Murovanka

Murowanka is a historic building from 1903, constructed of red facing brick, which served as the first school in Wawer until 1948. It features a single-story structure with one large, uniform classroom and several smaller rooms that functioned as an office and teachers' residences. The building is listed in the municipal heritage register of Warsaw. Surrounded by historical elements such as an old inn and an insurgent cross from 1919, Murowanka stands near a monument to Józef Piłsudski, unveiled in 1930. The building's history of use is rich: before World War II, children were taught first in Russian and later in Polish, reflecting the political tensions of the era. In 1922, the school had around 300 students, and by 1936, this number had grown to 1,024, leading to overcrowding and the introduction of two-shift learning. During World War II, under Nazi occupation, Murowanka became a site of clandestine education and cultural activities, including a secret theater. After the war, the building continued its educational role until 1948, when classes were relocated to a new facility. In the following years, it was repurposed for various uses, including as a warehouse and a service point. After a long period of neglect, revitalization efforts began in 2008 and were completed in 2017. Finally, in 2019, Murowanka was handed over to the Foundation for Great Histories, which now operates a "digipoint" there, offering free digitization of historical materials brought in by Warsaw residents. Murowanka is not only a valuable example of turn-of-the-century architecture but also a place that preserves an important part of local history and Polish education.