Polonia Cemetery

The three-acre tract of land that was the Polish settlement of Polonia was deeded to Bishop John Neraz of the Catholic Diocese of San Antonio in 1894 by Joseph and Veronica Dzierzanowski. The community was founded one year after the death of Simon Dzierzanowski (1853-1896), who was the first to be buried in his family's cemetery on this site. The settlement once boasted a cotton gin, blacksmith shop, general store, and the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Schools for both English and Spanish speaking students were built. The Polish population retained many traditions from their homeland. Polonia declined in the late 1930s because of a failing farm economy. The Catholic church was razed in 1939. The Dzierzanowski Family Cemetery, now Polonia Community Cemetery, is the last reminder of the once vibrant village. Twenty-five percent of those buried in the cemetery are veterans of the United States Armed Forces. The first known families of Polonia, settling near this site from 1891, were Bienek, Boniewiez, Bonkowski, Dedek, Dikowski, Dykowski, Dzierzanowski, Foerster, Foryszewski, Grabarkewitz, Kalinowski, Krzgwosinski, Levandowski, Malinowski, Petroski, Pieniazek, Reisner, Scholwinski, Slawinski, Urbanski, Wacluwczyk, Wisniewski, Zaleski, Zarrasky, Zawadski, and Zolewski. (1998)

Polonia Cemetery is a historical marker in Lockhart, Caldwell County, dedicated in 1998. It is one of 54 historical markers documented in Caldwell County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 106 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.9403, -97.7054 near Lockhart. The nearest cataloged historic site is Mishenhimer Cemetery (cemetery), about 1.6 miles away. Others within a short drive include San Pablo Cemetery, St. Mary's Catholic, and Cementerio Navarro Historico.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5055011775. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.