The Carpatho-Rusyns of Pennsylvania: Russkij Den'

Russkij Den' at Lakewood Park was one in a series of ethnic days at the legendary Lakewood Park in Barnesville, between Mahanoy City and Tamaqua.

Rusin Day began in either 1927 or 1928... but first, there was Russian Day. But it wasn't what you would think. This article from a local newspaper reveals that "Russian Day" was initially a joint event of the Rusyn/Ruthenian and Ukrainian Greek Catholic parishes in the area. (Wow!)

1928

This financial report in the RBO's newspaper Pravda/The Truth is for the "First Russian Day" at Lakewood Park in 1928.

Minersville [Ss. Peter & Paul G.C. Church] school children at Russkij Den', Lakewood Park, July 12, 1928. Father Emil Nevickyj, pastor, Mr. Jurij Suchan, cantor-teacher.

Announcement in the United Societies newspaper Prosvita of the 1938 Ruskij Den' which says it's the 12th one, implying the first was in 1927.

Announcement in Prosvita of the 1941 Ruskij Den' which says it's the 15th one, also implying the first was in 1927.

This article from 1940 indicates that the parishes of the Galician/Ukrainian jurisdiction (e.g., Mount Carmel, Marion Heights, Shenandoah, Centralia, Middleport, perhaps others) participated in Russian Day in 1940, which is curious because the parishes in that jurisdiction had already established their own observance, Ukrainian Day, in 1933 (see below).

Rusyn Greek Catholic parishes in the Hazleton area also embraced Rusin Day at Lakewood Park.

Ad in the Hazleton Plain Speaker for the 1954 event.

1954

1955

1956

Program booklets from Rusin Day:

Ukrainian Day started later than Rusin Day, in 1933, but it became no less of a draw. And with many of the area Carpatho-Rusyns being members of Ukrainian Greek Catholic parishes, Ukrainian Day was at its core as much of a Rusyn event as a Ukrainian event. And it proved to be the longer-lasting, even though it is now held at another venue (as mentioned in the introduction), still drawing members of Ukrainian Catholic parishes from a wide area of eastern Pennsylvania and beyond.

1933

1935

1963

Don't Forget Russian Day!

As mentioned, Lakewood Park was legendary for many reasons, not the least of which was the plethora of ethnic heritage days held there in the summer. Another one that brought many local Carpatho-Rusyns out was Russian Day, organized by Russian Orthodox parishes primarily in Schuylkill and Northumberland Counties. Russian Day at Lakewood began in 1933.