History of  Jakuszyce

Jakuszyce (in 1825 Jakobstale, then Jakobsthal or Jakobstal) are the highest part of Szklarska Poreba and are located on the road from Harrahov to the south. This road is a very convenient, shortest connection between Wroclaw and Praga. In Jakuszyce this road goes over Kamienna River which begins from spring near Mumlawski Wierch. The soft soil (peat bogs) gives the water characteristic brown color.  In Kamienna Valley which divides Karkonosze and Izerskie Mountains, there is a place called Bagnisko and there Kamienna River change the course from north to west. Near Walonski Kamien the river forms a “fork”. In XV century this place was described by Antonio de Medici as an area where water runs under a sheet of moss. When one will pickup the layer of moss, gold pieces will be find there, some as big as a coin.
To the south of Jakuszyce there is a stream Zlotnik, which indicates that those places were exploited by a gold and precious stones  diggers. Jakuszyce area has also medows with abundance of pharmacological herbs.
A small settlement was established in Jakuszyce in XIX century. On the beginning it was a forester lodge, to overlook for estate of Schaffgotsch family. This establishment grew  since the road was built from Piechowice to Harrahov in 1845-1848, because of opening the Glass Factory  “ Jozefina” in 1842. ( from 1956- Huta Julia).
In 1902 railroad connected Piechowice, (through Szklarska Poreba), Jakuszyce, Harrahov and Tanvald. This was highest existed railroad in Prussia and the one of first to be electrified. Unfortunately, during the winter months, trains were stoped sometimes for a few days.
At the end of XIX century there were projects to build a railroad between Szklarska Poreba, Jakuszyve, Orle and small settlement called Wielka Izera. This project was never done, because the railroad will have to cross large area of marshes which is very dangerous.
With time Jakuszyce became a known border crossing point which increased the tourism.
In 1894 in Jakuszyce there were 3 houses and 2 forester lodges. One of the lodge, (today’s Gospoda Graniczna “Bombaj”), built on higher elevation had a small restaurant.Those lodges were built in typical Karkonosze and Izerskie Mtn style: wooden constraction on a stone base. In 1922 Bombaj  was reconstructed and had a small hotel rooms upstairs. There were some sheperds huts in the area and they were remodeled for a resorts as Katzensteinbaude, Proxenbaude and Friedrichbaude. Because of big snow fall during the winter, the end of XIX century brought increased interest in skiing. This tradition is continuing today by Bieg Piastow Organization, which sponsors many skiing events in the area.
Important point in Jakuszyce was a small train station on elevation 871 m over sea level, 31 meters higher than station in Zakopane.  In 1925 between train station and forester lodge, a small school was built for 30 students and apartament for a teacher. This school was designed by W. Prufer, architect living in Szklarska Poreba. He also designed a jump ski ramp on Owcze Skaly. In 1910 in Jakuszyce lived 90 people, in 1933 – 120 people.
On the other side of the road to Harrahov existed small custom building. In the Twenties this building was remodeled and has a restaurant and Biatlon Center. Near this was a big stone with inscription in German: “2791 F. uber dem Meeresspiegel” – 2791 m above the sea level. When German army attacted  Czechoslowakia in 1938, one of the road they used was the road through Szklarska Poreba /Jakuszyce and on the border this army was greeting by German from Sudety.
After the war, in 1945 , Jakuszyce, as apart of Szklarska Poreba, became a part of Poland