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Edward Piszek

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Edward Piszek Historical Marker

 Approved by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC)

Location: Edward Piszek Nature Preserve, Montgomery County, PA
See map [Arrow Picture]
(where Oreland Mill Rd. meets Pennsylvania Avenue)

Dedication Date: Spring 2025 - (to be confirmed)

Status: Need assistance of Springfield Township streets department

Basic Information (marker wording to be determined by the PHMC)

Edward Piszek (1916-2004), Springfield Township; founder of Mrs. Paul's Kitchens, was a pioneer businessman and innovator in producing and marketing frozen "heat-and-eat" convenience seafoods. A strong advocate of Polish American heritage, his philanthropic efforts supported the establishment of the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial in Philadelphia and a major anti-tuberculosis campaign in Poland in the late 1960s.

Keep checking this page - additional information will be posted as soon as it becomes available.


Reasons for Marker -

This self-made millionaire and businessman, who became a local legend, needs to be remembered. He pioneered in a new industry, gainfully employed hundreds of people and is an example of determination and accomplishment for a new generation of entrepreneurs. His projects went well beyond just earning money, but to improving the human situation.

Edward Piszek was born in Chicago but made his career and fortune in Philadelphia. While unemployed and making ends meet selling crab cakes at a local bar, almost by accident, he came on the idea of producing frozen fish products as a convenience "heat-and-eat" food. Taking advantage of a trend toward frozen foods that started in the 1950s he built a major national company, Mrs. Paul's Kitchens, in the Philadelphia area. Once established as a larger than life figure, he was known here as the "Fishcake King." His products were sold through supermarkets and stores nationwide.

Several unique machines were developed in-house as Mrs. Paul's had a machine shop and skilled personnel who were able to manufacture various components. Among the original machines or systems built for production were an automated fish-cake maker (that also froze the cakes as they were ejected onto a conveyor), fish-block slicing saws, and a bread-crumb coating production line that was assembled from commercially available components. Another unique device developed in-house was a conveyor for cooking crepes over a gas flame. However, Edward Piszek never filed for any patents. The strategy that the firm used to protect manufacturing secrets, proprietary machines and recipes was secrecy; the same as used by Kentucky Fried Chicken and Coca-Cola.

The rights to all the company recipes, manufacturing methods and proprietary machinery were sold in 1982 to Campbells Soup together with the brand name and manufacturing facilities. In 1996 the brand was taken over by the Pinnacle Foods Corp. and is still in the marketplace.

Edward Piszek became aware of his Polish heritage and traveled to Poland becoming friends with Cardinal Karol Wojtyla of Krakow who later became Pope John Paul II.

One of his first projects in Poland (1967) was financing an anti-tuberculosis campaign that stopped an outbreak of the disease. This included 11 mobile x-ray units, ancillary equipment and support vehicles.

In 1972 he traveled to Poland with John Cardinal Krol of Philadelphia, the first such visit to that then Communist Country. Later, he supported the Solidarity freedom movement that sprang up in Poland during the 1980s making friends with its leader, and later Poland's president, Lech Walesa.

His philanthropic engagement was recognized by Rotary International through the Rotary Award for World Understanding.

He negotiated the return from Warsaw of valuable original documents (in Hebrew) to the Jewish Lubavitcher Sect in Brooklyn, NY.

In Philadelphia, for the US Bicentennial in 1976, he purchased the house in which Revolutionary War Hero General Thaddeus Kosciuszko resided. Working with historian Edward Pinkowski, he donated this building, and one next door, to the National Park Service (Independence National Historical Park District). This is now a museum called the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial. (see Documents)

Edward Piszek conducted a positive publicity campaign to improve the image of Poles in the United States ("Project Pole") in 1972.

At his own expense he created a press center in Philadelphia during the American Bicentennial to host members of the domestic and international press (1976).

He promoted baseball in Europe, working with baseball legend Stan "The Man" Musial. After Poland became a Democratic Country he convinced the Little League international organization to locate its European Headquarters in Kutno, Poland.

He created a foundation, the Copernicus Society, to continue his philanthropic and educational work.

See the Approval Letter from the PA Historical and Museum Commission