Flag raising evokes memories of long lines at St. Casimir's for Mary Twardzik's pierogies

Ron Devlin, Republican & Herald, Pottsville, Pa.
Updated ·2 min read

Oct. 6—SHENANDOAH — Tom Twardzik had only to look across the street from borough hall to see the origin of Mrs. T's Pierogies, the family business he celebrated Friday on National Pierogy Day.

It was there, at St. Casimir's Catholic Church, that people stood in line at church picnics for pierogies made by his grandmother, Mary Twardzik.

Those long lines, Tom said, caught his father's eye and sparked an idea for a business.

In 1952, Ted Twardzik gave up his job as an auditor in New York and returned to Shenandoah to start making popular Polish delicacies for sale to local stores.

It wasn't long before the business outgrew Mary Twardzik's kitchen, where five women stuffed cheese and potatoes into dough pockets. Ted moved it to a former tavern downtown, where in 71 years, it has grown to an industrial complex that churns out 1.2 million pierogies a day.

As Mrs. T's president, Tom reflected on the origin of the family business Friday morning after the ceremonial raising of a flag to mark National Pierogy Day, which is Oct. 8.

Despite an early morning downpour, the flag raising was held for its 15th year.

Tom, 61, who's put 40 years into the family business, said his father returned to Shenandoah for more than just starting a business.

"It was an opportunity for everyone to experience homemade pierogies, the very ones that he grew up on," he said. "It was a dream to build something his family could be proud of in the small town that he loved."

In the late 1800s, waves of immigrants from Eastern Europe came to Schuylkill County to work in the coal mines.

With them, they brought recipes for staples like halushki, halupki and pierogies from Poland, Lithuania and other areas of Eastern Europe. The recipes have been passed down through generations, and continue to be made in households and at church bazaars.

In the Twardzik household, Tom said, pierogies were served with brown butter and onions.

Brother of state Rep. Tim Twardzik, Tom confides he occasionally throws on some peppers and spices.

"I've been around pierogies my whole life," said Tom, who wore a yellow Mrs. T's T-shirt beneath a Hawaiian aloha shirt. "I still love them, and still get excited over them. When I don't anymore, I'll know it's time to quit."

Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007