Šiauliai in the Years of Freedom – History of Šiauliai

Cultural Life, which has Become an Integral Part of the History of Šiauliai

Šiaulių TIC — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 15:50:54 +0000

During the years of independence, Šiauliai immediately hastened to organize cultural communities, societies and clubs of like-minded people. The old organizations revived, new ones appeared and life came to the boil in Šiauliai. In 1920, ‘Varpas’ Society renewed its activities. A little later, it was joined by Gubernia Workers’ Club ‘Švietimasis’ (1921), the Society of Music Lovers (1926) and many others. In 1930, there were over 50 different organisations engaged in cultural and educational activities in the city, among which were ‘Kultūra’ company, the Cultural-Education Society, the Ethnographic Society, ‘Putpelė’ Society, the Free Thinkers’ Ethical Cultural Society, the Lithuanian Society of Esperantists and for liberation of Vilnius, the Lithuanian Teetotallers’ Union and others. One of the most prominent of these organizations was the liberal ‘Kultūra’ company, founded in 1920, by such prominent activists as Peliksas Bugailiškis, Kazimieras Venclauskis, Antanas Povylius, Vladimiras Zubovas, etc., the main activity of which was publishing of books and magazines. Throughout its lifetime from 1921 till 1927, the organisation issued books of 140 titles in the edition of 621200 copies. From 1923, for eighteen years, the organization was publishing the monthly magazine ‘Kultūra’ (the edition of 2000-2800 copies). Such cultural figures as Vincas Krėvė, Petras Cvirka, Kazys Boruta, Kostas Korsakas would contribute to writing of texts for this magazine. In addition to publishing, this organization also carried out considerable cultural and educational work. It organized and established over 250 cultural clubs in the whole Lithuania, uniting 3000 members. They would mostly become the cultural centres of the settlements and vicinities in which they functioned. Congresses of all clubs would take place in the central office of ‘Kultūra’ company; i.e., in Šiauliai. In 1925, company leaders took over the cinema hall of the People’s House, but left its old name. There was a place for meetings, the library with a reading room, the cinema ‘Kapitol’. Later, the People’s House also housed an amateur theatre, directed by the famous director Borisas Dauguvietis, while the production of operas and operettas was directed by composer Mikas Petrauskas. The aim of this theatre was not only to present entertainment performances to Šiauliai inhabitants but also to lay the foundations for the professional theatre and creative troupe in Šiauliai. In 1931, the first professional city theatre was created: Šiauliai division of Kaunas State Theatre. The theatre troupe staged performances and played in ‘Kapitol’ cinema, which was not suitable for that but at that time nothing more suitable was available. During the four years spent in Šiauliai, the theatre troupe played over 550 performances. In 1936, the entire institution was transferred to Klaipėda. After the loss of Klaipėda region, the theatre returned to its home town and having received permanent premises suitable for performances, did not move to any other place.

It can be stated that Šiauliai had only one artist in the interwar period but who it was. Gerardas Bagdonavičius was a painter by his profession but he was everywhere. He was one of the pioneers of exlibris in Lithuania and a proclaimer of Lithuanian variant of this form of art in the world. He painted the architectural images of Šiauliai and other cities and also illustrated various publications of that time, printed in the city. Having debuted at the exhibition in 1923, six years later, he travelled around the world’s largest cities and took part in competitions where he won awards. Often he got actively involved in the activities of the Ethnographic Society, but he also managed to try out the actor’s bread and butter. When he moved to the Russian Empire during the World War I, he played over 50 roles in the cinema and became probably the first Lithuanian film actor. He also became a photographer, viewing photography not as a craft but rather as another form of art. However, he was most dedicated for the pedagogical activity: he taught children to draw, paint and educated more than one child, who later became prominent Lithuanian artists: one of the most famous Lithuanian graphic artists, medal maker and Šiauliai resident Petras Repšys, who called him his great inspiration, painter Antanas Gudaitis, stained-glass artist Jonas Janulis, production designer Juozas Jankus, graphic artist Marcė Katiliūtė. He was a very active public representative, whom one could easily spot in the city rushing, carrying a brush or other painting tools; therefore, the nickname Penzeliukas (a small brush) stuck to him so much that even in these times many people call him namely this way. The house, designed by him with the help of architect Karolis Reisonas, still now reminds the city of the unique talent who once lived here.

The Cultural-Education Society was set up as a kind of a side project of ‘Kultūra’ company to continue its activity after it encountered financial difficulties and pressure from the institutions of central authorities. Most of ‘Kultūra’ actors were involved in its activities, including Jackus Sondeckis, Peliksas Bugailiškis, musician Juozas Naujalis. The Society continued publishing activities, initiated by ‘Kultūra’ company and led Povilas Višinskis People’s University.

The activities of the Ethnographic Society included arrangement of various ethnographic expeditions, collecting ethnographic exhibits and ethnographic materials, aimed to know the history, culture and nature of the native land. This society was led by P. Bugailiškis. The organization published the journal ‘Gimtasai kraštas’, which published articles on folklore, archaeology, ethnography and museology. In order to have a place for preservation of its activity results and collected valuable exhibits, the Society took over Šiauliai ‘Aušra’ Museum, founded in 1923, from Šiauliai county municipality. One of the main initiators and founders of the Museum was P. Bugailiškis himself. Joint activities of both organizations included organised expeditions (exhibits collected during the expeditions together with recorded photo impressions of expeditions were later presented in the exhibitions organized by the Museum), as well as collection of ethnographic material, cultural heritage and heritage protection and preservation. The ‘Aušra’ Museum itself, in addition to its direct function to protect and demonstrate cultural values to the public, also did research work, which would supplement the empirical data and theoretical material collected during ethnographic expeditions. The Museum maintained close relationships and prepared joint projects with the State Archaeological Commission, M. Čiurlionis Gallery and used modern forms of exposition display. Thanks to the employees of the Museum and the Ethnographic Society, the Museum rapidly became renowned in the country and for several years it was the largest and the most famous museum in Lithuania.

There were several printing houses in Šiauliai. In 1919, B. Fridman’s printing house was founded. After the change of the owner, it changed its name to ‘Lietpress’, and still later, in 1932, it went to ‘Viltis’ Society and once again changed its name to ‘Viltis’; after a few years it was transferred to Kaunas. The establishment of this first interwar printing house was followed by the establishment of other three, the operation of which was much more stable, because their owners were not changing so often, and all of them remained in Šiauliai until they closed: in 1920, Salomas Savičius’s and Boruchas Šumkauskas’s printing house, later renamed to ‘Grafika’; in 1923, ‘Titnagas’ printing house, founded in Jonas Šliūpas’s house; Maizeniusas’s printing house ‘Spauda’, which operated still in Tsarist Russia, reconstructed its premises and continued its activities. The main activity area of these institutions was publication of periodicals. Book publishing matters belonged to ‘Kultūra’ company, ‘Viltis’ and Cultural-Education Societies and Šiauliai Union of Consumer Companies. Sometimes books were published by private persons, such as J. Šliūpas, who published his works in his private ‘Titangas’ printing house. The peculiarities of periodical press came to prominence. In the beginning; i.e., in 1919-1928, the left-wing press prevailed in public; while since 1928, the right-wing national and Catholic press, showing political approaches of President Antanas Smetona and the direction of the state.

The establishment of ‘Putpelė’ Society was mainly initiated by the then actor and later one of the most famous and talented Lithuanian film directors Juozas Miltinis, Česlovas Liutikas, Kazimieras Venclauskis’s daughter Danutė Venclauskaitė and Peliksas Bugailiškis. The majority of the founders were members of the Ethnographic Society. ‘Putpelė’ Society established a male orchestra under the direction of composer Bronius Jonušas, which in the length of time became the orchestra touring around the whole of Lithuania.

Another organization established in Šiauliai, which became a phenomenon that rapidly gained popularity in the whole Lithuania, was The Freethinkers’ Ethical Culture Society founded by J. Šliūpas and like-minded people, which in 1930, moved to Kaunas, leaving its division in Šiauliai. From the very beginning, the Freethinkers were known as a group fighting with the official public opinion and inveterate dogmas: they sought to introduce the civil registry system, to separate the school and the church from the state, to spread liberal views, free from military policy and fascism propaganda, when these phenomena began to strengthen and come to prominence throughout all of Europe.

During the interwar period, many cinemas were established because Šiauliai people liked going to the cinema a lot. Only in 1927-1928, cinemas ‘Lyra’, ‘Mars’ and ‘Rekord’ were opened; a year later, ‘Kapitol’; still a year later, ‘Triumf’ and ‘Palas’ (formerly ‘Spindulys’). In 1929-1930, in total there were 7 cinemas in the city and county. In 1932, the most up-to-date establishment of this kind ‘Skendit Palace’ with a 500-seat hall was opened in Šiauliai. The cinema of the People’s House and ‘Kapitol’ cinema were the most popular and were constantly competing.

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Renginys Šiaulių Parodos aikštėje.

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Šiaulių dramos teatro pastatas.

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Šiaulių Aušros muziejaus pastatas Aušros alėjos gatvėje.

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Ch. Frenkelio vila.

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Education – the City’s Main Priority

Šiaulių TIC — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 15:40:53 +0000

Already at the beginning of independence, the employees of the municipality in authority very well understood the importance of education. This is primarily apparent from the funds allocated for the revival of this sector. Here, Šiauliai undoubtedly had the lead among other cities of Lithuania: budget allocation for education in Šiauliai was almost twice larger than that in the temporary capital of Lithuania, Kaunas. Primary schools that were closed during the war were started to be expeditiously restored. Šiauliai Municipality initiated and put efforts to make primary education obligatory and free, accessible to everyone both in the city and the whole Lithuania. Progymnasiums for national minorities – Jews and Germans – provided four-grade primary education in native languages. The activities of Šiauliai Gymnasium were renewed as early as before the end of the First World War. The city’s Gymnasium, which was revived in the years of independence, was mixed for some time, but in 1928, based on the decision of the Ministry of Education, it was divided into previously existing separate boys’ and girls’ gymnasia. The Boys’ Gymnasium provided intensified courses of economics, exact sciences and classical languages; while the Girls’, foreign languages. The Jewish community gymnasium was maintained for the private funds of the community organization at the home of industrialists brothers Nurokai. There used to be various courses for adult teachers, technicians and civil servants who wished to acquire secondary education. These courses originated the establishment of the adult gymnasium in 1921.

In addition to traditional, public education institutions, special schools were established: the School of Music, founded in 1929, in the building housing the company of American Lithuanians in Dvaro street; the School of Commerce, which from 1936 was educating accountants and salesmen so needed for Šiauliai as the centre of industry and trade; the Secondary School of Crafts, which from 1926, educated specialists of two fields: joiners and leather industry specialists; the Teachers’ Seminary, established in 1920, in the former counts Zubovai manor. The latter is to be considered the first higher education institution in Šiauliai, educating teachers for the whole education system of Lithuania. In 1939, Klaipėda Trade Institute, moved from Klaipėda to Šiauliai, became the city’s second higher education institution. Šiauliai Trade Institute was spread in three places of the city: Tautininkai house, the Teachers’ Seminary, and later, also in the newly built post office. It educated highly qualified specialists who were needed for the growing needs of Šiauliai city: transport, trade, industry, credit institutions, banks, insurance specialists.

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Mokytojų seminarijos pastatas (Zubovų rūmai).

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Šiaulių berniukų gimnazija.

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Šiaulių mergaičių gimnazija.

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Mokytojų seminarijos pastatas (Zubovų rūmai).

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Žydų mokyklos mokiniai Ch. Frenkelio vilos kieme prie fontano.

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Šiaulių žydų gimnazijos pastatas.

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Mokytojų seminarijos pastatas (Zubovų rūmai).

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The Contribution of Šiauliai Jews to the City’s Industrial and Financial Activities

Šiaulių TIC — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 15:32:27 +0000

After the war, the industry quickly recovered reaching the level of the pre-war period, as there were active representatives of the Jewish community in the city. In principal, their active manufacturing and trading activities formed the city’s productive capacity and economic guidelines.

Activities of Ch.Frenkelis, brothers Nurokai, Rogalinai and Choronžickiai tanneries were renewed. By competing, they could both oppose each other as equivalent factories and unite in a cartel, which was able to regulate production prices and the amount needed for the domestic market, when Lithuania was affected by the world crisis at the end of the third decade of the 20^th century.

After the war, the city’s textile industry grew particularly rapidly, as it was planned to turn Šiauliai into the centre of Lithuanian flax processing industry. In 1920, the flax factory ‘Semlin’, founded by Leiba Bernštein, which employed about 2000 employees during a season, arose. In 1932, brothers Joselis and Mendelis Abramsonai set up even three flax processing factories: ‘Litlin’, ‘Litverp’ and ‘Virvolit’. ‘Audiniai’ enterprise, which produced cotton, linen and wool fabrics, matched these factories. This factory greatly influenced further development of the Lithuanian textile industry.

Inter-war industrial and trade activities were credited by Jewish banks: Š. Nurokas’s bank house, I. Choronžickis’s bank, and the Commercial bank. They provided services to private persons, but primarily to large enterprises, trade establishments, various associations, and the city municipality. For example, Š. Nurokas’s bank house mainly financed the activities of Nurokai factory, etc.

In addition to factories, there were enough trade enterprises and shops in the city. Most of them belonged to Jews and were known for the fact that usually the goods did not have prices, as all shopping in such places was a matter of everlasting negotiations between the buyer and the seller. Usually these institutions were set up in the city centre, around one of the most visited places – the cinema ‘Kapitol’.

Due to Jewish entrepreneurship, Šiauliai quickly not only restored its industry and trade to the pre-Tsarist period but also overtook it.

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Ch. Frenkelio fabrikas nuo Prūdelio pusės.

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Šiaulių Didžioji Choralinė sinagoga, vadinta Baltąja gulbe.

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Development of Public Services in the City

Šiaulių TIC — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 18:53:23 +0000

The municipality introduced new hygiene rules in the city: the residents had to build garbage bins at their houses and dig slop pits, constantly clean their streets and yards. Not only the inhabitants and factories, but also other enterprises had to stay clean. All of it was constantly inspected by municipal sanitary commissions. They also checked the level of cleanliness of laundries, baths, canteens, confectioner’s shops, restaurants and hotels. The city authorities forbade the sale of raw meat and herring in markets during the warm season, and the food sold had to be covered and protected from flies and dust.

Innovations emerged in the field of medical services provision. In 19030-1934, Jew Semion Volpert built a house and founded a clinic on its second floor, which was one of the first clinics not only in Lithuania but also in Latvia and Estonia that had an X-ray machine. Jewish hospital founded as early as the middle of the 19^th century in the city centre was also significant: in the interwar period, it was equipped with the entire complex to meet the treatment needs, consisting of a pharmacy, a chemical laboratory, premises for storage of inventory, and a laundry room.

From 1872, fire protection for the city was provided by a voluntary fire brigade supported by the city authorities. In 1928, it already had 50 members, 2 fire trucks with all necessary fire fighting equipment, 2 motorised water pumps and a pair of horses. Its building was built near the buildings of the city municipality, at the address Gaisrininkų St. 3, which survived to this day. But this was not the only fire fighting team. In addition to the tannery, Ch. Frenkelis, could also flaunt his private electric power plant and his own fire fighters’ brigade, established in 1908, consisting of 30 fire fighters who were factory workers. In addition to these, there were 4 more teams in the city, which were subordinate to other enterprises, making the total of 250 fire fighters. Therefore, Šiauliai, which was known for its frequent fires, could breathe easier in the interwar period: there were fires but not many and they would not cause such serious consequences as before.

There were repressive structures in the city too: the court, local police and the prison, which began functioning in 1911, intended to maintain order, provide protection for innocent civilians and to protect law.

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Šiaulių Gaisrininkų draugijos valdybos liudijimas, išduotas Baracevičiui Jonui apie buvimą gaisrininkų draugijos komandos nariu.

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Šiaulių akių, ausų, nosies ir gerklės gydytojo J. Gintylos receptas ir G. Zilbermano optikos bei fotografijos dalykų reklaminis lapelis.

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Šiaulių telefono stoties abonento kvitas Fledžinskui.

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Šiaulių apskrities savivaldybės akių ligoninės vedėjo J.Prialgausko akinių receptas, išrašytas Žukui Juozui.

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Jokūbo Frenkelio kvietimas Sondeckiui atvykti į fabriką, kuriame bus rengiamas fabriko gaisrininkų komandos dvidešimties metų gyvavimo jubiliejus.

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Ch. Frenkelio vila.

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Lietuvos banko pastatas Šiauliuose.

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Senasis pašto pastatas Šiauliuose.

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External Changes of Šiauliai City

Šiaulių TIC — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 18:30:32 +0000

It can be stated that the damage made by occupations to the city was beneficial: it was an impetus to start the renovation of the city’s infrastructure. Šiauliai municipality started promoting the city’s inhabitants to build two-three-storey brick buildings in the city centre. At the same time, old buildings that did not match the newly developed image were demolished. This way the city centre was cleared out of wooden straw-roofed buildings, initiating the development of the picture of the modern city. St. Peter and Paul’s Orthodox Church also appeared among the buildings to be demolished as it did not match the spirit of that period. After the land plot belonging to this church was taken over by the municipality, it was dismantled and moved to another place so that the square located in its former place could be later attached to the newly formed central square of the city. Markets in Šiauliai used to be in two places of the city: near the city’s slaughterhouse, where the so-called horse market would rally (people traded in animals, fodders, firewood, etc.) and near the city’s main market square, where food and other products were sold in the so-called ‘bobturgis’ (women’s market). Since old times, the main market was located in the very heart of the city, on the square near St. Peter and Paul’s Church, which was very unacceptable for the authorities because this was spoiling the aesthetic image of the modernizing city. No place for the market was found in the newly constructed central city square and the market was moved further away from the centre. Since then, the city centre has had place only for the city’s public events and for the events of state significance.

This way, the creation of new public spaces was begun in Šiauliai. Another such public space was given to the municipality as a gift from the local industrialist count Vladimiras Zubovas. It was his Didždvaris park, which, slightly extended turned into the city’s garden or the place where townspeople and guests could spend their free time. It was equipped with two tennis courts open to townspeople and guests.

A number of architectural monuments were presented to the city by talented architects Karolis Reisonas and Vladas Bitė, who lived in Šiauliai in the interwar period and were modern visionaries of their generation. Their most prominent buildings of the interwar period were the buildings of the county municipality, patient funds, the post office, the district court, Bronius Poška’s block of flats, Antanas Juška’s house, the new building of Šiauliai ‘Aušra’ Museum on Aušra Avenue, etc. The city was both reconstructed and modernized: new streets were built and the old ones were broadened, sewage and water supply pipes, telephone lines were laid, electrical wires were equipped. The municipality was discussing where to get enough electricity to meet the city’s needs and decided that the capacity of the private power plant that belonged to Ch. Frenkelis’s enterprise would be insufficient. Then the decision was made to build a thermal power station. This was done by the company of American Lithuanians under the order of city authorities. The company leased the right to use this power plant to the municipality, which eventually took over full control of the power plant. The thermal power station, built in Bačiūnai, near Lake Rėkyva, generated energy that was sufficient both for the needs of Šiauliai (illuminated streets, squares, electrified buildings) and Radviliškis, located nearby. After several years, when one more power station near Lake Rėkyva sprang, there was enough energy not only for Šiauliai but also for the whole region, and due to developed electrification capacities electricity for Šiauliai inhabitants became the cheapest in all Lithuania.

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Laisvės aikštė (dabartinė Prisikėlimo aikštė) nuo Šiaulių katedros bokšto.

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Laisvės aikštė (dabartinė Prisikėlimo aikštė).

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Šiaulių miesto centro vaizdas.

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Telefono linijos tiesimo darbai.

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Aušros alėjos vaizdas.

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Turgaus aikštė.

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Po karo sugriauto Šiaulių miesto atstatymo darbai.

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The Importance of the City for the Newly Created State

Šiaulių TIC — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 18:22:47 +0000

After the First World War, it did not take long for Šiauliai to stand on its feet, and the city’s inhabitants were among the most active creators of the foundations for the internal life and politics of the new state. Šiauliai self-governance was firm, rallying politicians who well knew their aim and had the vision, such as lawyer Kazimieras Venclauskis who had already acquired considerable experience in self-governance still in the years of occupation and who became the first burgomaster of the city and formed the guidelines for self-governance policy; cultural and social activist Antanas Mikševičius, who chaired the management board of Šiauliai cultural society ‘Varpas’ before the war; economist Jackus Sondeckis, who always remaining loyal to social democratic values, greatly improved the city’s health and social situation and laid down the city’s further development guidelines.

The geographical position of Šiauliai again became the reason for its prosperity. In 1923, when the Republic of Lithuania incorporated Klaipėda area, at last it had a port that could be used for trade; thus, the state had to immediately connect Klaipėda and its port with the rest of Lithuania, and Šiauliai as a connecting point became strategically very important. The railway lines were soon built from Šiauliai to Telšiai, and later, via the later, to Kretinga and Klaipėda. Šiauliai tradesmen turned towards Klaipėda through which the relationships with foreign traders were established and there was no need to use the services of Riga port as before.

The improving economic situation boosted the rapid growth of the city. Soon, nearby former settlements were connected, such as the territories of Ginkūnai, Aleksandrija and Gubernija manors, previously ruled by counts the Zubovai, increasing the area of the city more than twice. The residents, who were hiding abroad and in the depth of Russia from the horrors of war, returned. The national composition of the townsmen changed considerably. Still in 1909, the population census data showed that more than half of the townsmen were Jews, while the Russian community was only slightly smaller than that of Lithuanians, but the population census of 1923 showed that the Jewish community declined by half, while Russian representatives almost disappeared. At that time, Lithuanians made up two thirds of the city’s population.

Before the war, Šiauliai was famous for a large group of intellectuals who actively fostered cultural, educational and public activities. Even Kaunas, which at that time did not rally such a large group of enlightened persons, could envy the number and personalities of Šiauliai intellectuals. Unfortunately, Šiauliai did not manage to retain these people during the interwar period. They were tempted to move to the temporary capital to form the core of the professors of the newly established University of Lithuania (the future Vytautas Magnus University) and contribute to the creation of the administrative apparatus of the state. These were such prominent public figures and educators as Jonas Šliūpas, Mykolas and Vaclovas Biržiškos, Kazys and Stasys Šalkauskai, Kipras Bielinis, Rapolas Skipitis, and Vladas Požela. Even after such intellectuals’ loss, Šiauliai managed to preserve part of the intelligentsia, which, led by burgomaster J. Sondeckis and lawyer K. Vencliauskis, even having lost its former associates (most of them, like the ones who left, were social democrats and left-wing representatives), significantly contributed to the restoration of the city, which achieved its prosperity in fourth decade of the 20^th century, under the rule of strong burgomasters J. Sondeckis and Juozas Valančius. Under the rule of the latter, in 1931-1938, nice modernist buildings arose, the infrastructure of the city – sanitation, telecommunications and electricity networks – was developed.

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Pocių namai. Pastato antrame aukšte buvo įsikūręs Piliečių klubas.

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Venclauskių namai.

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