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Encounters during holiday travel. What do the dwarfs from Wrocław and Zielona Góra have in common?

Attitude to the water (and size!). For example, Wrocław dwarf with funny name  Wodziarz sits on the pump, in the Wrocław Market Square. For a better balance he has provided the band with two buckets. In warm weather, he is happy to share with you the water to cool off. They say, he also helps overcome "the syndrome of the previous day," and even smoothes out wrinkles…

Wodziarz (Waterman, (phot. Hanna Żelichowska)

Wrocław dwarfs - where do they come from?

Wrocław dwarfs already are so deeply blended in with the local landscape, that few people only today are asking themselves the question: where do they come from? The answer is not simple and straightforward, the truth probably only know Papa Dwarf, but there are some very plausible theories ...

Ancestors in Wroclaw

Dwarf (Skrzat in Polish) genealogy researchers quote the Chronicle Dwarfs, where they found a surprising note: the first dwarf, which saw the world just appeared in Wrocław! He decided to settle in the Lower Silesia. Over the years the family of Papa Dwarf (under this name is known today that senior of the dwarf family) began to grow. It was not until many years later, in the village there were people. Fortunately, there were no conflicts of power and influence. Young and old immediately fell to liking to each other and the combined forces to build a city where they live together. Years later, in honor of the dwarves living in the past in all the main sights of the Old Town of Wrocław, people have given tem names. So, the one from Biskupin is called Biskupika, from Sępolno - Sepik, Szczepin - Szczepika, Oporów - Resistor, etc ...

So if ever someone asks you who is the oldest of Wroclaw, respond without hesitation: Papa Dwarf! 

More about dwarfs see the page:  http://krasnale.pl/wszystko-o-krasnoludkach/

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Zielona Góra

Gnome Palmix (phot. Hanna Żelichowska)

“Bachusiki (little Bacchus gnomes)” from Zielona Góra have a very short history. The idea was born on the occasion of the revitalization of the pedestrian area in 2009, when it was known that distinctive plates arranged in a zigzag are going to disappear. The initiative to decorate the city with figures connected with the feast of Bacchus (in the vicinity of Zielona Góra the great wine is grown), came from the writer and city-historian Thomas Czyżniewski. In the beginning the figures were residents of the old town. The idea picked up on the city. For a good start the city authorities financed four sculptures. Next they decided to invite private investors. Today in Zielona Góra there are about 30 bachusiks and they have become a symbol of our city.

"He stood in front of Palm House, grabbed a palm tree and stayed there. The free hand is holding a glass that is sometimes filled with water. Palmix obviously wished it was the wine. "Finally some good soul pour me some wine ..." - thinks bachusik -  “I do not lose good spirit”.

Palmix favorit saying is: "In life there are three important things: wine, women, and palm to grab".

Interestingly, Palmix wears a thong of grape. This is unusual clothing for men, but Palmix says that it does not bother him. He has good fun…  

Dwarf Wodziarz and gnome Palmixa are associated with the water. The founder of the first one is Wrocław Water Company (MPWiK), the Palm House of Zielona Góra of the other one.

More you can find here: http://www.bachusiki.cba.pl/bachusik/Palmix

Book about William H. Lindley in Baku scheduled for April 2014!

Chingiz Abdullayev and Xadija Abdullayev prepare  a book about the development of the water supply for the ciity of Baku. One of her heroes is William H. Lindley and the Polish engineer Stefan Skrzywan and perhaps more engineers, which can be  traced in Azerbaijani archives. In the autumn comes  to Warsaw with a visit author of the book and his closest associates. Society Lindleiana will gladly guide Azerbaijani guests through the works of the Lindleys in Warsaw and hope show them all interesting them materials. The book is scheduled for April 2014.

William H. Lindley with legendary millionaire H.Z. Tagiyev, sponsor of the water supply system of Baku

For more details about water supply of Baku see our e-publication: How Baku Got Its Water by Ryszard Żelichowski

Monument of Water Tower in Lublin

At the end of the 19th century Lublin needed a new water supply system, because the sanitary condition of the city at the time was very bad. Between 1892 and 1894 cholera epidemics struck Lublin, also regularly erupting fires were difficult to control due to insufficient quantities of water.

The construction of a network supplying water Lublin was to the german engineer Adolf Weisblatt. T The Water Tower itself was build in the period 1897-1899 at then Bernardine Square, Freedom Square today. The official opening took place on 1 July 1899.

The tower was built in the fashionable neo-Gothic style somewhat reminiscent of the medieval towers of defense. The Tower was crowned with battlements, while inside there was a tank, which could accommodate up to 150 cubic meters of water pumped by two steam pumps. The tower was made of bricks brought from Volhynia. The network designed by Weisblat consisted of artesian wells and drainage system.

As a result of fighting at the end of the second world  the water tower was completely burnt down and in 1946 the tower was dismantled. Moreover, vanished houses, which stood in its neighborhood.

In 2003, because of changes in Freedom Square decided to mark the water tower - a place where once stood are marked dark cobbles. In 2004, the Municipal Water and Sewage Company decided to put money in a new fountain at Freedom Square. In the middle of the fountain bowl bronze monument was erected - miniature old water tower.

Photo: R. Żelichowski, April 2012

Finnish journalist on Lindleys in Warsaw

12 -14 September 2011 Warsaw visited Finnish free-lancer journalist Katriina Etholén who works on article about the Lindleys in our city. Last year Katriina Etholén published nicely illustrated text"William Lindley Hampurissa" (William Lindley in Hamburg) for monthly "Vesitalous" dealing with water issues. Article of the Finnish journalist is to read on our ‘e-publications’ page.

On Monday 13 September Katriina Etholén visited Water Supply Company. Her guide was Marzena Wojewódzka from the Press Office of the Water Company, who in a very Professional manner presented to the Finnish guest achievements of the Lindleys in Warsaw as well as showed her the modern addition to the old project. Mrs. Ewa Grzymała from the Company Archive prepared sample of c.a. 50 original drawings from Lindley’s office.

 

Katriina Etholén was very impressed by what she had seen. The biggest impression made on her the slow filters filled with water.

 

In the afternoon Katriina Etholén visited places known to Lindleys during their assignments in Warsaw, the famous “bench of Lindley”, among others (photo)

 

We wait impatiently for the fruits of Katriina Etholén’s  work!

 

100 years ago - William Heerlein Lindley knighted

In the years 1906 – 1908 as a member of the Royal Commission on Canals and Waterways William H. Lindley studied the inland waterways of Germany, France, Belgium and Holland. After four months work in London these studies gave rise to a final report. Along with the next report on the canals and inland navigation of the UK, presented to both Houses of Parliament published two years later, his continental works for the glory of the British Empire were also appreciated*.

 

In 1911 William H. Lindley received a knighthood from King George V. As Franz Lerner, author of the first short biography of William Heerlein, writes, knighthood is and always be “the highest honour for the British citizen, which in those days was a privilege to only a few engineers working on their own account”.

 

 

On this occasion William Heerlein ordered a special jacket, which can be seen on the photograph below, printed in “Illustrated London News” (1911). His name has published since then in The Book of Knights of the British Empire (First time: Dod's Peerage, London 1915, p. 249).

 

 

Only for the record one needs to note, that title Sir has been awarded to W.H. Lindley exclusively. We have stated with certain embarrassment, that this fact has not been known to the city authorities of Hamburg. When in June 1993 150 anniversary of the start of water supply and sewage works for this city was celebrated, the highlight event was unveiling of the William Lindley's statue. The sculpture designed and made by Hansjörg Wagner, very well-known artist from Munich, was located on the prestigious Baumwall in Hamburg and was unveiled in presence of members of the family (Alexander Caspar and Margret Schulz) on 27 June 1993. On the front of the monument to their dismay was placed wrong description „Sir William Lindley 1808 – 1900”.

 

*Report on the Waterways of France, Belgium, Germany and Holland, by W.H. Lindley (Assistant Commissioner for the Foreign Inquiry), London 1909; Royal Commission on Canals and Waterways. Report[s] of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into and to report on the canals and inland navigation of the UK. Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Commission of His Majesty. London 1906-1911.