Krasnosielc

Krasnosielc is a village in the Masovian Voivodeship, within the Maków County, serving as the administrative seat of the gmina (municipality) of the same name. Once a town, it was granted municipal rights in 1824 and functioned as a center of trade and crafts. However, it lost its town privileges in 1869 due to its support for the January Uprising insurgents. The village is home to the parish church of St. John Cantius, dating back to the 18th century, which is part of the Białystok Metropolis and the Diocese of Łomża. The history of Krasnosielc dates back to 1374, when border disputes between Masovia and the Teutonic Order took place in the area. During the 16th to 18th centuries, under the rule of the Krasiński family, the settlement experienced economic growth, evidenced by the construction of a wooden church in 1730. After the relocation of that church to the Museum of the Masovian Countryside, the current brick church was founded at the end of the 18th century. In the 19th century, Krasnosielc became a hub for crafts, with a cloth factory and distinctive woolen fabric production setting it apart from other localities. The late 19th century saw epidemics, natural disasters, and economic emigration, primarily to the United States. During World War II, Krasnosielc suffered under occupation, and its Jewish population was brutally expelled. The village was also a site of events related to the Revolution of 1905–1907, including youth demonstrations. Notable heritage sites in Krasnosielc include the complex of the St. John Cantius Church and an 18th-century roadside chapel dedicated to St. John Nepomucene. Significant figures associated with the village include the Warner brothers, founders of Warner Bros., and Jan Bojarski, a divisional general of the Polish Army. Despite its historical setbacks, Krasnosielc remains a place rich in history, where diverse cultural, social, and economic narratives intertwine.