Old orphanage in Helenówek, Historical orphanage site in Bałuty Zachodnie, Łódź, Poland
The Old Orphanage in Helenówek is a brick structure at Krajowa Street 15 built with the typical early 20th-century design of an institutional facility. Rectangular windows and a symmetrical layout define its outward appearance to this day.
The facility began as a Jewish orphanage, with Chaim Rumkowski playing a leading role before World War II. After the war, the building operated under different names and purposes while retaining its connection to the region's history.
After 1945, the building provided shelter for young survivors who had lost their families during the war years. The site became a gathering place for communities seeking healing and new beginnings.
The building is located near central Łódź in the Bałuty Zachodnie neighborhood and can be viewed from the street. The structure is in a deteriorating state, so extra caution should be taken and entry inside is not possible.
The building was known by several different names and served various purposes: first as a Jewish orphanage, then as the House of the Child, and finally as a Government Youth Building. This sequence tells the story of shifts and transformations in the region throughout the 20th century.
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