Reel Legacy in America
Latest Update: May 23nd, 2021
Martica's Tavern
Concertina Project
The Clubhouse
Cabinet of Curiosities
Music and memories of a performance by Matt Lisak on drums at a "Back of the Yards" Tavern on the South Side of Chicago in the mid 1960s. This includes a general history, site layout, over 90 minutes of performance audio, photos, and general memories and descriptions.
Matt had an old concertina he took with him to play music anywhere he went and the history of this instrument carries far back through our American history. The concertina is still alive and well and is ready for a world tour with members of the family far and wide. Visit this section to see who the Happy Concertina has visited and where it has been!
We are fortunate to have these recordings because a teenage Don Lisak enjoyed playing with a used reel to reel tape machine in the famed "clubhouse" over the garage at 51st and Lomis. This section contains highlights of Don and friends singing, playing music, and laughing through various antics while the record light was on.
This is a special section on the site for interesting elements, history, stories, photos, and anything that adds to our shared story. Look through the cabinets drawers to find new found treasures and check back to see if anything new appears as its content grows.
In the early 20th century, our first generation in America forged a trail in pursuit of the American dream.
Matt Lisak and Helen Kolecki built a life, and built a family - a family that you can trace your deepest roots to.
By the mid 1960s, the early branches on our family tree sprouted and started to take their shape in whatever direction they were destined to grow. In a family home on Chicago's south side, Matt & Helen raised their family in keeping with the traditions and times they were a part of. Their five children - Helen "Cookie", Rita, Ron, Don, & Matthew "Bill" - carried those traditions forward along with new ones. Through various branches on our growing tree, we are now four
and even five generations away from the earliest roots.
As times and traditions change, one thing remains unshakable...the bonds of love and togetherness that connect our hearts even through the most difficult of times. This common theme traces back all the way through our American history and beyond. Sometimes, in the chaos and pressure of forging new paths, it is easy to lose sight of things
that we know we are connected with.
What is assembled on this site serves as a catalyst to reanimate pieces of our American history. Through these elements, younger generations in our family who have only heard of their past through unfamiliar stories can get to
experience some of it and add even more to the story.
Anywhere we may be, this place serves as an always accessible reminder of the single foundation we all stand on
which we crafted with time, togetherness, and love.