Filia Domu Sierot Janusza Korczaka „Różyczka” – zachowanie pamięci i formy upamiętnienia

“Różyczka” was created thanks to the donation of Maksymilian Cohn and his wife who, in 1921, gave to the ‘Towarzystwo Pomoc dla Sierot’ 20 morga of land and buildings located in the village of Czaplowizna (Wawer) in today’s Marysin Wawerski (became part of Warsaw in 1951). In 1925 a wooden building was erected with a large veranda and a wide stair-case leading to it, often referred to as “Różyczka” (like the whole area). Over the years, there were: a place for summer holidays for children of the Janusz Korczak’s House of Orphans and other orphanages (1921–1940), and for winter holidays (1922–1927), dormitory (1927–1933/4), kindergarten (1928–1933/4), and a farm (1922–1933). Last summer holidays took place in 1940. The fate of the “Różyczka” buildings after 1940 is difficult to trace. The buildings were not destroyed during the war. According to the memories of the inhabitants in the post-war period, the wooden pavilion of “Różyczka” functioned as an unofficial ‘house of culture’, in which even movie screenings were to take place. Whereas, in brick buildings carbonated water was produced. In the years 1964–1968, a housing estate was established at Marysin Wawerski. The buildings of “Różyczka” were demolished in 1968 or 1969. The area left behind remained relatively empty until 2009. Currently, there is a Multifunctional Sports and Recreation Object “Syrenka”. There is an information board on the main building of the sports center, similar plaques were placed on the buildings at Starego Doktora St. (Old Doctor) and Króla Maciusia St. (King Matt). The names of these two residential streets commemorate the presence of Janusz Korczak in this area. The nearby primary school also bears the name of Króla Maciusia I (King Matt I) – a literary hero created by Korczak. The main commemoration of Janusz Korczak and his orphans in the area of today’s Marysin Wawerski is a monument by Hanna Danilewicz, unveiled in 1979, renovated in 2012 as part of the celebration of the Year of Janusz Korczak. And the latest local initiative aimed at the commemoration of Janusz Korczak and “Różyczka” is planned for the spring of 2019, a mural is going to be created on a concrete wall separating the housing estate and the military area.