Celnica na granicy imperium – Muzeum św. Brata Alberta w Igołomi / Customs house on the border of the empire. The Museum of St. Brother Albert in Igołomia

Abstract

In 1815, Igołomia became a border village. The authorities of the Kingdom of Poland, and then the tsarist administration maintained a customs house in the village. Its role was to facilitate the trade of goods from the territory of the Kraków Republic and the Austrian partition to the Russian partition. In 1844–1846 Wojciech Chmielowski, father of Adam, the future Saint Brother Albert, was the head of the 1st-class customs house in Igołomia. Adam was born here on August 20, 1845. His short time in Igołomia did not affect his fate, but the historical place of his birth was commemorated. When the Albertine Sisters began their service in Igołomia in 1986, this memory was strengthened. In 1994–1995 a new religious house and the Museum of St. Brother Albert were founded. The museum was located in the historic customs building, although the building itself was not the home where the Saint was born. This building was subjected to demolition after the mid-19th century. In its place after 1857, a new customs house was built, which survived until recently, when it was demolished in 2010 and a new museum building was erected in its place. The museum refers to the place of birth of Saint Brother Albert, and part of the exhibition displays the tradition of the customs house.