Smack dab in the center of town. Poland Township was once called Fowler’s Place after the first settlers, Jonathan Fowler and his family. They settled on Yellow Creek.
This site is home to the sculpture entitled “American Freedom Fighters” by renowned local artist, Tom Antonishak. The sculpture depicts the two Polish Generals, Thaddeus Kosciuszko and Casimir Pulaski, who fought to save America’s freedom during the Revolutionary War.
The town of Poland, Ohio is now named after the country of birth (Poland, Europe) of these two great Generals.
General Pulaski, also known as “The Father of the American Calvary,” fought bravely in many battles of the Revolutionary War. His final battle was the Battle of Savannah where he was wounded and ultimately paid the greatest price for our American freedom. Pulaski died on October 11, 1779. To commemorate the date of General Pulaski’s death, Congress passed a resolution in 1929, marking October 11 of each year as ”General Pulaski Memorial Day.”
Gen. Kosciuszko joined the Continental Army in 1776. He is credited with building forts near Philadelphia and had even devised a plan for the Battle of Saratoga, which was a turning point in the war. He also drafted blueprints for West Point that Benedict Arnold later tried to sell to the British. After the war, the general donated his salary to buy and free Thomas Jefferson’s slaves.
This is the only location in the country where both generals are displayed together.