Trzemeszno
Encyclopedia
Trzemeszno t is a town in central Poland
belonging to the group of the oldest settlements in the region. The town’s name derives from an Old Polish word “Trzemcha” meaning the flower of the "Bird’s Cherry" plant, which once grew in the vicinity. It is situated in Greater Poland Voivodeship
; previously it was in Bydgoszcz Voivodeship
(1975–1998).
with northern Masovia and Pomerelia
.
In the 12th century, Trzemeszno became a property of the monastery of Canons regular of St. Augustine. The monks were brought there by prince Bolesław III Wrymouth. Trzemeszno received its town rights before 1382.
From the second half of the 17th century, there began a decline of the town and region caused by wars (Swedish invasions) and plagues. In 1766, there were only 15 houses left in Trzemeszno.
However, soon the town started to develop rapidly. An important period in town’s history is due to the activity of Michał Kościesza Kosmowski, who was the monastery abbot (1761–1804). He founded the "New Town" – a suburb, where cloth makers were settled, and St. Michael’s suburb for other craftsmen. Kosmowski founded also several buildings of public services: “Collegium Tremesnensis” a secondary school, hospital and a new brewery. The Polish patriot, Jan Kiliński
, was born here in 1760. In 1791, there were 144 buildings in the town and almost 1000 people lived there. The main activities of the residents were connected to crafts, trade and framing. The enterprise, which took up artistic challenges, was rebuilding and changing into baroque style of the monastery church. The work was finished in 1791 when the church was consecrated.
In 1793, due to the second partition of Poland
, Trzemeszno became a part of Prussia
and after Napoleon I
, in 1815 it was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Posen. In 1849, Trzemeszno was renamed "Tremessen" and belonged to Kreis Mogilno
of the Prussian Province of Posen
. It was registered within Standesamt Tremessen.
In 1836 the government secularized the monastery.
In 1848, Trzemeszno became one of the main centers of national liberation movement in Greater Poland. The town’s residents (including many students) were also involved in the January Uprising
(1863). Trzemeszno’s secondary school has traditions of participating in national liberation fights. In 1844, a secret society of students called “Sarmatia” formed and from 1861 the National Society “Zan” was active.
In 1865, a Loan Bank (Kasa Pożyczkowa) and in 1874 an Industrial Society (Towarzystwo Przemysłowe) were founded in Trzemeszno. The later was significant for culture and education. Around 1880, a branch of Towarzystwo Czytelni Ludowych ("Society of Public Reading Rooms") and in 1894 the Gymnastic Society Sokół were founded.
Opening a railway line in 1872 joining Trzemeszno with Poznań, Toruń and Inowrocław had contributed to the town’s development.
At the end of World War I
, in the early days of the Greater Poland Uprising
, the Polish residents of Trzemeszno took control of their town on December 29, 1918; the town become a part of newly reconstituted Poland in the following months. The first years in free Poland were good for developing trade and crafts. However the situation was complicated by inflation, unemployment and economical crisis. Despite these problems, cultural and educational life flourished. Many events were organized by local societies and organizations. There was a cinema, and in 1937 the local weekly newspaper “Kosynier” began to be published. Secondary school played an important role in local culture.
In September 1939 the residents of Trzemeszno faced Nazi invasion
, with many local deaths. During the Nazi occupation, the town’s name was changed to "Tremessen" again. Schools, libraries and the church were closed. However, terrorized residents did not remain passive. There was a secret military organization and a secret scout organization (Szare Szeregi).
After 1945, residents of Trzemeszno faced many difficult tasks. "Citizen Committees" were responsible for restoring closed enterprises and community services. The greatest challenge was restoration of the basilica church and secondary school which had been burned down by retreating Nazi troops.
Rapid development of Trzemeszno took place in the 1960s and 1970s. The largest enterprise, employing over 1000 people, was Pomorskie Zakłady Materiałów Izolacyjnych “Izopol” (factory producing insulation materials). “Izopol” played an important role as a financial supporter and developer of the town.
In 1999, due to the administrative reform of Poland, Trzemeszno became a part of the Gniezno powiat and the Greater Poland Voivodeship
.
Poland
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...
belonging to the group of the oldest settlements in the region. The town’s name derives from an Old Polish word “Trzemcha” meaning the flower of the "Bird’s Cherry" plant, which once grew in the vicinity. It is situated in Greater Poland Voivodeship
Greater Poland Voivodeship
Wielkopolska Voivodeship , or Greater Poland Voivodeship, is a voivodeship, or province, in west-central Poland. It was created on 1 January 1999 out of the former Poznań, Kalisz, Konin, Piła and Leszno Voivodeships, pursuant to the Polish local government reforms adopted in 1998...
; previously it was in Bydgoszcz Voivodeship
Bydgoszcz Voivodeship
Bydgoszcz Voivodeship was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland in the years 1975–1998, superseded by Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. Capital city: Bydgoszcz Area: Statistics : Population: inhabitants...
(1975–1998).
History
Around the 10th century, a kind of defensive settlement was created here. It soon changed its function into a market settlement. It was significant that the town lay on the trade route joining Greater PolandGreater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
with northern Masovia and Pomerelia
Pomerelia
Pomerelia is a historical region in northern Poland. Pomerelia lay in eastern Pomerania: on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea and west of the Vistula and its delta. The area centered on the city of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula...
.
In the 12th century, Trzemeszno became a property of the monastery of Canons regular of St. Augustine. The monks were brought there by prince Bolesław III Wrymouth. Trzemeszno received its town rights before 1382.
From the second half of the 17th century, there began a decline of the town and region caused by wars (Swedish invasions) and plagues. In 1766, there were only 15 houses left in Trzemeszno.
However, soon the town started to develop rapidly. An important period in town’s history is due to the activity of Michał Kościesza Kosmowski, who was the monastery abbot (1761–1804). He founded the "New Town" – a suburb, where cloth makers were settled, and St. Michael’s suburb for other craftsmen. Kosmowski founded also several buildings of public services: “Collegium Tremesnensis” a secondary school, hospital and a new brewery. The Polish patriot, Jan Kiliński
Jan Kilinski
Jan Kiliński was one of the commanders of the Kościuszko Uprising. A shoemaker by trade, he commanded the Warsaw Uprising of 1794, an uprising against the Russian garrison in Warsaw. He became a member of Polish provisional government as well.Jan Kiliński was born in Trzemeszno, a minor town in...
, was born here in 1760. In 1791, there were 144 buildings in the town and almost 1000 people lived there. The main activities of the residents were connected to crafts, trade and framing. The enterprise, which took up artistic challenges, was rebuilding and changing into baroque style of the monastery church. The work was finished in 1791 when the church was consecrated.
In 1793, due to the second partition of Poland
Second Partition of Poland
The 1793 Second Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was the second of three partitions that ended the existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth by 1795. The second partition occurred in the aftermath of the War in Defense of the Constitution and the Targowica Confederation of 1792...
, Trzemeszno became a part of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and after Napoleon I
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
, in 1815 it was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Posen. In 1849, Trzemeszno was renamed "Tremessen" and belonged to Kreis Mogilno
Kreis Mogilno
Kreis Mogilno was one of many Kreise in the northern administrative district of Bromberg, in the Prussian province of Posen.- Table of Standesämter :...
of the Prussian Province of Posen
Province of Posen
The Province of Posen was a province of Prussia from 1848–1918 and as such part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. The area was about 29,000 km2....
. It was registered within Standesamt Tremessen.
In 1836 the government secularized the monastery.
In 1848, Trzemeszno became one of the main centers of national liberation movement in Greater Poland. The town’s residents (including many students) were also involved in the January Uprising
January Uprising
The January Uprising was an uprising in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against the Russian Empire...
(1863). Trzemeszno’s secondary school has traditions of participating in national liberation fights. In 1844, a secret society of students called “Sarmatia” formed and from 1861 the National Society “Zan” was active.
In 1865, a Loan Bank (Kasa Pożyczkowa) and in 1874 an Industrial Society (Towarzystwo Przemysłowe) were founded in Trzemeszno. The later was significant for culture and education. Around 1880, a branch of Towarzystwo Czytelni Ludowych ("Society of Public Reading Rooms") and in 1894 the Gymnastic Society Sokół were founded.
Opening a railway line in 1872 joining Trzemeszno with Poznań, Toruń and Inowrocław had contributed to the town’s development.
At the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, in the early days of the Greater Poland Uprising
Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919)
The Greater Poland Uprising of 1918–1919, or Wielkopolska Uprising of 1918–1919 or Posnanian War was a military insurrection of Poles in the Greater Poland region against Germany...
, the Polish residents of Trzemeszno took control of their town on December 29, 1918; the town become a part of newly reconstituted Poland in the following months. The first years in free Poland were good for developing trade and crafts. However the situation was complicated by inflation, unemployment and economical crisis. Despite these problems, cultural and educational life flourished. Many events were organized by local societies and organizations. There was a cinema, and in 1937 the local weekly newspaper “Kosynier” began to be published. Secondary school played an important role in local culture.
In September 1939 the residents of Trzemeszno faced Nazi invasion
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
, with many local deaths. During the Nazi occupation, the town’s name was changed to "Tremessen" again. Schools, libraries and the church were closed. However, terrorized residents did not remain passive. There was a secret military organization and a secret scout organization (Szare Szeregi).
After 1945, residents of Trzemeszno faced many difficult tasks. "Citizen Committees" were responsible for restoring closed enterprises and community services. The greatest challenge was restoration of the basilica church and secondary school which had been burned down by retreating Nazi troops.
Rapid development of Trzemeszno took place in the 1960s and 1970s. The largest enterprise, employing over 1000 people, was Pomorskie Zakłady Materiałów Izolacyjnych “Izopol” (factory producing insulation materials). “Izopol” played an important role as a financial supporter and developer of the town.
In 1999, due to the administrative reform of Poland, Trzemeszno became a part of the Gniezno powiat and the Greater Poland Voivodeship
Greater Poland Voivodeship
Wielkopolska Voivodeship , or Greater Poland Voivodeship, is a voivodeship, or province, in west-central Poland. It was created on 1 January 1999 out of the former Poznań, Kalisz, Konin, Piła and Leszno Voivodeships, pursuant to the Polish local government reforms adopted in 1998...
.
External links
- Serwis informacyjny gminy Trzemeszno - official site of Trzemeszno commune
- trzemeszno.com - wirtualne miasto