Niwiska, Subcarpathian Voivodeship
Encyclopedia
Niwiska n is a village and the seat of the rural gmina
(administrative district) of Gmina Niwiska
(Niwiska Commune) in Kolbuszowa County
, Subcarpathian Voivodeship
, in south-eastern Poland. It lies approximately 13 kilometres (8 mi) west of Kolbuszowa
and 36 km (22 mi) north-west of the regional capital Rzeszów
.
founded the first church
in Niwiska in thanks for her conversion from arianism. It burned down in 1876. On its ashes a stone
and masonry
church was built (1880). The first school
in Niwiska existed in 1602, and a hospital
(for the poor) in 1728. Until 1912 many people were employed at the Niwiska Glass
Works.
occupation residents of Niwiska and surrounding areas were evicted from their homes. Most of the village's buildings were destroyed. Germans
evacuated Niwiska and the neighbouring village of Blizna
in order to test their experimental V-1 and V-2 missiles there. The seclusion of the area made it a perfect place for such tests. Throughout the war the same seclusion led refugees and partisans to the Niwiska Forest
for a place to hide and conduct subversive activities. Fr. Jan Kurek, a chaplain for the local Home Army (Armia Krajowa) together with forester Henryk Augustynowicz, played an instrumental role in the decoding of information found on bits of shrapnel and rocket
s, which assisted the Allies
.
After August 3, 1944 the Red Army
established there a military
hospital
and a Soviet airstrip.
, a fire station and a post office
. The village covers an area of 23.87 square kilometres (9.2 sq mi), and as of 2008 its total population is 1,542.
Gmina
The gmina is the principal unit of administrative division of Poland at its lowest uniform level. It is often translated as "commune" or "municipality." As of 2010 there were 2,479 gminas throughout the country...
(administrative district) of Gmina Niwiska
Gmina Niwiska
Gmina Niwiska is a rural gmina in Kolbuszowa County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland. Its seat is the village of Niwiska, which lies approximately west of Kolbuszowa and north-west of the regional capital Rzeszów....
(Niwiska Commune) in Kolbuszowa County
Kolbuszowa County
Kolbuszowa County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Subcarpathian Voivodeship, south-eastern Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and only town is Kolbuszowa, which...
, Subcarpathian Voivodeship
Subcarpathian Voivodeship
Podkarpackie Voivodeship , or Subcarpathian Voivodeship, is a voivodeship, or province, in extreme-southeastern Poland. Its administrative capital and largest city is Rzeszów...
, in south-eastern Poland. It lies approximately 13 kilometres (8 mi) west of Kolbuszowa
Kolbuszowa
Kolbuszowa is a small town in south-eastern Poland, with 9,190 inhabitants .Situated in the Subcarpathian Voivodship , it is the capital of Kolbuszowa County.-History:The name of the town comes from the land owner Kolbusz...
and 36 km (22 mi) north-west of the regional capital Rzeszów
Rzeszów
Rzeszów is a city in southeastern Poland with a population of 179,455 in 2010. It is located on both sides of the Wisłok River, in the heartland of the Sandomierska Valley...
.
Beginnings of the village
The village was founded in 1575 by Stanisław Tarnowski. In 1893 Zofia Tarnowska of MielecMielec
Mielec is a city in south-eastern Poland with a population of 60,979 inhabitants, as of June 2009. It is located in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship ; previously it was in Rzeszów Voivodeship...
founded the first church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
in Niwiska in thanks for her conversion from arianism. It burned down in 1876. On its ashes a stone
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
and masonry
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
church was built (1880). The first school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
in Niwiska existed in 1602, and a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
(for the poor) in 1728. Until 1912 many people were employed at the Niwiska Glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
Works.
World War II
During the GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
occupation residents of Niwiska and surrounding areas were evicted from their homes. Most of the village's buildings were destroyed. Germans
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
evacuated Niwiska and the neighbouring village of Blizna
Blizna
Blizna is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ostrów, within Ropczyce-Sędziszów County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland. It lies approximately north of Ostrów, north of Ropczyce, and north-west of the regional capital Rzeszów...
in order to test their experimental V-1 and V-2 missiles there. The seclusion of the area made it a perfect place for such tests. Throughout the war the same seclusion led refugees and partisans to the Niwiska Forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
for a place to hide and conduct subversive activities. Fr. Jan Kurek, a chaplain for the local Home Army (Armia Krajowa) together with forester Henryk Augustynowicz, played an instrumental role in the decoding of information found on bits of shrapnel and rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
s, which assisted the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
.
After August 3, 1944 the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
established there a military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
and a Soviet airstrip.
Present day
Today, Niwiska has two schools, a civic center, a health clinicClinic
A clinic is a health care facility that is primarily devoted to the care of outpatients...
, a fire station and a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
. The village covers an area of 23.87 square kilometres (9.2 sq mi), and as of 2008 its total population is 1,542.
Historic buildings
- Manor houseManor houseA manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
from the end of the 19th century, which belonged to Dr. J. Hupka (SecessionSecessionSecession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
style wall-paintings from 1909, painted by Karol Frycz; administrator's house, Neo-Gothic granaryGranaryA granary is a storehouse for threshed grain or animal feed. In ancient or primitive granaries, pottery is the most common use of storage in these buildings. Granaries are often built above the ground to keep the stored food away from mice and other animals.-Early origins:From ancient times grain...
and parkParkA park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
) - St. Nicholas parishParishA parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
churchChristian ChurchThe Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
(1880) – Late-BaroqueBaroqueThe Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
altarAltarAn altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
with rococoRococoRococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
elements and cemeteryCemeteryA cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
chapelChapelA chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
(1874)