Kujawy – Gmina Zakrzewo History

Hello,

This is my third post that will deal with the history of the Kujawy region of Poland. The Gmina Zakrzewo is located in Powiat Aleksandrow. I have tried to translate the history of this gmina with various translating tools, which include books and online translation websites. Any errors in this translation are my own. The translation of the gmina’s history, from the Zakrzewo website is below:

The village of Zakrzewo lies within the so-called Wysoczyzny Kujawskiej (Eminence Kujawy). The area of the village of Zakrzewo has been historically associated with Kujawy, which was identified as a separate principality in 1194. Initially the capital was in Wloclaw and then was moved to Inowrocław. The major center of this municipality is in Zakrzewo. Available sources show that the Zakrzewski family were the owners of Zakrzewo from the twelveth to fifteenth centuries. The Zakrzewski family used the Ogończyk coat of arms that they received from the administrative region of Plock. Zakrzewo were the first to found a church under the invocation of Corpus Christi. (Picture 1, on the right: Zakrzewo Parish, built in 1754).

Numbers of the Zakrzewski family were involved and actively participating in the Kujawy Protestant movement, particularly Filip Zakrzewski who was the church treasurer. He took the donations that were held in the church and stripped the church of its valuables and sold them to Count Skarbek from nearby Osięcin. The catholic parish was terminated and the local Catholics went to the church in Sędzinie. (Picture 2, on the left: Sędzinie Parish, built in 1761).

In the year 1710 the political situations in the country began to normalize, this was the first time in the previous 60 years that Kujawy experienced a relative calm. During this period Zakrzewo was owned by Anna and Stanislaw Sokołowski, who were Gentry who used the Pomian coat of arms. During this time the new owners erected a new wood floor church and convent, which in the year 1745 brought the Warsaw Discalced Carmelites.

From the monastery’s salary they were able to transfer the monastery and windmill from Gęsin to a farm in Zakrzewo that had 18 morgs of arable land and meadows. In the nineteenth century the owners of Zakrzewo were the Mniewski family from the district of Łęczyca, who were Gentry who used the Ogończyk coat of arms. (Picture 3, on the left: Siniarzewo Parish, built in 1921).

Adam Bogatko, who was Gentry from the administrative region of Masovia and used the Pomian coat of arms, acquired Zakrzewo in 1903 or 1904 and was the last owner. He functioned as the District Judge in Nieszawa. From 1924, the Zakrzewo Board held his son Zbignew’s assests.

During World War II, Zakrzewo were in the front lines of the war. During the Nazi occupation there had been widespread losses among both the public and agriculture sectures. Part of the farm lands were taken over by the Germans, while others were abandoned. Losses in the municipality as a result of the invasion during the war were estimated at 70%.

Zakrzewo was liberated on January 19, 1945. In 1948, Zakrzewo belonged to the Powiat of Nieszawa, which then changed its name to the Powiat of Aleksandrow and then established its’ administrative authorities in Aleksandrow-Kujawski.

After the war in Zakrzewo, as a result of the agricultural reform, landowner property was parceled out to smallholder farmers without rural land. In 1953, Zakrzewo started to electrify its’ rural areas. In 1955, the municipalities were closed down and in their place gmina’s were created. Zakrzewo was made into one of these gmina’s. (Picture 4, below: Gmina Zakrzewo Flag)
In 1978, a new primary school was established in Zakrzewo. In 1975, gminas were re-created and the capital of the local gmina was Zakrzewo. In December 1973, the municipality of Zakrzewo was eliminated and the city of Zakrzewo was incorporated into the gmina of Koneck. On January 1, 1982, the gmina of Zakrzewo was scheduled to be restored again, but due to the introduction of martial law in 1981 the execution of this decision was suspended. On January 10, 1982, the decision was forced into action and the gmina of Zakrzewo was re-created.

The rest of the history, on the Zakrzewo website, deals with the alteration of the Pomian coat of arms so it would become unique to the Zakrzewo area.

Sources:
Gmina History: http://www.zakrzewo.com.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=64

Pictures 1-3: http://www.zakrzewo.com.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=66

Picure 4: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/pl-kp-za.html

Best Regards,
Al.