Until 1873, the city of Szczecin had the status of a fortress, which significantly limited its development. After the change of this status, there was a period of development of industry (mainly shipbuilding), rail transport and dynamic expansion of the city.
Johannes Quistorp, the son of the royal commissioner, played a huge part in this process. In Szczecin, he served a year of military service, after which he stayed here until the end of his life. Johannes Quistorp turned out to be the providential man of Szczecin – then Stettin. He opened a portland cement factory, which was a hit in the construction market. He also commissioned the construction of a shipyard for the production of ships. He opened a steelworks and a place to produce barrels. He made a fortune but generously shared it with others.
He cared about his employees very much. He was the first to take care of their social needs. Many buildings and urban solutions serve the inhabitants of Szczecin to this day. Kasprowicz Park, the areas of the Arkoński forest, villa estates in Pogodno and Łękno, Jasne Błonia – the building of the magistrate – or Syrenie Stawy. Despite his huge fortune, he chose a modest place for his burial, located in the heart of the “Bethanien” complex, among doctors, nuns and the poor. That is where the Square of the Quistorp Family is located.
On the 200th anniversary of the birth of the doyen of philanthropists, the Pomeranian Library has prepared an exhibition that contains many interesting exhibits of our beautiful city’s history. Photographs, postcards, documents – this is a collection worth seeing and comparing, what has remained to this day of the activities of an extremely important family of Szczecin.
https://www.ksiaznica.szczecin.pl/wydarzenia/single/id/2138
