Aleksandrów Lódzki
Encyclopedia
Aleksandrów Łódzki a - is a town in Łódzkie Voivodship and belongs to Łódź agglomeration. According to data gathered on 20 May 2002, the town had a population of 20 220.
". Bernard von Schuttenbach was the author of the town planning project. In order to gain sympathy of the government, Bratoszewski called the town after the then ruling Russia
n Emperor Alexander I Romanov
. This resulted in Aleksandrów gaining the city rights in 1822. After the Bratoszewski' s death in 1824 the Kossowski family took over the town. After 1832 the town started to fall into decline economically overwhelmed by the nearby towns of Pabianice
, Zgierz
and Łódź.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, a lot of knitting companies were founded in Aleksandrów, therefore it is called the cradle of polish stocking industry and also gained a nickname "Sock-city
" among the citizens. This trade is still the dominating one as for today.
In 1910 the town gained a tram connection with Łódź, which was discontinued in 1991.
From the beginning Aleksandrów was a town of three cultures and three religions. There were Protestant descendants of German knitters, Jews that were into trade and, of course, catholic Poles that mainly worked as craftsmen and workers in factories. Until 1945 the richest and most numerous ethnic group were Germans. Jewish population in 1900 was 1,673. For the Jews Aleksandrów was an important religious centre - the seat of Hasidic
Tzadik
im of the Alexander dynasty
founded by Rabbi Yechiel Dancyger (1828–1894). It was also the location where Rabbi Chanokh Heynekh HaKohen Levin
, the second Rebbe
of the Ger
Hasidim held court until his death in Aleksandrów in 1870.
In 1869 Aleksandrów lost its city rights for over 60 years. The rights were regained in 1924. Currently it is a headquarters of an Aleksandrów Łódzki commune.
On the 17-18 of September 2006 the First International Convention of Aleksandrów citizens will be held.
The most important and oldest monuments of Aleksandrów are:
Other monuments worth of mentioning are:
History
The village was founded in 1816 by Rafał Bratoszewski. In 1820 Rajmund Rembieliński called Aleksandrów "one of the better towns in PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
". Bernard von Schuttenbach was the author of the town planning project. In order to gain sympathy of the government, Bratoszewski called the town after the then ruling Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Emperor Alexander I Romanov
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
. This resulted in Aleksandrów gaining the city rights in 1822. After the Bratoszewski' s death in 1824 the Kossowski family took over the town. After 1832 the town started to fall into decline economically overwhelmed by the nearby towns of Pabianice
Pabianice
Pabianice is a town in central Poland with 69 648 inhabitants . Situated in the Łódź Voivodeship, it is the capital of Pabianice County...
, Zgierz
Zgierz
Zgierz is a town in central Poland, located just to the north of Łódź and part of the metropolitan area centered on that city. As of 2007, it had a population of 58,164....
and Łódź.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, a lot of knitting companies were founded in Aleksandrów, therefore it is called the cradle of polish stocking industry and also gained a nickname "Sock-city
Sock
A sock is an item of clothing worn on the feet. The foot is among the heaviest producers of sweat in the body, as it is able to produce over of perspiration per day. Socks help to absorb this sweat and draw it to areas where air can evaporate the perspiration. In cold environments, socks decrease...
" among the citizens. This trade is still the dominating one as for today.
In 1910 the town gained a tram connection with Łódź, which was discontinued in 1991.
From the beginning Aleksandrów was a town of three cultures and three religions. There were Protestant descendants of German knitters, Jews that were into trade and, of course, catholic Poles that mainly worked as craftsmen and workers in factories. Until 1945 the richest and most numerous ethnic group were Germans. Jewish population in 1900 was 1,673. For the Jews Aleksandrów was an important religious centre - the seat of Hasidic
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
Tzadik
Tzadik
Tzadik/Zadik/Sadiq is a title given to personalities in Jewish tradition considered righteous, such as Biblical figures and later spiritual masters. The root of the word ṣadiq, is ṣ-d-q , which means "justice" or "righteousness", also the root of Tzedakah...
im of the Alexander dynasty
Aleksander (Hasidic dynasty)
The Aleksander chasidic movement flourished in Poland from 1880 until it was largely destroyed by Nazi Germany during World War II.Now nearly extinct, the Aleksander Hasidim were the second largest Hasidic group in pre-Holocaust Poland.Between the world wars, Hasidic Jews from all over flocked to...
founded by Rabbi Yechiel Dancyger (1828–1894). It was also the location where Rabbi Chanokh Heynekh HaKohen Levin
Chanokh Heynekh HaKohen Levin
Chanokh Heynekh HaKohen Levin of Aleksander served as the rebbe of a community of thousands of Hasidim during the "interregnum" between the Chidushei HaRim of Ger and the Sfas Emes.- Biography :...
, the second Rebbe
Rebbe
Rebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
of the Ger
Ger (Hasidic dynasty)
Ger, or Gur is a Hasidic dynasty originating from Ger, the Yiddish name of Góra Kalwaria, a small town in Poland....
Hasidim held court until his death in Aleksandrów in 1870.
In 1869 Aleksandrów lost its city rights for over 60 years. The rights were regained in 1924. Currently it is a headquarters of an Aleksandrów Łódzki commune.
On the 17-18 of September 2006 the First International Convention of Aleksandrów citizens will be held.
Timeline
- c.a. 6500 B.C. – oldest trails of men - settlement of ancient hunters on dunes near the Rąbień reserve
- 11th - 12th century – first villages founded on the current area of Aleksandrów Łódzki commune: Rąbień, Bełdów, Brużyca Wielka, Prawęcice and Zgniłe Błoto.
- 14th -15th century - more villages and Church of All Saints in Bełdów founded
- 1782 – first German settlers arrive in Brużyca Wielka, many colonies founded
- c.a 1816 – owner of Brużyca Wielka – Polish nobleman Rafał Bratoszewski coat of arms Sulima founded a new city settlement on a sandy and foresty hill – this is the future Aleksandrów. Rectangular marketplace was made along with few streets. Squire Bratoszewski founded the catholic parish of St. Rafael and Michael.
- 22 March 1822 – new settlement gained city rights and was named Aleksandrów to the name of then-ruling tzar of RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and king of Poland – Alexander I of RussiaAlexander I of RussiaAlexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
. Aleksandrów had then 3,086 citizens, majority of them were weavers. - 1824 - classicistic town hall built during the Gedeon Goedel's mayor term
- 6 December 1824 - founder of Aleksandrów Rafał Bratoszewski died and was buried in the local church. Aleksandrów became the property of Kossowski coat of arms Dołęga family.
- 1825 – city as an example of perfect weaver center was visited by tzar of RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and king of Poland Alexander I of RussiaAlexander I of RussiaAlexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania.... - 1828 - huge evangelic church built, Fryderyk Jerzy Tuve became the first pastor
- 1830–1831 – citizens along with Gedeon Goedel supported the november uprisingNovember UprisingThe November Uprising , Polish–Russian War 1830–31 also known as the Cadet Revolution, was an armed rebellion in the heartland of partitioned Poland against the Russian Empire. The uprising began on 29 November 1830 in Warsaw when the young Polish officers from the local Army of the Congress...
by sending uniforms, squad and a doctor to Warsaw. - 25 October 1833 - Izrael PoznańskiIzrael PoznanskiIzrael Kalmanowicz Poznański was a textile magnate and philanthropist in Łódź, and the husband of Elenora Hertz Poznański....
is born in Aleksandrów - 1858-1860 - new road leading to Łódź via the new suburbs Bałuty built.
- 1863-1864 - January uprisingJanuary UprisingThe January Uprising was an uprising in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against the Russian Empire...
– few citizens took part in fighting and the city was taken twice by the uprising soldiers - 1866 - Chanoch Henich ha-Kohen Lewin settled down in Aleksandrów. Since then the town became a major Jewish religious centre.
- 1869 - Aleksandrów loses its city rights.
- 1888 - first mechanical stocking factory built by Roman Paschke.
- 1903 - Voluntary Fire Brigade and "Lutnia" singer association formed.
- 1905 - strikes of workers and teachers against russification.
- 1910 - electric tram line connects Aleksandrów with Łódź.
- 11 November 1918 - group of firefighters disarms German military outpost. Beginnings of independence of Poland.
- 1924 - Aleksandrów regains city rights and it is now called Łódzki.
- 1927 - new school opened at Bankowa street.
- 7 September 1939 - German troops enter the city
- 14 September 1939 - 5 Poles and 26 Jews executed by German soldiers
- 9 November 1939 - Aleksandrów together with Łódź annexed to the 3rd Reich. Synagogue along with monuments of Kościuszko and Piłsudski destroyed, polish and Jewish schools closed.
- 27 December 1939 - Jews moved to General GovernmentGeneral GovernmentThe General Government was an area of Second Republic of Poland under Nazi German rule during World War II; designated as a separate region of the Third Reich between 1939–1945...
where most of them died in German concentration campsThe HolocaustThe Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
. - 1943 - Aleksandrów renamed to Wirkheim (Home of the weavers)
- 17 January 1945 - Aleksandrów liberated by soviet tank squads
- 24 January 1945 - Józef Janiak became the first post war mayor of Aleksandrów.
- 16 February 1945 - first high school opened - State Coeducational Gymnasium. Currently the Mikołaj Kopernik High School.
- 1945-1947 - Germans forcibly moved to Germany. For the first time in its history Aleksandrów becomes solely polish city.
- 1951-1953 - Airport built.
- 1959 - Primary school no. 4 opened
- 70's and 80's - Bratoszewskiego, Sikorskiego and Słoneczne estates built in eastern parts of the city.
- 1974 - youth community center opened.
- 1979 - Friends of Aleksandrów Association founded.
- 1983 - first Days of Aleksandrów held.
- 27 May 1990 - first free elections to city council won by Aleksandrowska Akcja Społeczna. Krzysztof Czajkowski becomes the mayor.
- 8 December 1991 - local newspaper "Czterdzieści i cztery" issues its first edition
- 1991-1995 - tram connection to Łódź discontinued. Currently the cities are connected by a bus line no. 78.
- 1999 - Aleksandrów Association of Enterpreneurs 2000 founded
- 27 October 2000 - local elections won by Platforma ObywatelskaCivic PlatformCivic Platform , abbreviated to PO, is a centre-right, liberal conservative political party in Poland. It has been the major coalition partner in Poland's government since the 2007 general election, with party leader Donald Tusk as Prime Minister of Poland and Bronisław Komorowski as President...
. Jacek LipińskiJacek LipinskiJacek Lipiński - lawyer, prosecutor, mayor of Aleksandrów Łódzki, Poland city and commune since 2002. He was elected for the second term in general elections held on 18 November 2006, gaining 60.75% of the votes.-References:...
becomes the mayor. - 2006 - again elections won by Platforma ObywatelskaCivic PlatformCivic Platform , abbreviated to PO, is a centre-right, liberal conservative political party in Poland. It has been the major coalition partner in Poland's government since the 2007 general election, with party leader Donald Tusk as Prime Minister of Poland and Bronisław Komorowski as President...
. Jacek LipińskiJacek LipinskiJacek Lipiński - lawyer, prosecutor, mayor of Aleksandrów Łódzki, Poland city and commune since 2002. He was elected for the second term in general elections held on 18 November 2006, gaining 60.75% of the votes.-References:...
elected for his second term.
Industry
Currently there are 2.623 registered companies in Aleksandrów.- Textile industry - 38%
- Trade - 24%
- Vehicle mechanics and transport - 5%
- Other
Tourism
The most important and oldest monuments of Aleksandrów are:
- St. Rafael and Michael catholic church - built in 1816–1818, rebuilt three times (1922-1926 - two aisles added; 1933-1935 - two towers added; 1993 - added a second nave with its own altar). Under the church, lies buried Rafał Bratoszewski - founder of Aleksandrów.
- Evangelic church - built in 1828 by pastor Fryderyk Jerzy Tuve, never modified. Unfortunatelly currently it is in very bad condition, but renovation is imminent.
- The City Shops "Jatki" - rebuilt in 1998, formerly place for butchers and bakers to sell their goods; now part of the Town Hall
- The Town Hall - built in 1824. Still serves its function today.
- The library - originally the house of pastor built in 1848
- The oldest grave - dated back from 1830, the place of eternal rest for Fryderyk Jerzy Tuve. There is also a Jewish cemetery in the northern part of the town with graves of HasidicHasidic JudaismHasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
TzadikTzadikTzadik/Zadik/Sadiq is a title given to personalities in Jewish tradition considered righteous, such as Biblical figures and later spiritual masters. The root of the word ṣadiq, is ṣ-d-q , which means "justice" or "righteousness", also the root of Tzedakah...
s - The city park - an English-styled garden founded by Rafał Bratoszewski in 1824
- Weaver houses - long wooden houses of the first settlers from the first half of 19th century19th centuryThe 19th century was a period in history marked by the collapse of the Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Holy Roman and Mughal empires...
Other monuments worth of mentioning are:
- Albert Stiller's factory and villa - built in 1908, one of the most modern factories of its times along with a stylish villa
- Dormitory of Nicolaus CopernicusNicolaus CopernicusNicolaus Copernicus was a Renaissance astronomer and the first person to formulate a comprehensive heliocentric cosmology which displaced the Earth from the center of the universe....
High School, former mansion of Hasidic Tzadiks from Danziger dynasty, built in 1935
Sport
- Towarzystwo Sportowe Sokół-Syguła Aleksandrów Łódzki. Founded in 1998. Currently there are soccer and traditional karateKarateis a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
sections. Stanisław Syguła is the chairman and main sponsor of the club. - MULKS Aleksandrów - established in 2004 - youth soccer
- MKS Aleksandrów - track and field athletics
- UKS Jedynka - volleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
Local media
- "40 i cztery" (title is a reference to the tram line number 44 that connected Aleksandrów with Łódź) monthly builetin issued by the local commune. It appears since 8 December 1991 formerly as a biweekly. Current editor-in-chief - Dorota Bełdowska-Zemła
- "Alternatywy 44" monthly builetin issued by the Aleksandrów Association of Enterpreneurs 2000. Current editor-in-chief - Tomasz Dominowski.
- "Wiadomości aleksandrowskie" builetin of St. by Rafael and Michael parish initiated by Rev. dr Norbert Rucki
- "Aleksandrów wczoraj i dziś" "Aleksandrów yesterday and today" A yearly publication appearing since 1983 on behalf of "Friends of Aleksandrów Association". Current editor-in-chief - Zenon Kozanecki.
- "Gazeta Matusiaka" - Independent newspaper issued by Grzegorz Matusiak in 1992–2004. Currently discontinued.
- "TELETOP TV"
External links
- Articles on history of Aleksandrów
- Tourism in Aleksandrów
- Aleksandrów Łódzki Yizkor (Holocaust Memorial) Book (Yiddish and HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
)