Homeland - Born in Church (Supplement)

I realised afterward, that my story about elementary school and my native village is to poor taking in mind the role which played both this town and scholl...

Because many of my first teachers and neighbors has gone to eternal life, I wish contemplate their souls by walking on the street of local cemetery using just memory. It is November month now, when I describing my story, so I have good reason doing this.

The town Skrwilno was ever called tourist place, so I wish to explain why it is good to visit here.

We have beautiful landscape with forests, lake and river. Near there wander hill which is the rest of middle age fortress and even small island on the lake.

In the forest near the lake you can find another anonymous cemetery. The people who got eternal peace here died during the war. They were so numerous that the land formed the valley slowly, after their bodies corrupted.

My home was on Targowa Street which follows to famous "horse market" which you may see each Thursday.

We have classical style church built on middle age foundations. There were many holy priests working, between them fr. Czapski who martyred in 17-th century defending Sacred Sacrament from Swedish invaders.

Perhaps it is why we still have many vocations to priesthood here. I will mention some of local priests.

Last years Skrwilno became Deanery Sea. Our actual dean has name Wladislaw Jagiello.

I wish you got to know some people here even pay a visit in their homes.

I. Tourist ways

1. Three Eastern ways

If you come from south means from Sierpc or Warsaw you can start visiting place from the bus stop near the school. There is small cemetery from II World War. You may make small stop there and go to the east by Lesna Street in direction of the lake and second big cemetery from same war times in so called Rak Forest. Sitting on the small beach at front of island and middle age fortress you may meditate the past and beauty of landscape. Opposite site of the lake is close to mentioned Thursday Market in the north part of the town. If you do not have a bout you better go in the east to the village Szczawno and Niemcowizna. You may return throw Okalewo and Szostek in same north part of the town near the market and north bus stop.

I will call this Valley way, because all the time you will walk along the small river in east direction and you may find nice Okalewo chapel of Holy Mary from Mount Carmel. It is native place of one Franciscan and one Pallotine priests, they bore somewhere in village Budziska which belong to Okalewo parish. In Szczawno village has born also sister Jonasza from Holly Mother of Mercy Congregation.

If you have bicycle you may continue your travel in same direction crossing village Czerwonka, Zofijewo and Swiedziebnia...you may finish in beautiful city of Plock Bishops with nice fortress, lake and forests. Just crossing forest on your way back you may visit the place of my childhood Zielun, it is about 8 km from Gorzno by land roads. Later Lubowidz famous place of producing some aircraft details in the past. In Zielun and Lubowidz obligatory you have to visit local churches, the most interesting buildings in the place. Turn to the west on the way to village Syberia and crossing the forest by land road you will be back in Czerwonka near my grand fathers' forest home.

You have still 2 km to be in Okalewo and 5 to be back in Skrwilno. All these travel you will cross forest and village Syberia so I call this way "Siberian way". All around it makes perhaps 50 km and will take all the day by bike.

Once I took on such a travel my brother Peter and near grand-mothers house the bicycle broke on two parts. It is really the Siberian travel for brave people.

My father as young boy was walking from Kaleje near Siberia throw Niemcowizna and Szczawno to Skrwilno parish Church to pass exams on his First Communion.

If you go by foot from Okalewo by "valley way" along the river you have to visit obligatory the Swedish hill, middle age forest I which archeologists found except old wooden settlement the big golden and silver treasure which has special exhibition in Torun city museum. Afterwards you may go to picturesque Market place and Park and cross the river throw the wooden so called "Lords Bridge" to be back on Lesna Street near the School. If you walked by foot, the "valley way", you has made more than 10 km. It is enough for one day visit.

There is also third version of east way by bicycle. After visiting forest Rak and lake, you go to Szczawno and turn in south east direction 6 km by forest to the village Pietrzyk. You may find there nice little chapel. Turn in west to Chrapon, another 6 km; it is native village of missionary priest Skowronski. Turn to the north another 6km and you will be back. This I call "forest way", it is just 20 km. You may not be tired, but you will got nice rest being all the time in forests

2. West "Mazovian Ways": Lukomie, Skepe i Urszulewo

We will start again from the School Bus stop in the south. It is Mazowsze or Mazovian site. Going the first version, obligatory by bike you may cross the forest, the villages Zambrzyca and Czarnia. These are native places of some Marian monks, Jankiewicz and Gorski. We travel around 10 km to be in Lukomie. We may be tired but happy looking old middle Age wooden church and nice bridge on river Skrwa. We turn in east direction, perhaps 5 km to be in Lutocin. There is stone red church and nice Main Square. You have to turn north crossing village Chrapon after 10 km travel you will be back tired but happy.

Another version of west travel by "Skepe way" is about 60 km round trip. You have to be strong man if you wish to make it in one day. This way has old history; each year local people walk 8-th September to celebrate the day of Maria's Birthday.

It is very popular travel. On your way you have 3 nice churches in Blizno (wooden st. Laurentius), red brick church in Szczutowo (native parish of Bishop Marcinkiewicz) and Gojsk. In Skepe we may see beautiful monastery of Franciscans and famous statue of Holly Mary as a baby.

The third tourist way is by Blizno after visit in st. Laurent church you have 4 km to be on beatifull Beach of Urszulewo Lake which is still belonging to Skrwilno community. You may return by Puszcza and Skudzawy.

If you do not have bike I propose you to make a walk throw the Biezunska and Rypinska Street to the opposite coin of the town. I will call it "Mazovian way". The way finishes at Medical point. There is another bus stop for the people who come from the north.

3. Pomeranian way

In the north bus stop may start visiting Skrwilno the people which came from the north, from Pomerania, Torun and Rypin directions. For these people I am proposing start their visit on the Crossway. The road going to Szucie has beatiful big trees. There was living Mr. Zajac, local village poet. I am sure now he is laying on Koscielna street in the city of death. There is living family Miksa famous because the have grand-daughter the only African baby in the town. Close to Miksa were living Klonowski family and their son actually missionary priest in Mexico.

From Kolonia Street we may turn on 22 Lipca Street. Going by that street you may find Nowy Rynek street with modern 3 floor houses.

In these houses live children of my father's brother Janek: Marcin and Agnieszka Wisniewski with their mother Bogusia. Near there live parents of fr. Janusz Wilczynski SAC, Pallotine priest. We turn in south by Krotka Street to the main Square with big Main Bus Station. Here Pomerania way is finished. This is just short walk on the nicest streets in new part of Skrwilno.

4. Obory way

On the main Square you may start interesting travel by bike which I am calling "Obory way". The word Obory in polish language have a meaning "animal houses". It was good land for farming there. In middle ages there was some villager working in the hill, but his bow wished not work falling many times on knees. By that villager understood that he also have to bow. When he does it holly Mary was telling him that she wishes to have a church here. In short time the place became famous by the statue of Pieta taken from Bydgoszcz. You may travel by Skudzawy, Puszcza, Rogowo, Kobrzyniec and Huta, to Carmelite Sanktuary of Holly Mother. Do not forget to visit stone new Romanic style church in Rogowo.

These are native places of my mother. This way showed me first fr. Strus actually Parish Priest in Winnica. He was taking altar boys by his old Syrenka or Warszawa car; I do not remember exactly, the color was white.

There are no such pilgrimages now, people prefer to walk in Skepe, but possibly some day the fame of Obory shrine will grow so much that dean Jagiello or his followers may agree and bless such pilgrimage way.

The main Square and the road which we start our travel is called Szeroka (Large) Street and has characteristic red houses built from Palace bricks. Local "Lords" has gone after the world and people took the bricks from their Palace, which beauty some people still remember.

On that street is living the widow of teacher Ceglowski and her brother Kopczynski. On the angle of Szeroka and Krotka (Short) Street was living my teacher Mr. Skoneczny and family Ksyt with three native sisters born same day. They were my close friends with small Olek Slupkowski on my walking to Swedish hill.

5. Border Town

Skrwilno is on the border of Dobrzyn Land and Plock Mazovia. Natural border is the river Skrwa. Dobrzyn

Site is more populated on Mazovian side big forest and the bigest enterprise Forest Administration, which includes forests in few Prefectures in the neighbor.

Administrative house seems to be in the past the wooden Palace. Near there big park with cars and some brick construction which remembers about existing here in the past some manufactures. Close to Forest Administration nice wooden "Lords Bridge" and the beach on the river. Children were swimming there in my childhood.

Along the road to Pietrzyk to the east you may see nice settlement of foresters' houses. Later you may see mentioned lake with rare animals like Bialowieza bobber. Most of institutions also the Church have place in Dobrzyn side, but School and rest places were in Mazovia.

6. Biezun Street

The border Street leads to south direction to the city Biezun, it is why such a name. Same street leads to Sierpc, but you have to turn west at Crossway.

Biezun Street starts on crossing with Lesna (Forest) Street near II world War graves. These are graves taken from Rak to be near the Scholl easy for official meeting and as educative moment, the place which scouts ever care. Biezun Street goes from south to the north and continues as Rypin Street.

On Biezun Street were living 3 teachers: Mr. Marcinkowski (in school building), Mrs. Kolasinska mathematics teacher and biologist Tomaszewska. At front of the school was living Mrs. Suska. She was cleaning in the school. Her son Waldemar opened some enterprise and the place is looking nicely.

At front of Kolasinska house was living Brzoska family. In that poor family were four altar boys from my generation. All of them were genius in studies brothers. One became officer, second historian, third a priest fourth was studying in Seminary but did not finish and I do not know what is he doing, I was told he is sick. Good friend of my brother Czarek.

Near the School was big and nice stadium of football Club Skrwa. It that club was playing brother of my classmate Adam Ostrowski which became famous after moving to Pogon Szczecin Football Club. He was even representing Polish National team.

In the middle of 70-ties all the streets were made from stones had perhaps 100 years. People were unhappy but now I miss these stone streets which we were cleaning each Saturday.

On Dobrzyn side of Biezun Street was Funeral Company of Wasowski Family, some old stone houses, Shop of Community Company, friseur at crossing.

7. Rypin Street

On the first crossing ways Biezun Street change the name. Rypin Street is going on North East. In starting point many shops, small market, Bank, Post Office, Kiosk, Volountary Fire Defense Point, two carpenters selling funeral belongings.

Near the Post Office was living teacher of Polish literature Paczkowska, music teacher Zielinska near Milk Selling Point.

It is the longest and most important street in the town. The Post office is the last old building. All the rest are houses from 70-ties. They appear like mushrooms on my eyes in time of General Secretary Gierek. He was rather liberal man. He did not disturb new rich people appear.

The last main building on the street was Medical Point and Drug Shop. On the last crossing we have two streets Targowa south direction and Kolonia north direction streets which fallows to the village Szucie.

Yes in north east, there are still some buildings of Romanowski and Goralski families, I do not know if that part of the street has new name or the same. In these houses there are big farms. The people are rich but their lives very tragic. One of the farmers was killed by own wife and buried in cement floor. You may tell cemetery farm.

8. St. Anna Church

Neo Classical building has on fronton nice inscription "My house in place of prayer". The title of the church is Saint Anna. In main altar you may see moving icon of Transfiguration, the copy of Vatican's picture. Permanent icon hidden out behind transfiguration is Holly Mary from Czestokhova copy.

On main altar and 4 others we have many statues of holly people. The Cross Way of Jesus is also made in same style like wooden statues on altar.

Old gothic shrine was destroyed in late 1860-ties, because of big number local Catholics participating in January Insurrection 1863. Russian Emperor decided to destroy many churches and cancel all monasteries in Poland. The bricks from our church were used to build hospital in city Rypin.

One hundred years later I bore in this hospital. It is why I have right to tell that I WAS BORN IN THE CHURCH. Most of the people born in Rypin hospital last 143 years may tell the same. WE BORE IN THE CHURCH. Our church in Skrwilno is classified as monument of History by State Conservers.

9. Walking to the HADES CITY

On Koscielna (Church) Street we have Cemetery with many monuments of History, classified by State Conservators too. Especially interesting monuments are two or three Angels from white marble on the graves of "Okalewo Lords". They have metallic walls around Lord Section. In winter time we hide them in wooden boxes.

Near there we have many graves of local parish priests or priests native from Skrwilno. One of these graves has a bust of some prelate. Another of fr. Ptaskiewicz the first Skrwilno dean has marble altar to have a Mass there in 1-st November.

There is also one grave of seminarian and big Wooden Cross in memory of 18 victims of Insurrection. The cross is also under care of scouts.

Very interesting are graves of some mothers of priests. One of them is representing white statue of Holly Mary taking Jesus body in her brains. At the end of cemetery there is big grave of Koprowski family. There are many legends, because there are many self made poetries on that grave. During making decorations on the catacomb author of poetries, according legend was sleeping in the grave, together with body of his wife and fathers; soon he also died when job was accomplished.

My family graves are not numerous: grand-father Czeslaw Wisniewski (forester), uncle Janek carpenter (tragically death in Urszulewo killed by electricity as 27 years old man), his older brother Joseph which died as a baby and Robert Frydrychowicz my aunt's Zofia's son. Lewandowski family graves from mother's side are in Chrostkowo Parish close to Lipno.

Near my grand-father's grave there is also my classmate fr. Stefan Ceglowski mother grave. She died being 30 years old , Stefan was a baby and she very possible she never expected that her son may be a priest.

There is also strange grave with marble guitar. It is a grave of my little friend Olek Slupkowski. He died during his studies in high school in Torun. It was big tragedy for all the family. The boy was really wunderkind.

10. Zielona (Green) Street

After visiting cemetery you may walk fallowing in direction of "Obory way" along Zielona Street to villages Ruda and Skudzawy in North-East direction. In these villages bore my teenager which became priest somewhere in Warmia diocese (East Prussia), unfortunately his name has gone from my brain. It is the second way to Rypin, but 2 km longer than Okalewo road.

On Zielona Street are living Ceglowski Families Krzysztof Director of Bank office, fr. Stefan's brother. Stefan Ceglowski is vice-director in diocesan Museum in Plock. Somewhere here are also living relatives of fr. Kaminski which was Plock Major Seminary Rector during many years. Here is also living all the dynasty of Czajkowski teachers.

11. Koscielna (Church) Street

On Koscielna Street were old stone houses built in 19 and beginning of 20-th century in secession style.

There was the coin wooden building with nice balcony which ever was popular for visitors of Forest (Lesna) Restaurant.

During the day in this wooden old house was also some shop of chancellery and chemical products.

Also second Kiosk in the town, "vegetable shop" of my classmate Janusz Wisniewski, Czachorowski family shop (their daughter Barbara was a nun), nice drug shop, old Catholic Club with big exhibition room some flats which were used for library and small shop for youth. Short time there was movie theatre. It belonged to the church before Second World War and in 80-ties was returned back.

On Koscielna street were growing other classmates which became priests: Wieslaw Szymanski vice-director of Plock Diocesan Caritas, fr. Wieslaw Baranski and me, because few years I was living also on same street in Gorski family house. I know also one nun which was growing on Koscielna Street, sister Elzbieta Debska in Franciscan of Holly Family Congregation.

Here was living my teacher of mathematics Mr. Biedrzycki, his native brother was also prelate in neighbor town Swiedziebnia and his grave is in Skrwilno.

In the middle of Koscielna and Szeroka Street there was sometime ago the coin of Krotka street. On thet street there was no bricks and no asphalt, it was good to play football so many children spent time here. There was also little pond for fire defense purpose.

I was told on that square before war was Jewish synagogue staying. Very possible they were owners of most stone houses in the town before the war. The wooden house with nice balcony was theirs also.

It was popular slogan before the war: "You (Polish) have the streets, We (Jewish) have the houses on them". Now there is stone house of Karolczyk forester Family.

At front of Gorski and Karolczyk house old office of Police and artificial Bassein made for tourists, but never used.

Another teacher of Polish Language Mrs. Brzoskowa and her sister was living on the street.

12. Park and Kwiatowa (Flowers) Streets

At the end I have only two streets to describe. They unite near Park and bread cooking manufactory. On Park Street we have the oldest stone buildings so called "Koszary". It is memory of 19-th century when Skrwilno was border town on Russia and East Prussia borders. The Russian soldiers were living there. There was also small train road going on that street so some of buildings perhaps belonged to railway station.

We have here also so called "iron shop". You can buy here bike even motorcycle and many other small iron things for farming.

I may call that street "sad one", because restaurant Lesna was at the coin attracting many youngsters to spent here their young lives without having any other attractions.

Some poor people on that street finished their young lives by committing suicides. It was such a time without any perspectives.

The man who made for me my first sutana was mister Meller living just near the Park. His young and nice daughter was about to get marry, her name was Barbara and I remember her very well she was present during his father job on my priest dressing. One week before weddings she killed herself by hanging.

Another young boy was Waldek or Leszek we were calling him Nadzieja "Hope", because he was real Hope of our Football Club, playing nice soccer. He killed himself in the forest also by hanging. Another young girl, bit older than me and her alcoholic father living in Koszary made the same, the last perhaps which I know and remember was policeman whose house was alter destroyed.

On Kwiatowa Street was living another actual priest from young generation perhaps my brother Peter classmate. There was new house of Family Olwert. Mr. Olwert was our school Bus driver. On the same street was Agronom House. There was family Wierzbowski living there.

Concerning the park... It is also monument of history. Have unique Tulip and Eucalyptus trees, nice 2 ponds and Small River going in direction of so called "pigs' hill". Ponds and river were artificially formed this way to train and teach Lords children geography.

In summer time youngsters play there volleyball, children come her in winter time to play hokey on the pond or have games on the artificial hill which was a place for fresh food in Lords house.

13. Targowa (Market) and Lakowa (Valley) Streets

On Targowa Street was gasoline station and reparation of cars point. Earlier it was park of farm machines which farmers may lawn here. My mother was working as main bookkeeper here, so it is why she got a flat which now became the only memory from past family life. It was the last harbor of mine and still actual official address in my passport.

Same street we have the point of selling coal and chemical materials for building houses as cement, bricks and so on.

Veterinary point, carpentry and the most interesting place: Thursday Market. Thanks to that market the silent street become as Main Street in Warsaw, such big traffic we have here once a week.

It was a time big TIR from Germany were coming here to buy horses. Also many people from Russia were selling their goods here. My relatives from Rypin's Marianki village were coming with vegetables and flowers once a week. My mother was helping them. Slawomir my aunt's middle son got girlfriend here and was married in our church during my studies in Seminary.

Lakowa Street is smaller, parallel to Targowa Street. There are two teachers Biernacki living there.

On Targowa and Lakowa streets was starting point to my travels with small friends Ksyt, Slupkowski and Wisniewski to Swedish hill.

At the beginning it seemed to me the end of the world my and my classmate secret place, but slowly I hope it may became attractive tourist and history place for many visitors.

II. Our School

Pre-history.

At first our School was small but old solid style from before world war times. In 70-ties farmers were obliged to get license as trained in farming people so in same building there was "farmer professional class", our teachers were working there...I remember some exponents presenting these activities.

There were only 8 classrooms. It was enough until 1975. That time in Poland state was canceling village schools and made big town schools in perspective of 10 years middle school teaching system like in Russia.

Project was never accomplished but 8 class big schools in towns started. It is why we got new3 floor angle with gymnastic hall and many additional classrooms.

School get back previous name of Adam Mickiewicz. It is why in our school was specialist of design making on each floor nice gothic inscriptions with some fragments of Mickiewicz poetries and his bust on first flour.

Now when you know how my town looks, I wish to present short portraits and personalities of teachers as I remember them.

1. Frank Ceglowski

I am starting from Francis Ceglowski because of some simple reasons. First of all, because he was the man of good humor ever, so people loved him in the school, teachers and students also. The second reason is because he passed very young, so it was big surprise and people was missing him very much. Our school loosed character with his death. He was perhaps 40 when it happened; his own children were 10 years younger than me.

Francis was caring about scouts; he was gymnastics teacher so he organized many sportive competitions also walking travels in summer vacations.

Thanks to him I know Chojnice and Tuchola Forests. Also he installed me in 3-rd class of Lyceum in Wloclawek summer camp as a teacher. He showed me and my classmates Ketrzyn, Plock and Urszulewo...

2. Biedrzycki

Mr. Biedrzycki was called "Panewka" or "Pawda", because he used in his language many time word "truth"(prawda), without pronouncing letter "r". It was funny to hear ever this mistake in teacher's language. He was not high, silver hairs, fat and ever happy. He was permanent visitor of "Forest" Restaurant but he knew very well mathematics and was a good teacher.

The girls in old classes were ever getting best notes even knowing nothing. It was enough that they had nice figure so he helped them to answer better. He was embracing them ever and both happy, the girl from good note and he because of their beauty.

3. Skoneczny

Mr. Skoneczny was very silent and secret man. He was called "silver" because of his hairs. He was same custom as Biedrzycki to drink much alcohol, but except drinking he had big passion to the nature. He was teaching us to care birds in the winter time, took us many times to plant small trees. He took us time to time on hunting on rubbits. We were told that this rabbits will not be killed but sent to France. He also was showing us the moment when fro Bialowieza a couple of bobbers came to have new home on our lake island.

He was teaching us geography and also because he was communist he tried convince us that Russian culture is highest than Polish. We were surprised even confused his lack of patriotism, history teacher was telling us contradict meaning. Until now I am puzzled and not sure who of them was right.

4. Marcinkowski

It was a teacher of Polish Language and big patriot of Poland. He was teaching me at first in third fourth and firth classes. He was totally different than Skoneczny. He was training us to respect polish traditions and to be proud of polish history.

He talked us how powerful was Poland before a war and how weak became under Russian hegemony. It was more less open talk and he was risking very much having such position to loose job.

He was telling us how much respectful and rich people were teachers before war. He told that they were able to visit China easily during summer vacasions. Thanks to him I understood that visiting China is very important thing.

I remember his son Adam, but I never saw his wife, so perhaps he was a widow, he never mentioned to us.

5. Kopczynski

One of directors in our School. He was high and handsome with white long hairs. He was ever smiling, but he had big distance to all the kids. He was in my understanding some kind of aristocrat.

He was teaching us physics and chemie and he does it well. His classroom was best organized in instruments and also designed like in university with high place for the teacher and big table.

6. Biernaccy

Mr. Biernacki came to us just after studies and he has many memories which he was sharing with as, even nobody was asking him about that. He was studying sport in Gdansk Sportive Academy. He was small but good trained body and he has good will to train us many things he knew from Academy. He trained us also in the sportive circle. Youngsters were hearing him during classes and going with him home all the time hearing his stories and jokes.

He had a big fun club between boys. I was one of them.

His wife was teaching my brothers perhaps polish language I do not remember exactly she never was teaching me.

She had ever nice smile on her lips. It is the way I remember her.

7. Czajkowscy

I do not remember well Czajkowski teachers because I have no classes with them. As I remember Mr. Czajkowski was the first director of the School before Kopczynski changed him.

His wife was teaching polish language, perhaps. Their daughter became English teacher in Rypin Lyceum so they continue being teachers in second generation. It is not the only case.

8. Manelska

Small lady but strong, the first caring my class. She was teaching mathematics, but soon she retired.

I have nothing to say about her. Perhaps she also was working in school library, I may mistake. She was living in deep forest on Lesna Street.

9. Kolasinska

That lady was also not teaching me. Students called her "szprycha", because she was thin and perhaps she was strong with students. Her husband was farmer so she also was walking sometime with bike and cows in the evening which was surprising us. Mostly farming was recognized these times as something worse than being teacher or bureaucrat.

She was more than other teachers visiting church. It also surprised, because officially teachers have to be unbelievers, these days in Poland.

10. Goralska Basia

Mrs. Barbara was wife of our historian Boguslaw, which I like more than others and made special statement in previous stories. She was teaching us Russian Language and she was good even her face ever strong and malcontent. Later during my visit in the school as seminarian I saw her face rather more radiant and smiling.

11. Zielinska

Mrs Zielinska it is friend of my mother. They were teaching together in small village Ruda before they get marry. They had same difficulty like many women these times, their husbands were drinkers. I do not know why, but they never tried restoring old friendship in our presence. Students were calling her "dug" perhaps because of the way of walking. I liked her as beatifull woman, but I was sad with her way of teaching. She also was ever malcontent and sad.

She respected her subject music and she had nice choir and musical group of instruments. Even sometime she organized dancing group. Her daughter Anna was classmate of my sister Margaret.

12. Tomaszewska

Mrs. Tomaszewska was teaching biology. She was ever smiling and high voice even yelling lady. I was friend with her son Peter and she was really glad from my visits in their house.

As I understood she was classmate of my father because she knew that he was living in village Kaleje. I was surprised when she once asked about that.

13. Sieradzka

Polish teacher was more less our age. She was very young and nice. She also loved her subject and we were trying to be good students, especially boys. Some of them were very happy when she was sitting on their bench trying to make rumors that perhaps she may be pregnant some day. In fact in these times it never happened.

I liked her way of teaching, she was asking us to make many writings and to talk much about books we were supposed to read. She advised us to read "Ulysses" the famous book of famous Irish writer James Joyce.

14. Mathematics teacher

When Biedrzycki retired we change teacher in last class. She was teaching us only one year and I do not remember her name. I only remember she was strong and some students were beaten on her classes. She was brave, even it was forbidden students got respect to her.

Small cities

One of Krakow a vanguard poet Stanislaw Bursa made strange poem about small cities. One of his statements was "I praise you God that I wasn't born in Koluszki or some other small city... I hate small cities."

I do not agree him. In my opinion small cities it is most treasure of any country like the third class is most representative in any country. If third class exists and does well all the society is happy. Same story with we may tell about small cities. If they exist and they do well it testify all the population if more-less healthy and happy.

I love Koluszki even I born in Rypin, same size city as Koluszki, just county city. I love Biezun, Zuromin and Mlawa, Lidzbark, Rypin, Sierpc or Lipno. I do not imagine Poland without such places as Golub-Dobrzyn, Skepe or small Dobrzyn on Wisla, which in the past was very important capital of Dobrzyn Land.

Now in the city we have perhaps more animals than citizens and some old churches on high border of Wisla...never mind I love this city also. I love Skrwilno and Rypin, this hospital where I was laying sick, my brother Czarek and both parents with doctors which were not very kind for then, I love because I born there.

I love wooden chapel of Saint Barbara close to hospital ever closed to visitors. I love churches in Sierpc...": fara" and Lutheran one. These churches in Lipno same history as in Sierpc, also new one like pyramid church of blessed Michal Kozal victim of the war. I may tell the same about Brodnica churches or Zuromin.

The paper is to small to recite all these small cities I like. And why I like these warm wooden houses inherited from Jewish citizens after the war.

I had one dream as teenager. I dreamed that Skrwilno will got city rights own symbols, local paper and splendor of the city.

Most of our Mayors promise us to do so during elections time but later they forget to do this. Slowly I loose my dreams because same as most of native Skrwilno people which live in Warsaw or any other big city miss our small town. I was told somewhere in Torun or Warsaw there is society of Skrwilno lovers. Even it was wrong rumor I hope there is urgent need to create such society.

It is good to make one visit there to be a member of such society. I am sure if you do so you will understand me...So WELCOME TO SKRWILNO...and obligatory please pass my greetings to my teachers, relatives, classmates and friends. If not personally as minimum visiting cemetery most of them I knew very well.

F. Jaroslaw Wisniewski

November 1, 2006; Beijing