Kulturalny zakątek Bachowic

A CULTURAL HUB IN BACHOWICE: THE HISTORY OF THE FOUNDING AND ACTIVITIES OF THE FARMERS’ CLUB IN BACHOWICEBetween 1964 and 1973, Klub Rolnika (The Farmers’ Club) operated in Bachowice; it was commonly referred to by locals as the ‘club-café’, whilst in some official documents it was known as ‘Relax’. It was run under the auspices of the ‘Samopomoc Chłopska’ Communal Cooperative in Spytkowice. The driving force behind its establishment was Edward Balonek, a man with an artistic soul, exceptional sensitivity, creativity and an unconventional outlook on the world. It was possible to reconstruct the Club’s activities thanks to the diary-chronicle preserved by Bożena Cholewa. It was in this diary that Edward Balonek and other members described the activities and events in which they took part. Furthermore, the following proved to be helpful sources of information: reports on the Club’s activities held at the State Archives in Katowice – the Bielsko-Biała Branch; Edward Balonek’s personnel file kept at the Spytkowice Municipal Office Archives; and the recollections of Bachowice residents. The article concludes with a profile of Mr Edward Balonek. Based on the available documents and the recollections of his friends, a picture emerges of a man with an exceptionally colourful personality and a remarkable life story. He was a community activist who was able to channel his many passions – artistic, organisational and craft-related – into activities that brought the local community together. Above all, however, he is remembered by the residents as a kind and selfless man. He was a true friend to many of them.