Julian Prejs

Julian Walenty Prejs (1820–1904), aka Sjerp-Polaczek, Polaczek-Biedaczek, Bez kosy Wojaczek, was a Polish teacher, folk writer, national activist, journalist and publisher, often called the "Father of the folk press in Pomerania".

Biography Youth years Julian was born on 13 February 1820 in Papowo Biskupie near Chełmża, then part of the Kingdom of Prussia. He was the son of Józef Kazimierz (who died in 1849), an organist and a landlord, and Anna née Paliwodzińska.

He started to receive private home lessons - including Latin taught by a Franciscan friar. He then attended the City School in Chełmno and the Toruń gymnasium from October 1835. In the summer of 1840, he went to Congress Poland territory. In 1842, Julian was admitted to the University of Wrocław, in the department of philosophy. From November 1842 to July 1843, he was a member of the Literary and Slavic Society in Wrocław. He did not complete his studies "Biedaczek" was the first periodical in the entire Pomerania aiming to shape the national consciousness of the local peasantry, the petty bourgeoisie and the commoners alike. It also touched upon the specific topics of Kashubia and Masuria.

Once settled up, Prejs intended also to set up a Polish bookshop rental in the city, as well as publishing other magazines: a humorous weekly in German, a magazine for rural farmers and a women's magazine. thanks to his links with a Toruń-based printer, Ernest Lambeck. This journal had a great importance for the local development of education.

Furthermore, on 3 March 1883, Prejs co-founded Bydgoszcz choir "Halka". He was a member of the supervisory board of the "Bank Ludowy".

He lived in Bydgoszcz for almost 40 years. He loved this town and its river Brda, he nicknamed "ubrdany", ("imagine, dream up"). His house is still preserved at 2 Terasy street.

He seldom took care of himself, spending the end of his life in poverty and in almost complete oblivion. In 1902, when Julian fell into extreme dire, appeals appeared in Poznań and Pomeranian newspapers to rescue the elderly, dying writer.

Prejs died on 2 July 1904, at the age of 84. He was buried in Bydgoszcz Starofarny Cemetery.

The funerals were attended by councilors from various parts of the country: , the publisher of gave the farewell speech.Julian Prejs devoted his entire life to preserve the Polish language at a time when the Prussian state and the German language was prevailing. was entirely renovated at the end of 2013.

Since September 2015, the journalist's former home houses the local seat of the Polish Scouting Association.

For the 200th anniversary of Julian Prejs birth, a celebration took place in February 2020, on his tombstone, in the house at 2 Terasy and at the Garrison church. It was organized by Aleksandra Poeplau (great-great-great-granddaughter of the journalist), Polish scouts and members of the "Society of Bydgoszcz city lovers".

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