History of the structure

The exact time of construction of the former “Rolnik” Cooperative buildings is unknown. The buildings were probably erected in the 4th quarter of the 19th century, when the remnants of the town’s fortifications were removed as they were considered unsuitable for military purposes. The “Rolnik” Cooperative of Supply and Sales was opened in 1920. At that time its director was Paweł Marquardt. It was a very popular place among the inhabitants of neighbouring villages, where they could sell crops on favourable terms and buy fertilizers or tools for agricultural production. Among other things, the cooperative facilitated the purchase of machinery on more favourable terms than those offered by analogous German cooperatives. In 1930 the Union of Polish Cooperatives organized a legal, economic and tax advisory service in the “Rolnik” cooperative in Opole, at the same time publishing a supplement to Nowiny Codzienne: Nasza Poradnia Gospodarcza – Prawna – Podatkowa.

Description of the structure

The building of the “Rolnik” cooperative, which is part of a complex of buildings on the grounds belonging to the University of Opole, was located at Kominka Street, in the central part of the town, in close proximity to the town square and the cathedral church. Adjacent to the building on the southeast side is the former Nowiny Publishing House, which now houses the university’s offices. It is a brick, plastered building built on an elongated rectangular floor plan, which constitutes the northern part of a two-winged building, adjacent to the eastern wing and together forming an L-shape. The front elevation - two-bay, has preserved the old division into two buildings connected with gables. In the western part of the elevation, the first two axes are stepped back, with a single-storey annex in the ground floor, housing the main entrance. A contemporary added third storey level extending well beyond the face of the building. The distinctive accent of the front elevation is the inscription below, between the first and second storeys: “Agricultural Products - Fertilizers - Seeds/ Agricultural Machines/ Rolnik/ Landes - produkte Düngemittel Sämerein/ Landw. Maschinen”, placed in a rectangular strip on a green background. The elevation is characterized by a sixteen-axis division, with window openings in a strip pattern. The eastern part of the elevation, stepped back, is three-storey, separated by a strip of cornice above the first story. The thirteen-axis rear elevation is characterized by tree-section strip windows, with the exception of axis 11, where there are windows with cross divisions. Topped with a flat roof covered with tar paper. Inside, there is a three-route layout with three entrances and two staircases; the middle route consists of communication corridors.

Visitor access: The monument is open to visitors.

Author: Katarzyna Latocha, Regional Branch of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Opole, 14-06-2018

Bibliography

• Record sheet of monuments of architecture and construction. Zespół budynków, compiled by Elżbieta Molak, 1998.
• Lesiuk W., Życie polskie w Opolu. Między wojnami [in:] Opole. Monografia miasta, ed. W. Dziewulski, F. Hawranek, Opole, 1975.