Posted on 12/02/2006 4:43:18 PM PST by lizol
I’ve just got access to set of pictures of my home town of Lowicz throughout the 20th century.
It’s amazing, when you have a chance to compare places, that you have known since you were born - how they looked like 100 years ago and today.
If you like- share this joy with me :-)))
This is the view on the main street of the town – Zdunska Street from the same place – seen in 1916, 1950 and today.
This is more or less comparable view from the Cathedral tower – in 1920s and today
And to the other side 
The Old Square and the City Hall
in 1905
And today
Here you can see the same place pictured from different angle. And different time :-))) 
New Square in 1915 and today 
Zdunska Street 1914/1915 and today 
Old Square and view on the Cathedral in 1919 and today 
Same building in the Old Square in 1920s and today 
Piarists order church
Inside - as a German Army garage during WW1 
In 1920s
Today
Evangelical chuch
In 1900
in 1920s
Today
Train station
In 1914/1915
1920-1930 
after 1939 
and today 
Building of the Town Museum (before the WW2 – a High School)
In 1902 
1939-1945 
Today 
Buldings on the Old Square
WW2 - After 1939 
Right after the WW2, then 1950s, then 1960s 
Today
View from the Cathedral tower in 1915 
Right after WW2 
And today 
View on the Cathedral
In 1905 
in 1915 
In 1939-1945 
In 1950 
Today
St. Leonard church
In 1910
After 1939 
Today 
New Square
In 1920s 
Today 
Ping
WOW!
Very interesting.
Thank you for posting this.
Wow!!! Thanks!!!
There are two things, that amazed me at the first sight when I saw those pictures.
The first - I didn't know, that my town was so heavily destroyed during WW2, and the second - that the town is far, far more green now, than - let's say - 100 years ago.
I loved these pictures. What a beautiful town!! Usually I don't like other people's pics but these are just breathtaking.
Thanks!!
See, my profile page, if you like, you'll see more of them :-)
Thanks for the pictures. When photographing architecture, a PC [not "politically correct", but "perspective controlled"] lens, aka a shift lens, is a must, to keep the walls in the picture straight and not converging as a trapezoid. Old time photographers had it easier, in a sense - their bellows cameras were incorporating the front lens movement as a matter of course, and you could see it in the old pictures you have posted - no "keystoning". And nowadays one has to go for a Canon Tilt-Shift lens which is damningly expensive. To avoid that expense I had to make myself a lens shift contraption [in medium format] from some old parts and a used lens - it is less convenient, but works. And BTW, what would a PC [politically correct] lens look like? I have a hunch it would be a socialist realism lens.
Thanks for sharing them!!! Beautiful!
Great pictures! They've done a wonderful job of restoring all the old buildings.
Exactly where is this town located?
Very cool. Thanks for sharing all those.
Wonderful display of photographs, lizol, sir.
Really good.
You should be Tourism Director for Lowicz ... I'd love to travel there! Looks like such a lovely town that has survived incredible ravages. That's the Polish spirit.
Thank you for sharing the beautiful photo history of your hometown, Lizol.
What beautiful pictures. Everything looks so clean and well kept and BRIGHT!
Excellent pics. Im proud that poland is a friend of the US.God bless you guys over this christmas holiday.
Notice things were much better before and after Communism.
Wow, great photos. It is amazing how few of the buildings have changed over time (other than being cleaned up and repainted). This city is a historical treasure. American cities tend to migrate away from the older areas (or demolish them) over time so there aren't that many cities in the US where a large fraction of old buildings are being used like they were 100 or more years ago. It seems that by looking at these photos the only thing that has really changed is the look of people.
If this city was in the US you would have tourists coming from hundreds or thousands of miles away. This city reminds me of Rainbow Row in Charleston, SC.
Beautiful photos, lizol! Both on this thread and on your FR page as well. I want to visit Poland sometime in the next couple of years. Beautiful country, populated by a great people!
I didn't know that you live in Leszno! I have family in Gostyn. In fact, my family used to have an estate nearby, with a little palace, and a lake in the shape of an eye, with trees planted around it to make it look like eyelashes. The communists turned it into a PGR. I have to go back someday, and see what is left of it.
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