JAKUB KANIA HALL OF MEMORY IN STARE SIOŁKOWICE

The Jakub Kania Hall of Memory is housed in the library in Stare Siołkowice. The hall was created to commemorate this outstanding Silesian poet and folk writer. Jakub Kania was born in 1872 in Stare Siołkowice. He founded a chapter of the Polish Catholic Society "Oświata" here. He promoted the Polish language, Polish traditions and customs, and organised meetings to recite poems and put on plays.

In 1903, he was given a six-month prison sentence for tearing down the imperial flag during official ceremonies. In 1914, he was arrested for agitating for the revival of the Polish state after World War I and then sent to the front. In 1920, he was beaten up by German militants for his pro-Polish views. He also took part in the Third Silesian Uprising. After the Second World War ended, he started a Polish school in Siołkowice. He wrote articles and poems published in

Gazeta Opolska, Katolik and Nowiny Opolskie, The poet died in 1957 in Siołkowice. After his death in one of the rooms of his family home, a Hall of Memory was created and later moved to the library building. A commemorative plaque still hangs on the wall of his house, and his bust stands near the Hall.

The Hall contains numerous memorabilia related to the poet's work, including extremely valuable manuscripts, books, photographs, identity cards and other documents. In addition, the Hall houses an extraordinary collection of works from the private library of Józef Macioszek, a resident of Stare Siołkowice. There are over 200 works of fiction by

Polish authors. These include complete series that are difficult to find today.

The local library takes care of the Hall.