
- Go to the article
- Go to the gallery
- Download the PDF file (in Polish) with the article about Marywil, published in Yearbook of Securities History
Marywil - A history mosaic
by Tomasz Staniszewski
OVERVIEW
The economic history of Poland is replete with forgotten companies and factories that once played a vital, if not pivotal, role in their respective regions and the country as a whole. Recalling their histories, the entrepreneurs who founded and developed them, their economic ties, and the conditions under which they operated is not only a duty for historians and enthusiasts of economic history but also a tribute to the vast industrial tradition that has been present on Polish lands for over 200 years.
The history of the MARYWIL company exemplifies the fortunes of businesses that had to navigate partitions, revolutions, world wars, crises, booms, and economic transformations. MARYWIL was a joint-stock company, initially owned by Belgian capital and later by Polish private capital. After nationalization, it became state-owned and ultimately failed as a state enterprise.
The more than a century-long history of the MARYWIL Factory is a testament to the efforts of several generations of entrepreneurs who believed in the success of their endeavors. The fate of the factory itself and the people associated with it is inextricably linked to the times in which they lived. Unfortunately, periods of success were often interspersed with difficult times. External factors beyond the factory's control, such as wars, economic crises, systemic changes, and economic transformations, were decisive in determining MARYWIL's success or failure. Whenever there was relative stability in the operating environment, the factory itself achieved success, regardless of its ownership form at the time.
The full text of the study on Marywil in English is currently being prepared. Below is a gallery of exhibits showcasing the history of the MARYWIL Factory:
See the gallery