with the group and convinced them to let him take over the group of boys, and from that group Nest 905 was born. They flourished and did well for themselves.

It was not long before Druh Orlikowski was elected President of Sub-District II, a position he held for 10 years.

In the meantime, he became a house painter. He got to know the people in the real estate office and he received a lot of work through them. He convinced the local immigrant Polish people to save their money so that they could buy their own homes, and when that time came he helped them to secure a loan so that this could be a reality for them.

For those who could not read or write too good, he wrote letters for them that were sent to Poland to their relatives, and in turn, when a letter came from Poland he read it to them. Also, he helped them to receive their citizen papers and helped hem to become citizens of this country. He even arranged for one of them to buy and send a team of horses to his family in Poland.

At that time there was no hospital in Cudahy, so a call went out for funds to build one. Druh Orlikowski went out of his way to raise funds for this hospital, which was later known as Trinity Hospital.

For his work within the organization and the many good deeds outside the organization, Druh Orlikowski received the Bronze Legion of Honor Cross.

In time he moved back to Milwaukee, and when Nest 905 disbanded he transferred to Nest 786, and was a member of the Falcons to the end.

For his age, he was in pretty health. He lived for the last 15 years at St. Francis Manor, a rest home, and there he was known as the flower man because he bought and planted all the flowers outside the building.

He kept a scrapbook of all the different happenings and occasions within the Polish community. He was bright and carried himself very good but his hearing went bad, so he stopped going to meetings.

On his 95th birthday, the gym class lf Nest 725 surprised him with a performance in his honor, and after this occasion he signed up his first great-great-grandchild to a $1,000 endowment policy with the Polish Falcons.

His last wish was that all spiritual bouquets were to go to the Dr. T.A. Starynski Scholarship Fund in his name. A true Falcon to the last.

Druh Orlikowski was survived by his sons Edmund and Stanley; daughters, Irene Czajkowski, Helen Koth and Phyllis Kneyse; stepchildren, Bernice Ciesiak, Marcella Lorenz and Chester Lorenz; 14 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and other relatives.

The funeral Mass was held in the Basilica of St. Joseph and interment was in St. Adalbert Cemetery.

May he rest in peace.