Centennial Garden provides peaceful oasis in urban setting

By Linda M. Linonis

The garden was created to mark the 100th year of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church.

YOUNGSTOWN — Along South Avenue near the ramps to Interstate 680, where thousands of cars and trucks travel by and kick up the dust of the city street, there’s a green oasis beautifying the corner of South and Williamson avenues.

It’s the Centennial Garden at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 430 Williamson.

Previously, three deteriorated houses occupied the space and obscured the view of the church. The houses were torn down and the church acquired the property.

“We were about to celebrate our centennial,” said Deacon Michael Schlais, noting that event took place in May of 2002. He credited the Rev. Edward J. Neroda, pastor, with the idea for the garden.

“I thought it would add beauty to the church,” Father Neroda said.

It’s accomplished that goal. So much so that many passers-by stop at the church to ask if they can walk through the garden. “They stop and ring the doorbell and ask if they can visit the garden,” Father Neroda said.

“Seed money” for the project came from the late Ann Przelomski, a church member, and the Scislak family, also deceased. Those funds provided the financial foundation for the project. Father Neroda, Deacon Schlais and the parish council worked on the project.

Another church member, Mary Potkanowicz Baumeier, was asked to design the garden. “Members liked the idea of the ‘green effect’ of the garden,” she said. “And we wanted it to face the street.”

The garden, bordered by a fence, features what Baumeier described as a horseshoe design. A large granite cross serves as the focal point; its base is inscribed with the name of the church and 1902, the year of its founding, and 2002, the centennial year. Bricks, many inscribed to honor deceased church members, form a block before the cross.

Father Neroda, who said he aspired at one time to be a biology teacher, noted that he has pursued “horticulture as a hobby.” He offered input on what to plant.

Among his suggestions were a Stella D’Orio day lily derivative, Happy Returns. “It was created by a Polish-American, Ralph Jablonski, and in the Wayside Gardens catalog,” Father Neroda explained. He said he selected that lily because of its long-blooming habit and the fact it was created by someone of Polish heritage. The ethnic background of the church is Polish.

The garden also features Imperial Locust trees. “I liked this tree because of its yellow leaves,” Father Neroda said. “The light filter through the leaves, which aren’t dense. And they tend to disintegrate and there’s no cleanup,” he said of the trees that add to the sunshine in the garden.

Among other plants are junipers, sand cherry and hydrangea. “Plants around the edges that can withstand salt had to be considered,” said Marsha Schlais, administrative assistant at the church, where she also is a member.

In June 2002, the former bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown, Thomas Tobin, blessed and dedicated the garden. The ceremony was made even more special as a Polish choir sang.

Father Neroda said Jerry Ferrell Jr., who was 16 at the time, came to him in 2006 and asked about doing his Eagle Scout project as something that would benefit the church and its garden. It was decided that the project would be to install Stations of the Cross. “He wrote an article in the church newsletter, asking for donations for the project,” said Father Neroda. “The parish responded.”

Ferrell, with help from other Boy Scouts, installed 14 white posts along the horseshoe design. He also made computer-generated printouts of vividly colored scenes, though simply expressed, of the Stations of the Cross. Both the posts and printouts are weather-proofed. Ferrell completed the project in the fall of 2007.

Fourteen dwarf Cinderella flowering crabapple trees stand vigil behind the 14 white posts.

Benches provide seating in garden, which is lighted with spotlights on the cross and sign. Jack and Cindy Bermann, church members, donated the lighting. “We have twinkle lights in the trees for the holiday season,” Marsha Schlais said.

The Centennial Garden offers a meditative setting amid its urban surroundings. “It’s a nice place to sit and reflect. It’s a quiet place,” she said, even though traffic is passing by, the greenery and religious overtones combine to create a peaceful atmosphere.

The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine students of the church sometimes come to the garden and go through the Stations of the Cross, said Deacon Schlais. And the garden also is a nice setting for wedding photos.

On Corpus Christi Sunday, usually in June, church members process to the Centennial Garden; the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, patron of Poland; and the St. Anthony Shrine. The St. Anthony Shrine, surrounded by a landscaped area of plants, is a memorial to the late Marie Rydar. “She was a mother of the church,” said Deacon Schlais, and he noted she headed the pirogi sales for years and was active in the church.