Vul. Dudaieva, 08 – Lviv State University of Physical Education building

 The Sokil Gymnastics Society appeared in Lviv sometime during 1866-67 through the efforts of Klemens Żukotyńcki and LudwykGoltenthal; it elected Józef Milleret as its first chairman (Cepnik, 1907, 11-13, 16, 27; Michalski, 1998, 458; Wolańczyk, 1927, 31). Its chief objectives included conducting lessons in gymnastics, wrestling, and voice (Vatseba, 1997, 15; Statut, 1867). Among its earliest instructors were Stanisław Szytyliński and Ludwik Holtental, who taught gymnastics; Marie Achilles, who taught fencing; and Wenant Piasiecki, who laid the foundation that would develop into a full-fledged gymnastics school (Michalski, 1998, 458 ; Toporkowicz, 1987, 79-80).

At the beginning, Sokil didn’t have its own facility and used available space at the F. Barkody therapeutic-gymastics institute, and later at the Rifle Society located on Kurkova Street (Michalski, 1998, 458). These arrangements continued until 1883, as the Sokil Society had not yet started on the construction of a home of its own. Jan Dobrzański, then chairman of the society, worked tirelessly to organize and fund the endeavor (Michalski, 1998, 458). In response to his petitions, the Lviv Magistrate (city government) set aside a plot of land at the crossroads of Zymorovych (currently, Dudaev) and Sliusarska (later, Sokola; currently, Kovchun) Streets. Financial support for the construction of the gymnastic society facility was provided by the Galician Savings Bank (Przewodnik Gimnastyczny, 1881, 5, 39). Władysław Halicki was the architect who drew up the project in 1883, and the architect Alfred Kamienobrodzki helped get construction underway (Lviv Architecture, 2008, 314; Trehubova & Mykh, 1989, 185; Architektura Lwow, 1997, 82; Michalski, 1998, 458-459).

The first gymnastics competition at the new Sokil premises was held on December 2^nd, 1884, with participants performing in its spacious, new, 377 m² gymnasium (Dziędzielewicz, 1899, 7). The society endeavored to get physical education into school curriculums, initiated a training program for physical education instructors, started a publishing program aimed at popularizing physical exercise, and secured the support of the Ministry of Education and the Regional School District Council (Nowak, 1991, 9). Among the school’s early, notable instructors are Edward Majewski, Antoni Durski, and Edmund Cenar.

The rapid growth of the society’s popularity necessitated the expansion of its educational and athletics program. Added were track and field, soccer, equestrian sports, all demanding additional, suitable facilities. The original Sokil premises on Khoruschyn Street could no longer handle the growing needs of the school, and so in 1906, Alfred Kamienobrodzki drew up the design for a new facility to be built at 11 Sokil (Kovzhun) Street, adjacent to original structure (Lviv State Archives, 2/1/7129; Lviv Architecture, 2008, 315). The Society occupied the premises until 1939. In 1946 the Lviv Institute of Physical Culture took over the use and operation of the facility.