This spring, Magdalena Bubík continued her field research in the city of Piła, uncovering new layers of local memory and heritage. In March and April, she conducted a series of in-depth interviews and site visits, leading to several fascinating findings.
One particularly compelling story she encountered was that of a baptismal bowl from the formerly Protestant church. During one of her conversations with Piła inhabitants Magdalena was able to view it: a burnished brass baptismal bowl from one of Piła’s former Protestant churches. No one knows exactly which church this bowl came from, and perhaps it is Magdalena who will be able to find out?
As part of her broader research, Magdalena explored various parts of the city—including the Stanisław Staszic Municipal Park in Piła, where his monument is. Born in Piła and baptized there in 1755, Staszic was a priest, Enlightenment thinker, and important figure in Polish intellectual history. After 1945, he became one of the symbols frequently evoked as proof of “Polish character” of the city.
Despite having gathered a wealth of material, Magdalena’s research continues. With many questions still open, she looks forward to her next trips and further opportunities to deepen our understanding of Piła’s layered past.
