Half a century is the span of a human life. The young men from the eastern borderlands, soldiers and enthusiasts for the development of the "recovered territories" who, back in 1947, took up their pickaxes—the tools of their first work—are now enjoying their well-deserved retirements. At that time, a rainbow-coloured future, the euphoria of regained freedom, the bright development of the most perfect society and prosperity were laid out before them. Ahead of them were long years of hard work, a daily struggle for the ordinary human means of living, the bitterness of unfulfilled promises, a sense of exploitation and powerlessness—the reality called the "lost generation".
This half-century now prompts the grey-haired veterans of mining in this land to mixed reflections. What were their lives and work? Were they "something", or were they nothing at all?
Were they a stage of history in which, as in any other, they were able to give their best, establish their country and nation here—or merely an emptiness to be thrown onto the "rubbish heap of history"?
And yet this land today is not the same as the one they encountered fifty years ago, and it is not only mining that has changed here. So who brought about this change? Could the passage of half a century alone have achieved it?
Those who managed the Enterprise from 01.01.1947 to the present day (general directors):
Messrs.
Józef Bodzewicz
Zbigniew Miron
Stanisław Rogula
Kazimierz Młyniec
Edmund Krzysztofiak
Jan Plewa
Dionizy Grochowski
Kazimierz Sucharzewski
Tadeusz Fafuła
Ryszard Awłasewicz
Edward Lercher
Stanisław Żak
Ryszard Pukniel
Czesław Kacała
Kazimierz Marczewski – still in office since 1989
Ladies and Gentlemen!
This year, the town of Nowogrodziec is celebrating the 764th anniversary of the granting of its town rights. It is not as round an anniversary as the 750th anniversary we celebrated in 1983, but it is important enough that the Municipal and Town Council of Nowogrodziec decided to inaugurate the Days of Nowogrodziec this year, which from now on will be held annually at the end of June.
In this special issue of "Głos Bolesławca", we would like to introduce you to our town and municipality. Therefore, most of the information, photographs and drawings included in the publication concern history.
This year's Days of Nowogrodziec are linked to the 50th anniversary of the existence of the "Surmin-Kaolin" Mineral Resources Mine SA in Nowogrodziec. The town authorities and the management of KSM "Surmin-Kaolin" have prepared a range of attractions for adults and children. I warmly invite you to Nowogrodziec from 26 to 29 June.
Mayor
of the Municipality and Town of Nowogrodziec
Edward Szczerbień