My first research destination in Poland was Łomza. My paternal grandmother was born in a small village nearby and I had already found records for both of her parents’ families before my trip. While researching at the archive and visiting those small towns, I stayed in the city for a few days.
Łomza is a small city that closes even earlier than Salt Lake City. One evening, inquiring about where I can go for food, I was told that only McDonald’s was open; I think it was around 4pm. I did discover online that there were two 24 hour gas stations near to McD’s. I never did try to find them, but I recall driving past them on my way out of town.
My visit to the city was over two days. The first day, it was raining and I just walked from my hotel to some nearby locations. The second was when I was returning from visiting the small villages and I drove a bit farther away.
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- Welcome To Lomza
Shh, I actually stopped for this picture on the way out of town, not the way in.
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- Polish State Archive, Lomza Branch
I spent most of one day inside this building. Details about that will be in another blog post.
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- Stary Rynek, Old Market
There was some construction going on in the middle.
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- Stary Rynek, Old Market
Town Hall.
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- Stary Rynek, Old Market
A water feature, in light rain.
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- Stary Rynek, Old Market
The market looking back from the town hall.
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- Stary Rynek, Old Market
Left to right, Flag of Europe, Poland, and Lomza.
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- Former Synagogue?
This one is tricky. Before I left, one web site I checked said this address was formerly the synagogue. Now I've found another site saying the Great Synagogue was destroyed in 1941 and it was somewhere near this building, at the intersection of these streets, and that there is a plaque on the current building. I didn't see that on this building or any other, but I didn't know to look for it.
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- Former Jewish Hospital
That web site in question about the synagogue said this address was formerly the Jewish Hospital and now it's a high school.
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- Old Jewish Cemetery
These are just in an open space that feels like a small park or greenway that you casually walk through, including a sidewalk and benches.
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- Old Jewish Cemetery
The stones have been carefully placed, evenly spaced. A more detailed survey by others indicates males and females intermixed, some stones are sideways. Clearly the cemetery was destroyed to some extent and the stones were re-placed later.
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- Old Jewish Cemetery
Stones extend down the side of the hill. It was a cloudy day up until this point, and the sun washed out the colors in my photos.
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- Old Jewish Cemetery
Distant view from the cemetery.
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- New Jewish Cemetery
I read that you need to contact someone to gain access, but that there was a way in without doing so. I found the back entrance where some of the wall is missing. I guess they expect people to use this entrance, since it had the sign. I just wished there was a clear path to walk.
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- New Jewish Cemetery
This cemetery sits behind a row of houses.
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- New Jewish Cemetery
It was quite a walk from the back through very tall grass and weeds. I decided against walking very far.
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- New Jewish Cemetery
Another zoomed picture taken from afar.
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- Chickens
These guys were watching me taking pictures at the new cemetery.
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- Fish
I don't think I've ever seen this sold in America. Why didn't I buy it when I had the chance? Oh right, I didn't have a fridge.
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- Foot Towel
Clearly marked, in case you don't know what to do with it. They were like this in most of my Poland hotels. Cute.
For more information:
The URL for this post is http://idogenealogy.com/blog/2012/08/30/lomza/.
All photos and content Copyright 2012 by Banai Lynn Feldstein.
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