Hexagonal concertina; tan keys on each side (six missing on one side).

Accession Book Entry: .4 Concertina, hexagonal, 7.0″ x 7.0″; c. 1941-1945; Estate of Florence C. Sojka.

A concertina is like an accordion but is smaller and hexagonal in shape. It has a system of buttons to push to create the notes, while the accordion has a keyboard like a piano. Concertinas are used for playing folk music from a variety of countries, including those in Eastern Europe.

This concertina was owned by Anthony (Antoni) J. Sojka (1912-1986) of Turners Falls, Massachusetts. He was the son of Polish immigrants, John (Jan) and Antonina (Osmola) Sojka. He served in in the army in North Africa and Italy during World War II and received a purple heart medal directly from General George Patton in 1945, for injuries sustained in the Battle of the Bulge. Following his military service Sojka worked for the Town of Montague (Massachusetts) Department of Public Works.