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The Gymnastics Association „Falcon” played an important role in shaping and cherishing the patriotic feeling as well as in the life of Nowy Targ. This oldest Polish sports association was established in Lvov in 186. It aimed at promoting the physical culture but its activities in the fields of education and patriotism based on the principles of discipline, perseverance, brotherhood, equality, attachment to the national history and traditions were no less important. The history of the „Falcon” in Nowy Targ dates back to 1892, when on the initiative of Ernest Geisler, a national lawyer , Wiktor Kalmam, a member of the „Falon” in Sambor, and Janusz Mikiewicz from the „Falcon” in Stryj, the first organisational meeting of the Association took place. The charter of the organisation was approved in April 1893. In 1906 the town of Nowy Targ granted to the Association an unrestricted right of exclusive use of the old basements of the town's brewery and a square above them for the construction of its own building. The municipality however reserved the right to use the gyms of „Falcon” by students and for the organisation of public gatherings. After incurring a mortgage loan, the construction works started and after just two years, in 1908, the building was opened for the town's community. On 15 August 1908 consecration of the building took place. In the building celebrations, gatherings, exhibitions and amateur theatre plays took place, it was the location of the luminous cinema-theatre which later became the "Tatra" cinema and young people of Nowy Targ exercised in the gyms of the "Falcon" building. (Photos No. 185, 253, 392, 356, 376, 384, 413) |
At the threshold of independence, in 1910 celebrations of the Battle of Grunwald anniversary took place in Nowy Targ. The whole Galicia celebrated the 500th anniversary of the great battle of the Middle Ages. The members of „Falcon” prepared for a Grunwald Jamboree in Cracow for a whole year; performances and talks were organised, drills were practiced. To crown it all, a mound was raised in the A. Mickiewicz park, close to the Czarny Dunajec river.
When the hope for independence revived , already in 1912 the first centres of Drużyny Podhalańskie began to form, a paramilitary organisation, which ideals were laid down by Feliks Gwiżdż in „Gazeta Podhalańska”: ”Drużyny Podhalańskie have very nice aims: to teach the art of shooting, sabre fighting, military parades, bicycle riding, agility, skill and presence of mind. In each such team one can also arrange educational and scientific lectures, fair entertainment and fun whose income would be designated to help the teams (...) Everyone in the nation recognized it and the Austrian government had nothing to do against. So let us form Drużyny Podhalańskie. Let us unite!” („Gazeta Podhalańska” 1913, No. 5). The „Falcon” took a leading and inspiring part in organising the Drużyny Podhalańskie: „usually in this way that they sent their Squad in different regions which was an effective example with its efficiency similar to those of the army” („Przewodnik Gimnastyczny Sokół” 1913, No. 12). Drużyny Podhalańskie solemnly transformed into the Związek Drużyn Podhalańskich on the Main Square of Nowy Targ on 4 May 1913. During the ceremony 864 comrades gave a representative military show and marched in a formation around the city. (Photo No. 536, 537) After the outbreak of World War I, Drużyny Podhalańskie were incorporated to the 2nd Brigade of the Polish Legions.
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