Alexander RZESZEWSKI

ABT 1860 - ____

• BIRTH: ABT 1860, Ladek, Slupca, Kalisz, PL

• MARRIAGE: BEF 1880, Ladek, Slupca, Kalisz, PL

1. +Paul RZESZEWSKI
2. +Thomas RZESZEWSKI

INDEX

[N7733] History Ladek, Slupca, Kalisz, PL
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Nov 15th, 1290 - Przemys? II, the Duke of Greater Poland, agrees that Slupca becomes a town

1296 - Slupca acquires town privileges again; this time however it was granted a range of new privileges. It is inhabited by about 1000 people

Nov 11th, 1314 r. Wladys?aw ?okietek grants Slupca a privilege to establish a mint and make coins

1331 - Slupca ridden and burnt by the Tutonic Order Knights

1375 - 1382 - defense walls of the length of 1100 meters under construction;

1454 - 1466 - the 13-years-war; the town of Slupca sends 20 knights so as other 9 biggest towns of Greater Poland do

the end of 15th century- Slupca inhabited by about 2000 people

1655 - 1660 - a war with Sweden; the town looted several times

2nd Partition of Poland - Slupca becomes part of Prussia (later Germany)

1794 - Slupca becomes a base for Kosciusko's Uprising

1815 The Vienna Congress - Kingdom of Poland created- Slupca becomes a part of Russia; at the turn of 19th century, defense walls dismantled

19th century- economic upturn due to Slupca's location being along the route to Berlin

1867 - the county of Slupca created

1922 - a railway link Kutno Strzalkowo is built; Slupca acquires railway connection with Warsaw and Poznan

1939 - 1945 - All of Slupca's 1,800 Jews - men, women, and children, are murdered

1955 - S?upca Lake created as a recreational center on former turbary land

1975 - an administrative reform; the town is incorporated into Konin District

January 1, 1999 - Slupca becomes a seat of a county for the 3rd time in history

Monuments
Churches

Churches have always played an important part in the town's history. A careful observer will notice that our coat of arms is built of five crosses, each of which symbolizes a shrine. A legend has it that there were once five different temples of different religions. Yet another argument that Slupca has always been renowned for its tolerance. For instance, at the beginning of the 20th century there were as many Jews living here as Poles- approximately each nation had a population of 2,000 inhabitants. These days, however, the Orthodox church as well as the Synagoge are no longer in existence, partly due to changing winds of the 20th century.

Saints Laurence Church was, historically, Slupcas first shrine. It was built in the middle of the 15th century by a bishop of Poznan. It is a Gothic temple constructed with the use of bricks and stones. It was built at the same place as the church from 1296, which had burnt. Traditionally, the temple is very much connected with the towns history and customs. Every summer there is a church fair associated with plenty of sporting, music and cultural events as well as concerts organised by the local authorities in the Town Park near Slupeckie Lake. On the western wall there is a plaque devoted to Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Polish partiot, and his bravery. Inside the church one can find a Gotish stoup. At the back of the tample there are defensive walls. At the beginning it was one of the seats of some bishops from Poznan' diecese. The Slupecka parish was valued by the nobility. Again, thanks to the importance the shrine has to the inhabitants of Slupca they have always been willing to participate in it redecorations. Recently, weve observed this attitude in collecting money for the renovation of parishs organs.

Saints Leonard Church was Slupcas second church. It is a wooden shrine built in the 16th century. Historically, it was located on the route from the Northern Poland to Kalisz. Inside there is a Renaissance altar with bas-relief Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and sculptures of Saints Leonard and John the Baptist. Its got two tiny chapels: Northern and Southern. A valuable painting of Saint Leonard from 1460 can be found in the former. In the latter there is also a Gothic crucifix and a stone stoup. Today this is one of the most beautiful churches in Greater Poland and as such it is certainly worth visiting. Inside the church there is also a gravestone of a priest Jakub Basinski who used to be a parson of the parish. From the west there is also a magnificent a quadrilateral bell tower dating back to 1765.

The Church of the Blessed Bishop Michal Kozal was built at the turn of the 21st century. It is a new temple built in a style far from that prevailing in the local shrines. The walls are plane, covered only with white paint. All the emphasis was placed on the altar, which is made of granite. Behind the altar the is a crucifx hung on another plane wall. As of 2006 the grounds surrounding the church have been announced to become the park of John Paul II. There are plans to plant a number of trees and make two sections for: practicing sports (northern part) and relaxation for those who prefer tranquillity (proximity of the church).

A Synagogue in Slupca is situated on the Boznicza 11 Street. It was built in 19th century. It was destroyed by Nazis during the Second World War. Then this building was converted into Municipality; later into a library. Today it is no longer in use. In 2005 the synagogue was handed over to Wroc?aw Jewish Community.