STAROGARD GDANSKI: Pomorskie

STAROGARD GDANSKI: Pomorskie
Last Updated Saturday, 11 July 2009 16:33
Alternate names: Starogard Gdański [Pol], Preußisch Stargard [Ger], Starogard, Starogarda. 5
3°58' N, 18°33' E
,i
n E Pomerania, 27 miles S of Gdańsk (Danzig). Jewish population: 529 (in 1885).
Słownik Geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego
(1880-1902), XI, pp. 248-251: "Starogard"
. The name names "Old Town of Gdańsk". This town in Eastern Pomerania in NW Poland with
48,328 inhabitants in 2004 on the coast of Gdańsk Bay is the capital of Starogard powiat in
Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999 and previously in Gdańsk Voivodeship from 1975 to
1998.Starogard is the biggest city of the region called Kociewie and is populated by Kocievians.
Gmina Starogard Gdański contains the villages and settlements of Barchnowy, Brzeźno
Wielkie, Ciecholewy, Dąbrówka, Helenowo, Jabłowo, Janin, Janowo, Klonówka, Kochanka,
Kokoszkowy, Kolincz, Koteże, Krąg, Kręgski Młyn, Linowiec, Lipinki Szlacheckie, Marywil,
Najmusy, Nowa Wieś Rzeczna, Okole, Owidz, Owidz-Młyn, Płaczewo, Rokocin, Rywałd,
Siwiałka, Stary Las, Sucumin, Sumin, Szpęgawsk, Trzcińsk, Żabno, Zduny and Żygowice.
Normal 0 For hundreds of years, Jewish residence was banned in Starogard. Organized
Jewish settlement dates from 1780. The still-standing synagogue dates from 1948. In
September 1939 in a nearby forest called Szpęgawski Forest (NE of the town) Germans had
mass executions about 7 000 Poles, among them 1680 Kocborowo (Konradstein) and Świecie
psychiatric hospitals patients. About 500 handicapped children were killed in the hospital. In
1931, 133 Jews lived here. [July 2009]
CEMETERY: Located on ul Bohaterów Getta in the outskirts of Starogard Gdansk, the
0.4-hectare cemetery was probably founded in the mid-19th century. During WWII, the Nazis
destroyed the cemetery and used many gravestones for roadwork. In the cemetery, Jews were
executed. A few gravestones with inscriptions in Hebrew and German with Mogen
David or floral themes, especially the Wici plant, or shaped as a broken tree
remain. Among the overgrowth are remains of the wall and brick foundations of the beit tahara.
Arie Isaac Goldfarb, a local factory owner, a deputy mayor, member of the Masons, is buried
here even though he was cremated. In 1985, the site was landmarked. A fence surrounds the
cemetery with free access through the gate.
video
. [July 2009]
US Commission No. POCE000005
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STAROGARD GDANSKI: Pomorskie
Last Updated Saturday, 11 July 2009 16:33
Alternate name: Stargard (German). Starogard Gdanski is located in Gdansk at 53°5718°30,
24km from Tczewa. The cemetery is located at ul. Bohaterow Getta. Present town population is
25,000-100,000 with fewer than 10 Jews.
- Town: Prezydent Miasta, Urzad Miasta, ul. Gdanska 6, 83-200 Starogard Gdanski, Tel.
2-50-67 bezposredni.
- Regional: Wojewodzki Konserwator Zabytokow, ul. Kotwicznikow 20, 80-881 Gdansk,
Tel. 31-62-67. 31-62-68 Centrala.
-
Local: Dr. Hanna Domanska, ul. Wladyslawa IV 34/3, 81-742 Sopot, Tel. 51-04-22.
- Interested: Regionalny Osrodek Studiowi Ochrony Srodowiska Kulturowego, ul. Sw.
Trojcy 5, 80-822 Gdansk, Tel. 31-77-12, 31-75-22.
The earliest known Jewish community is 1780. 1931 Jewish population was 123. A ban on
permanent settlement occurred in 1309; the founding of the town community was 1780; the
development of residential-commercial-industrial ghetto and the rabbinate in the mid-19th
century, emigration after 1920, and extermination in 1939. Abraham Poitr Kaufmann, Hugo
Kaufmann, Albert Kufmann and Arie Goldfarb lived here. Buried in the cemetery are Jehuda
ben Icchak Rosenberg and Arie Goldfarb. The cemetery was established during the mid-19th
century with last known Progressive/Reform Jewish burial in 1939. Landmark: Register of
Monuments as No. A 928. The isolated suburban artificial hill has no sign or marker. Reached
by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all with no wall or gate. Before World War
II, the cemetery occupied 1.4 hectares and is currently 0.4 hectares due to agriculture. Fewer
than 20 visible gravestones, all in original positions with 25% and 50% toppled or broken, date
from 1884-19th century. The sandstone finely smoothed and inscribed stones or flat stones with
carved relief decoration have Hebrew and German inscriptions. The cemetery contains no
known mass graves. The municipality owns the cemetery property used for waste dumping.
Properties adjacent are agricultural. Rarely, local residents visit. The cemetery was vandalized
during World War II, but not in the last ten years. No maintenance. Vegetation overgrowth is a
constant problem that disturbs both graves and access. Water drainage is a seasonal problem.
Security (uncontrolled access) is serious threat as the site is not fenced and is close to the
horse market and crops. Weather erosion, vegetation, and vandalism are also serious threats.
Dr. Hanna Domanska, ul. Wladyslawa IV 34/3, 81-742 Sopot, tel. 51-04-22 completed survey
7/91. Documentation: cemetery card and H. Domanska's text, The Tree of Stone Tears; The
Jewish Communities of the Gdansk Vovoidship; Their History and Culture
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STAROGARD GDANSKI: Pomorskie
Last Updated Saturday, 11 July 2009 16:33
. (Gdansk, 1991). Dr. Domanska visited in 1988.
Source: Gruber, Ruth Ellen. Jewish Heritage Travel A Guide to East-Central Europe. New
York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1992. p. 78
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