History of Petrozavodsk - foundation, development, emergence and interesting facts

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

The history of Petrozavodsk is interesting and full of events. In less than 300 years of existence, it has gone through three stages of development: a factory settlement, a provincial town, and the capital of the republic. Each time the city changed not only its status, but also its face and architectural appearance.

How did Karelia live before?

Life on the shores of Lake Onega, where the Lososinka River flows into it, flowed in its peaceful course. The peasants of the Shuisky churchyard conquered land from the forest for arable land, collected a poor, northern crop, and by the spring, when grain supplies ran out, they ground the tree bark along with the zhit. They hunted, caught fish that spawned up the strong, turbulent Lososinka River.

The metallurgical craft was also known in these places, the deposits of raw materials were explored by their ancestors. Very distant ancestors, which is confirmed by archaeological excavations. Not far from Petrozavodsk, the remains of a workshop from the second millennium BC were found. And in the 17th century, the first private metallurgical plants began their work in Zaonezhye. In the 80s for sale abroad localindustrialists took out 10 thousand pounds of iron.

During the Northern War, which was led by Peter I for the entry of Russian ships into the Barents Sea, Karelia was in the vicinity of hostilities, starting in 1700 (for 20 years). Small factories did not have time to provide the troops with guns and cannonballs. Having assessed the possibilities of the region, Peter I decided to create here the center of the metallurgical industry and shipbuilding of the northern region.

Construction of the Petrovsky Plant

The history of the emergence of Petrozavodsk begins from this moment. First, there was the Shuisky churchyard, in which the builders lived, and then the workers of the state-owned arms factory. They put it at the confluence of the Lososinka River into Lake Onega. The foundation was laid in 1703. Alexander Menshikov, loyal to the tsar and efficient in business, was appointed as the manager, the Moscow master Yakov Vlasov erected the plant. Several more enterprises were founded next.

Shuysky plant, which was built at a very fast pace, was well guarded. The territory was surrounded by a rampart, on which guns were installed. The guns consisted of a special factory garrison, which could repulse the enemy in the event of an attack.

The enterprise under construction was called Shuisky. When the first blast furnaces started operating in early 1704, it was renamed Petrovskoe. A wharf was built to ship the manufactured cannons and cannonballs. The plant very quickly earned full capacity, becoming the largest metallurgical and weapons plant in Russia.

Factory Village Development

History of development of Petrozavodskcontinued. In the first 10 years of operation of the enterprise, Petrovskaya Sloboda becomes the most densely populated village in the Olonets district. Up to 800 people took shifts at the same time, but the labor force was constantly needed. Peasants assigned to the plant and gunsmiths, sent on a business trip from Tula and the Urals to establish the production process, also lived in the village. The population gradually increased.

It is known that in 1717 there were about three thousand permanent residents, and up to 700 peasants assigned ("shift workers"). There were 150 sovereign houses and more than 450 private houses for workers and specialists, townspeople and merchants.

In 1716, a school was opened in Petrovsky Sloboda to prepare children of the lower class for work in factories. A little later, a general educational institution appeared.

Peter I visited these places four times. For his stay, a two-story palace was erected. For walks, an open balcony was built on the upper platform of the roof. This was the only decoration of the building. A pond was dug nearby and a garden was planted. The emperor personally planted trees there. Peter and Paul Cathedral was built at the same time.

1721 was marked by the victory of the Russian army, the borders of the state expanded at the expense of the Swedish land, the need for so many weapons disappeared. The plant at first produced pipes for fountains, nails and tin, but in 1734 it was completely closed. Life in Petrovsky Sloboda stopped.

Construction of the Alexander Plant

In 1768, the Russian-Turkish war began, and the history of the founding of Petrozavodsk received a new impetus. By decree of Empress Catherine the Great, in May 1773, the laying of a cannon-casting plant took place, and a year later the first cannon was fired. The new plant was named Alexandrovsky in honor of Alexander Nevsky.

In addition to guns and shells, the company specialized in the production of artistic casting and metal processing. He was also entrusted with the production of trade weights with the application of secret stamps to avoid counterfeiting.

Development of the settlement

The change in the settlement happened so quickly that it was an obvious fact that it would not remain a settlement for long. The head of the Olonets factories, A. Yartsov, personally began work on a project for the development and improvement of the center of the future city. The Circular Square, drawn by him, adorns Petrozavodsk today. History claims that the status of a county town was given in 1777, immediately after the plant reached full capacity, and in 1784 it was appointed the center of the Olonets province.

Life of a provincial town

The center of Petrozavodsk was rebuilt in accordance with the prepared project. The building of the provincial administration appeared. All buildings of that time are made in the classical style. The surviving buildings look solid and beautiful, in good harmony with the surrounding landscape.

On the Round Square in 1873 a monument to the founder Peter I was erected. The author of the work I. N. Schroeder made a full-length statue of the emperor, pointing in the direction of the plant he created. In Soviet times, the monument to Peter was moved to the local history museum, and a granite sculpture of V. I. Lenin was put in its place.

Beautification of the city was carried out periodically, mainly before the arrival of high-ranking persons. Stone mansions were built in the center, on the outskirts there were wooden buildings. All the beauty was concentrated on the Cathedral Square, where the Holy Spirit Cathedral, the Church of the Ascension are located, descending to the embankment.

Soviet Petrozavodsk

Practically the entire population of the industrial city before the revolution worked in metallurgical and weapons factories. The working class was organized and prepared by the strike struggle for revolutionary events. Therefore, cells of the RSDLP immediately became active. After some struggle, the city supported the Soviet government.

In the pre-war years, the history of Petrozavodsk was the same as the history of the whole country. Educational institutions were built, theaters and monuments were opened, five-year plans were fulfilled.

Years of occupation

Immediately after the declaration of war, the mobilization of the male population began. Factories were transferred to the production of military products. Women and children were evacuated inland.

In early October 1941, the Finnish army entered the city. There were such black pages in the history of Petrozavodsk, the capital of Karelia. In 1941, military authorities began to operate here. Here was formed the first concentrationFinnish camp. Ten more came later. The city received a new name - Jaanislinn, by 1943 almost all the streets were renamed.

In August 1944, Petrozavodsk was liberated, the Finnish army retreated with heavy losses. But what did they leave behind? A pile of ruins. Everything that was possible was taken to Finland: factory equipment, art objects, cultural and historical values. Rows of barbed wire remained on the shores of Lake Onega. Locals died here.

History of Petrozavodsk after the war

The city of military glory, like all other settlements destroyed during the war, began to restore normal life.

Today it is a large, well-maintained settlement with wide avenues, beautiful houses, parks and squares.

In the 21st century, the volume of construction work began to grow rapidly. Housing, shopping centers, cultural facilities are being put into operation. New monuments were opened, a fountain on Birch Alley. Road construction underway.

Tourists can learn about the history of Petrozavodsk in detail in the museums of the city. The National Museum, according to visitors' opinions, is modern, interesting, informative and not boring, where you can learn about the life of the city, starting from ancient times. Every traveler should walk the streets, walk along the embankment, admire its sculptures and lawns.

If you arrived by train, the tour can start from the railway station of Petrozavodsk. This building is the pride of the citizens. Opened in 1955, it still looks majestic today. Its 17-meter spire is visible from afar. The station restaurant is popular with locals and guests of Petrozavodsk.