Shadows of a Forgotten World

In Vienna, at almost every step there is an old manhole cover or storm drain. Fortunately, most include a date along with the manufacturer's mark, and this is true even for modern ones. Valve cover from 1898 Below square storm drains ranging from 1896 to 1957, posted in chronological order.

Pre-Soviet manhole covers in Ivano-Frankivsk (Stanisławów) From an interview with Tadeusz Olszański about Stanisławów: “The Soviet government did everything possible to erase all traces of Polish culture. Churches and synagogues were destroyed. Our cities fell to ruin…The Soviets, however, failed to obliterate many traces of Polish culture. I was moved to discover the inscription Jaworski & Sons on manhole covers and street lamps, on the iron benches in parks. And in many different places, which have been carefully restored by the city.” First two: R. Jawowski i Synowie  Stanisławów "Fabryka Maszyn Br. Biskupscy sa w Kołomyi"  ( Biskupski Brothers Machine Factory in Kołomyia) One of the brothers was Lublin Biskupski (1840-1916), a soldier of the January Uprising and later owner of a machine factory in Kołomyja, industrialist, and merchant.

An old storm drain in Uzhhorod, most likely from the interwar period. An old fire hydrant in Uzhhorod from 1930. 1930

Unlike the sewer manhole covers, many of the storm drains have dates. The oldest storm drains date to 1902; there are also many from the late 1930s, especially 1939. It seems even during Austrian times the Polish name of Lviv was used, as seen in storm drain from with inscription Ed. Machan Lwow 1902. Kolomyja - city where cover was manufactured. Some of the same manufacturers made both manhole covers and storm drains, such as Ed. Machan Lwow, A. Kunz Lwow, and Słowik.