In addition to searching out our ancestral homes and possible relatives, Mr. T accompanied us around the area to visit various historically important sites.
One such site was right at the edge of the old family house property. An extremely tall shrine to the Blessed Mother was built on a small hilltop above the nearby creek. We hoped it was a place where our great-grandmother and her family would have stopped by and said a prayer.
A bit further down the creek there used to be a 17th century Chapel of St. Anna. Sadly the chapel was not maintained after the fall of the local manor and was dismantled after WWI. Now, in its place, there was a memorial plaque to St. Anna. The scene depicted on the plaque was St. Anna saving the lady of the manor from drowning in a flash flood. It is because of this miracle that she had requested the chapel be built.
The 17th century church, Parafia pw. św. Bartłomieja – Church of St. Bartholomew was also very close to the old family mill and house. This was where our great-grandmother and ancestors would have been baptized! Unfortunately it was closed for interior work. A new church, Kościół pw. Miłosierdzia Bożego – Church of Divine Mercy, built in the typical modern style seen throughout Poland, was a short distance away.
At Cmentarz w Rogach – the Rogi Cemetery, we admired the graves adorned with colorful flowers and beautifully carved headstones. Because we liked the tradition of znicze – cemetery candles, so much, we decided to buy several to bring back home with us! We searched the cemetery for our known surnames – Ekiert, Uliasz, Albrycht, Bogacz, Kochan and Silwa. As before, we snapped many photos for later review.
We stopped at the local ethnographic museum – Zagroda Etnograficzna – which was also closed! Lucjan called the telephone number posted on the door, but unfortunately the curator was assigned to a private city function that day. It seemed like it would be well worth a visit – maybe next time!
Not far from the museum, there was a memorial commemorating a mass grave of fallen soldiers from the 1769 Battle of the Confederates Bar. The battle was led by Kazimierz Pulaski against the Russian army.
Finally, we stopped by the area where the old manor used to be and saw some outbuildings that were still standing. My sister and I wondered if our ancestors might have worked at the manor as it was just down the creek from the old mill, or at the old inn next to the mill, now relocated to the ethnographic park in Sanok.
The time came for us to say our goodbyes. Mr. T volunteered to follow-up with the Parish priest, who could be finicky at times. My sister and I gave Mrs. T a big bouquet of flowers to show our thanks for her hospitality, and Mr. T some souvenirs from our home state. We promised to keep in touch, share photos and any new findings!
Krosno
It was late in the day, but we decided to take a quick trip to Krosno, the county seat, to visit the church, do a little shopping and go to the exchange. Our first stop was the small attractive 16th century main square which was empty except for the fattest pigeons we ever saw!. The nearby Farna Tower and Craft Museum were closed.
We then visited the Bazylika Kolegiacka Świętej Trójcy – Collegiate Basilica of the Holy Trinity. We were intrigued by the coin operated bank of electric candles where we offered intentions for our mother’s family. As in all the churches we visited, there was a special shrine to Pope St. John Paul II, Poland’s favorite son.
Next stop Bałucianka!
Valerie