Józef Haller (1873-1960), (Photo No. 192), a general officer of the Polish Army, statesman, politician, social activist, participant of many struggles for independence, commanding officer of the second Brigade of the Polish Legions in Russia; in years 1918-1919 the main commanding officer of the Polish Army in France which were called “Błękitna Armia” (en. “Blue Army”; in interwar times, he was a member of National Defense Committee (pl. Rada Obrony Państwa) an opponent of Józef Piłsudski’s policy; after the outbreak of War World II, he emigrated to England where he stayed until death. Edward Morawetz took a portrait photo of the general in 1931 (Photo No. 197) when he took part in a blessing ceremony of the Józef Haller Association’s flag.

Władysław Orkan (1875-1930), actually Franciszek Ksawery Smreczyński (Smaciarz), (Photo No. 615) a poet, novelist, dramatist and publicist coming from Poręba Wielka. A co-founder of Związek Podhalan (en. Podale Association), bounded with Podhale and the Gorce Mountains that he beautifully described. To his most famous poetic bands belong: “Nad grobem matki. Dumania”, „Z tej smutnej ziemi”, „Pieśni czasu”; short stories: „Nad urwiskiem”; novels: „W roztokach”, „Drzewiej” and writings: „Listy ze wsi”. In 1929 Orkan celebrated hundreth of his creative work. At Jagiellonian University in Cracow, there was organized a symposium, and the main celebrations took place in Nowy Targ on 7th of August.

Unfortunately many persons pictured in the photo stay anonymous. We do not know their names or surnames. That is why we invite you to concreate the Internet website. May be among these person you will recognize some familiar persons, your relatives, great-grandparents, grandparents or parents. We encourage you to look at your family albums, to look back and to share your knowledge about the history of your families. And all that in order to save from oblivion all people who created the past of our town.