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FEATURE |  |
A
Meeting at the "Poklewskaya" Station
Alfons
Kozie³³-Poklewski was born in 1809 in the Bykov area of the Viteb District.
This descendant of a Polish noble family that became impoverished in the
late 18th century completed his education at the University of Vilnius,
after which he took up a job as a clerk in St. Petersburg. He resigned
from his post after a change of governors. However, he remained in the
east, where he started a business: he set up two large department stores
in Tyumen and Tobolsk, two towns on the road to Eastern Siberia. He also
built two glass and china factories outside of Tomsk. He leased many breweries
and, in 1845, launched the first steamship service on the Ob, and later,
Irtysh and Tura rivers. Within a dozen or so years, he became the owner
of three steamships and numerous barges and cargo boats. He also built
steam machines and ran goal, iron and asbestos mines. Within a relatively
short time, he succeeded in amassing a huge fortune. He was also a good
and sensitive person.
Alfons
Poklewski made his name through his philanthropic efforts to support Polish
exiles, whom he helped financially by offering them good terms of employment
in his enterprises. In 1857, he dedicated his ships to transporting Poles
returning from Siberia.
The
charitable work of Kozie³³-Poklewski came to the attention of his remote
relative, Józef (the son of Jan and Józefa, the duchess of Tolensdorff).
Banished to Siberia as a participant in the January uprising, Józef sent
a letter asking for help. And help was not denied. It soon turned out
that the young relative was intelligent, talented and trustworthy. Alfons
Kozie³³-Poklewski invested in his education, and soon appointed him the
chief manager of his property.
The
grandchildren of Józef Kozie³³-Poklewski: Tadeusz, Zdzis³aw, Micha³, Julia,
Izabella and Elæbieta, as well as their great grandchildren, Anna and
Micha³, the children of Zdzis³aw, were recently approached by Tatiana
Patron Mosunova, a scientist at the Museum of Yekaterinburg. In early
January, a family expedition made up of two generations set off for Siberia
in search of their roots. They got an emotional reception not only from
the descendants of Polish exiles but also from Russians who continued
to cultivate old Polish traditions.
The name Poklewski could be found all over the Yekaterinburg Museum. 
There
was a sign and a bell from the "Poklewskaya" train station,
where the train waited patiently for the Poklewskis to finish sipping
grog to keep warm. There were old documents, letters and photographs,
and even a collection of bottles with the labels of excellent vodkas and
other liquor highly esteemed by world trade associations. Some of these
labels bore the familiar names of Pan Poklewski and Pani Poklewska, which
were two excellent brands unknown in our country.
Another trip to Siberia has been scheduled for this spring. Its object
is to support the Polish parish of Yekaterinburg, a town of much significance
for Polish Siberians.
Joanna Dziubkowa