3RD PLACE - Latest Generation Film Contest

3RD PLACE

Board by Board: How the Movement of One Church Constructed a Community’s History

Jennifer Omernik

Custer, Wisconsin

Director’s Statement:

“In the past, I have made a few short documentaries. However, though I have wanted to explore local history in the past, I haven’t had a good opportunity to create and present a work based on the land around me. I’ve lived in Polonia my whole life, and my family has attended Sacred Heart Church for generations. A few years ago, when researching my own genealogy, I came across Malcolm Rosholt’s Our County Our Story, which detailed the history of Portage County, Wisconsin. The book claimed that the entire congregation of Sacred Heart Church had moved from Poland Corners to another small town, due to disturbances from taverns. I was surprised and almost dismissed it as a local legend. An entire church moving due to a couple of nearby taverns? It seemed implausible. When I heard about this contest, focused around local history, I recognized it as the perfect opportunity to explore that question that had been on the back of my mind for years: what happened at Poland Corners? Through significant research and the help of works written by more experienced local historians, I pieced together most of the story. Not all of the sources lined up; some claimed slightly different dates for the events that took place. This is likely due to the time period, where there are few primary records. Even so, the history emerged, and I managed to organize it together into a script. In past documentaries, I never really had the chance to take my own footage on location. With this film, I was given that chance. Traveling the area of my hometown and seeing it through the lens of history was a transformative experience. Without the movement of this church, my town as I know it wouldn’t exist. I am glad that I have been able to witness the effects of this significant local history, and to help make it accessible to a wider audience. I feel a strong connection to Polonia, and I hope this documentary will share that with others and preserve the history of the generations that came before.”

Quotes From Reviewers:

“This is a *fabulous* film. It is well-researched and story-boarded. It demonstrates a deep understanding of historical context and clarity of message. It is obviously original. It fits well within the theme and the technical quality is excellent, I think. Well done.”

“Wonderful. The filmmaker has great original cinematography, effective music, great narration with POV, and tells a good story, linking past to today.”