From the north the town is surrounded by the Gorce Mountains, with mellow, wooded slopes out of which appear amazing clearings opening broadly to the sun. And if Zakopane was shaped on the basis of tourism in the Tatra Mountains, Nowy Targ inspired and laid the foundations of the tourism in Gorce. In 1873 at the Herza Hotel the foundators of the Galician Tatra Society, which was a forerunner of the Tatra Society, met. In the years 1913-14 the Nowy Targ Division of the Tatra Society was created under the name "Gorce", which contributed greatly to the creation and popularization of tourism (esp. winter tourism) in Gorce. Ski excursions organized by Zygmunt Wasiewicz and later Mariusz Zaruski usually to Turbacz enjoyed great popularity. (Photos No. 407, 452) Turbacz was also a favourite destination of hikes. (Photo No. 467, 466)

The Nowy Targ Division of „Gorce” undertook the construction of a mountain lodge on the slopes of Turbacz, which was built in 1924 on the Wisielakówka Clearing. Soon it turned out that it is too small to service the growing number of tourists so in 1929 it was expanded according to a project submitted by K. Stryjeński and in 1931 significantly rebuilt to accommodate 62 people. (Photo No. 515) During a winter ski excursion in 1925 Tadeusz Zwoliński took a wonderful picture of the lodge. (Photos No. 516, 573) Unfortunately, in 1933 the lodge on the Wisielakówka Clearing was burnt in a fire set probably by poachers of thieves of wood who were disturbed by the increased number of people and a higher degree of supervision in forests. (Photo No. 470, 472, 474) Determined and indefatigable activists of the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society PTTK „Gorce” undertook the great effort of building a new lodge on the Hala Długa slope of Turbacz. (465, 468, 469, 464) It was put it into service before the outbreak of World War II. (Photo No. 471) But this building was not lucky as well, in 1943 it was burnt by the Germans in revenge for the activity of guerrillas of the Home Army.

Free time is also the time devoted to the common good. You can find interesting pictures presenting high school students in the spirit of a civil duty working by the construction of an airport and a sports stadium. (Photo No. 530, 531)

And at the end, a little out of focus but a very beautiful photograph. (Photo No. 370) St. Anne Street with wooden houses, the patron's figure is perfectly exposed with the background of tree leaves and a graveyard wall visible in the right upper corner of the picture, reminding of all those that passed away. An opened carriage driven by an elegant coachman wearing a bowler hat and white gloves, with a woman and a man inside, smiling, an important couple for sure as they enter the town accompanied by highlanders on horses and crowds of people on the street which may tell us about the importance of this event. Two female farmers in traditional scarves on their heads exchange their opinions, their faces show that this is something nice and respectful; a host supported on a wooden board, probably took a break from work; some boys led by curiosity sitting on the nearby trees, so as not to miss anything from the delicious view, in the foreground hats of men and pigtails of girls. A one interesting, though accidental glance of a young man straight to the photographer's lens. However technically imperfect, this picture is very moving. Slightly blurry, which makes it even more dynamic. It is also the essence of photography, recording a moment that would never be repeated, that would disappear like all the other moments, views, faces and events in the stream of time, still aiming forward, indifferent to human attempts to stop it.

Anna Majorczyk