The pump near the Castle Way, Szczecin in 2009.

Szczecin pumps, colloquially known as Berliners,[lower-alpha 1] are historic water pumps in Szczecin, Poland, that are a characteristic object of the city.[1] There were 70 pumps originally made between 1865 and 1895, with 28 surviving to this day,[2] 27 of which hold the status of cultural property.[3][4]

History

The pumps were manufactured between 1865 and 1895, in the F. Poepck Water Pump factories located in Szczecin and Chojna. Originally, there were around 70 pumps made, of which 28 survive to this day.[4][3][2] Originally, the pumps were painted in blue with colorful details depicting the city coat of arms. After World War 2, they were repainted to a green colour.[3] In the first years after the war, the pumps were very useful for the city inhabitants as the water supply network remained not fully functional at the time.[1][4] At that time, the elements from damaged pumps were relocated to the working ones.[4] At the beginning of the 21st century, the pumps were repainted to their original colours.[3]

In 2000, thanks to a city conservator-restorer, Małgorzata Gwiazdowska, 27 of the pumps were listed as cultural property.[3][4] By the 2010s, all pumps required restoration to their original state, as they were damaged, and decorative details of the pumps had been stolen over the years.[4] Polcast foundry, in cooperation with West Pomeranian University of Technology, was tasked by the Szczecin Department of Water Supply and Sewage to prepare the copies of missing decorative elements. Such copies were made using both traditional methods used in the original manufacturing and modern technologies, such as computer modeling. In 2013, the department was given 25,000 Polish złoty from the city for the restoration efforts.

Many of the pumps no longer work, due to the lowering of the groundwater levels in the 2000s.[3]

Currently, the pumps are a characteristic object of the city,[1] and are popular among tourists.[5]

Description

The pumps are made of iron[1] and have a form of almost 3 metre (9.8 ft.) high column with diameter of 36 cm (14.2 in) and base in the shape of the square with the side dimensions of 61 cm (24 in).[4] They are painted in a blue colour with a yellow crown placed at the top and red, yellow and blue coat of arms of Szczecin at the bottom. They were originally painted as such in 19th century, and after World War 2, they were repainted to a green colour. At the beginning of the 21st century, the pumps were repainted to their original colours. Water is discharged from the sculpture of a dragon.[3]

The pumps are independent from the city water supply network, with the water being pumped with hand lever.[4] Many of the pumps don't work anymore, due to the lowering of the groundwater levels in the 2000s. They are under the administration and maintenance of the Szczecin Department of Water Supply and Sewage.[3]

The pumps are colloquially known as Berliners, as they are the same model as the historical water pumps in the city of Berlin, Germany.[2]

There are currently 28 in the city, located at:[2]

  • Piątego Lipca Street/Noakowskiego Street
  • Bazarowa Street
  • Bohaterów Getta Warszawskiego Street/Zgody Square
  • Cieszkowskiego Street/Bojki Street
  • Grodzka Street/Mariacka Street
  • Tkacka Street/Grodzka Street
  • Heleny Street/Karpińskiego Street
  • Papieża Jana Pawła II Street/Mazurska Street
  • Kaszubska Street/Narutowicza Street
  • Kopernika Street/Krzywoustego Street
  • Królowej Jadwigi Street/Krzywoustego Street
  • Bogusława X Street/Łokietka Street
  • 8 Malczewskiego Street in Żeromski Park
  • 55 Małopolska Street
  • Monte Cassino Street/Jagiellońska Street
  • Mściwoja Street at Sienny Market
  • Niepodległości Avenue
  • Edmunda Bałuki Street/Św. Wojciecha Street at Anders Park
  • Piastów Street/Szarych Szeregów Square
  • Śląska Street/Grunwaldzki Square
  • Św. Piotra i Pawła Street near the Castle Way
  • Zawiszy Czarnego Square/3 Maja Aveneu
  • Żołnierza Polskiego Square at 13 Muz
  • Potulicka Street/Drzymały Street near the First Tax Office
  • Wyzwolenia Aveneu/Felczaka Street
  • Odzieżowa Street/Wyzwolenia Aveneu
  • Wyzwolenia Aveneu/Rayskiego Street
  • Żupańskiego Street/Niemierzyńska Street

Notes

  1. ↑ Polish: berlinki, singular: berlinka

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Andrzej Kraśnicki, Jr. Szczecin w szczególe. Szczecin. Walkowska Wydawnictwo / Jeż. 2008. ISBN 978-83-924983-8-4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Street water pumps". visitszczecin.eu.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Zabytkowe pompy znów są piękne. Ale nie zawsze dają wodę". wyborcza.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Szczecińskie pompy pięknieją". portalkomunalny.pl (in Polish). 3 February 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  5. ↑ "Zabytkowe pompy w Szczecinie pięknieją". gs24.pl (in Polish). 30 July 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2021.

Bibliography

  • Andrzej Kraśnicki, Jr. Szczecin w szczególe. Szczecin. Walkowska Wydawnictwo / Jeż. 2008. ISBN 978-83-924983-8-4.
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