Volume 8 of the Estonian Open-Air Museum’s Publications brings together two extensive articles by Hanno Talving, a long-time researcher at the Open-Air Museum, which, based on thorough archival research, explore issues in the history of public buildings and shed light on some surprising aspects of Estonian architectural history.
In the first article of this issue, Hanno Talving discusses the architectural and cultural history of the Kadrina railway station from 1870 to 1917, during which time the station was initially part of the private railway system and later became part of the state railway. The construction of Kadrina Station is closely linked to Alexander von der Pahlen, the lord of Palmse Manor, who was one of the founders of the Baltic Railway. Based on previously unused documents found in Russian archives, Hanno Talving clarifies, among other things, the actual construction date of the current station building and its connection to von der Pahlen, but also addresses, more broadly, issues related to the construction and renovation of other stations in the Estonian section of the Baltic Railway, thereby significantly supplementing the existing understanding of Estonian railway history.
The second article in this collection offers insight into a process that has been little studied in the history of Estonian architecture. Due to social changes at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, local municipalities no longer needed to maintain grain warehouses; as a result, grain reserves were sold at auctions, and the warehouses lost their purpose. Similarly, the situation for taverns changed after the establishment of the alcohol monopoly in 1900, when they were no longer permitted to sell strong alcohol. Finding new uses for these buildings posed challenges for their owners due to their distinctive architecture. The most common new use for the windowless granaries with thick stone walls and the taverns with stone foundations was converting them into community centers, which reflects the needs of society at the time: community activities had gained momentum, but many societies could not afford to erect new buildings. Granaries and taverns were also adapted into schoolhouses, dairies, a roadmaster’s house, and even a place of worship. In this article, Hanno Talving takes a closer look at the most characteristic examples of building repurposing from various locations in Estonia, offering interesting insights for those interested in local history.
The articles are illustrated with a wealth of images and include summaries in English. The publication was supported by the Estonian Cultural Endowment.