- The first mentions of Sillamäe refer to 1502 when Thor Bruggen opened a tavern here.
- On territory of the city, there used to be 3 manor houses: Peuthof – church manor, Sillamägi-mõis, Türsel – knights manor.
- Before the beginning of World War I the town was famous as a resort zone.
- In 1928 in Sillamäe a slate processing factory and power station were open, later also a port.
- A new stage of Sillamäe's development started after World War II. For a long time Sillamäe was not marked on a map, as the address of the town was used as a special code. You could only enter the town with special permission. Secret warfare industry was a reason for this.
- The status of town was received in 1957.
In the world there are a lot of cities about which it is possible to read through in textbooks of history. There are cities about which originality is known all over the world. But there is no city in the world, which does not have its own history and features, even if its name is still not known. A vivid example to this is Sillamäe, which is located in the northeast part of Estonia. The town is very hospitable, cosy and original. Let us introduce you some features of our town.
History
The night between the 18th and 19th of November in 1700 was windy and rainy. The Sõtke River was crossed and troops under the direction of young King Karl XII broke camp into a field, where Sillamäe town is located. They called this camp "dirty camp", because of the lack of facilities to wash themselves. This was not only due to the humidity of the autumn night, but mostly because of rains and mud which sometimes reached knee height. There were not enough tents for everybody and problems with food were very serious too. Circumstances of war were such, that on November 19th it was necessary to move further to the east. The next day, 20th of November, these troops won the fight near Narva, against Russian armies under the direction of Peter I. It was the first serious Swedish victory, in the North war between Sweden and Russia.
Before the Swedes arrival, troops of Russian soldiers had passed through the territory of Sillamäe. This cavalry was under the direction of General Boris Sheremetiev, which was sent to Rakvere on investigation. The cavalry came back with defeat, because of the battle with Swedes. Dead soldiers were buried near the Sõtke River. Old inhabitants tell that this place was found after World War II, near the Cultural centre, which is located on Kesk Street. In the 18th century, this was the road from Tallinn (Reval) to Narva.
Sillamäe, which has originated on the crossing of road and the river several centuries ago (was first mentioned in 1502), is located on the coast of the Finnish gulf and near one of the most important Estonian highways. These facts let the town play an important role in the history of the country. During World War I, here was the line of defense of Russian troops. In 1919 during the Emancipating war here was the Estonian-Finnish landing, which played the important role in the overthrow of the communistic authority in Narva. In 1944, here was the German landing, in which most of the soldiers were killed. During the summer of 1944 in Sinimäe, which is located nearby, there was one of the most ruthless battles. In World War II, this place is known due to the Narva battle.
After the war, Sillamäe was very important for development of science and techniques. This is all about nuclear power, for use in both war and peace. In 1946 with the consent of Stalin and Beria, building of a factory for the manufacture of a nuclear bomb started. This factory only finished manufacture of uranium with the beginning of "perestroika", and with finding independence of Estonia in 1990. But in post-war decades the town was (the status of city was appropriated in 1957) one of the most famous „confidential and closed nuclear cities". Now the time of closeness has passed. Big intellectual, technical and potential culturally well prepared people from all Soviet Union were sent here, which let Sillamäe to go through changes and to generate the new future.
Sillame was first mentioned in 1502. In 1700 a mill and the bridge through the river were built here.
In 19 century Sillamäe was first mentioned like a resort. In 1869 Petr Chaikovskij, who was one of the most famous Russian composers, visited Sillamae. For 25 years since 1891 here rested Ivan Pavlov, famous Russian physiologist.
Since 1928 Sillamäe is not any more a place for rest, but a town of industry. This year was open slate plant, power station and a small harbour. In 1940 the population of Sillamäe was about 2600 people. During the Second World War the factory was destroyed.
History of Sillamäe as an industrial town starts in 1946, when a new factory was built here. In 1990 the manufacture of former production was stopped and plant started to work with rare metals.
A little bit about about economy
The industry began to appear in Sillamäe in 1920 when the Estonian-Swedish slate factory, power station and port were built here. On the basis of this enterprise started to create the new enterprise, which for some many years processed uranium and now is engaged in rare metals. The name of Silmet is known in different parts of the world, as it takes a leading place in the manufacture of tantalum and niobium. 99% of raw material is brought from other countries and 99% of production is exported.
After the 1940s of 20th century, there was no port in Sillamäe. Today, Sillamäe is a port town again. Approximately one million kroons (approximately 60 millions euro) has been invested in the construction of the first stage of the port and the oil terminal. The Port is planned to be constructed in three stages. The Port, which is one of the largest projects for private investors in the region, is planned counting upon that Sillamäe is the most east "sea gate" – it is only 25 km from the Russian border. In 2007 investors plan to take through the port up to 5 tons of the goods.
Using a suitable geographical position another big economic project has been built in Sillamäe, the free zone of Sillamäe, which has been operating since 1999, and covers an area of 600 hectares, and offers the free areas, developed infrastructure and economic discounts for development business or manufactures.
Closing and sanitation of storage of waste became the third project of a century. The cost of the project, which started in 1998 and will end in 2007, is 312 million Estonian kroons or 20 millions euros. The project is financed by Estonia, northern countries and other European Union countries that are located near the Baltic Sea. Storage of nuclear waste in Sillamäe is the first dangerous storage which is brought in the order. The guarantee on 1000 years is given to this work.
The industrial potential of Sillamäe continues to develop. "Ecometal" - modern factory on processing accumulators was opened in 2003. Many enterprises have raised a high quality of their work with the ISO certificate. These are „Polyform" (manufacturer of plastic containers), „Norwes metal" (manufacturer of metal) and „Silmet".
People and the culture
In the beginning of 20th century, little boys knew from the stories of their parents only the fact, that he is "some professor from Petersburg, which makes researches with dogs". For children he was nobody important. Despite of age, he behaved himself very cheerfully that has won hearts of Sillamäe children. Sillamäggi (the name of Sillamäe at that time) was so beloved by the professor, that even visiting Italy, he compared beauty of the southern country with the loved to heart town.
Professor has not got to Italy occasionally. On the congress of physiologists, it was honourable to see among visitors Ivan Pavlov, who was the first Nobel Prize winner from Russia (1904). It was that vigorous old man, who regularly visited Sillamäe before World War I. And it would be desirable to tell, that deep under town there is a magnet which in different time draws here intellectuals and scientists who keep and develop culture. At the end of 19th and in the beginning of 20th century, Sillamäe was one of the most favourite places for the rest among intellectuals and scientists from Russia. The word "Sillamäe" can be met in the biographies of these famous people: composers Pjotr Tchaikovsky and Eduard Trubin, poets Vjatcheslav Ivanov and Konstantin Balmont, writer Endel Tennov, the inventor Boris Rozgin, artists Konstantin Somov and Nikolai Dubovski.
At the beginning of the 21st century Sillamäe keeps and develops the original and multilateral culture as one of its main riches. Days of Slavic culture, jazz-time, festival, exhibitions of foreign artists and other interesting actions take place in the town. Sillamäe Museum is probably the only museum in Estonia where there is an exhibition devoted to a life of Soviet time during the 50th and 60th. Various masters of sports and champions train in a magnificent sports complex. Sillamäe Institution of Economy and business and Academy Nord have started their jobs as a result of the development of town.
The town itself often is named a pearl. In Estonia there is no other place where the architectural ensemble in the style of 40-50 years of the last century was so kept. The ladder which is located in a southern part of town, leads to the sea, bas-relief in the classical style, arrangement of the buildings, the building which belongs to the local authorities combines gothic and soviet style, the cascade of water basins in the centre of the town…….Everything belongs to the history (two buildings are monuments of architecture), but on the other hand, everything is still young, new and fresh. People who live here have built this town by themselves and can tell a lot about the history of the town.
So welcome to Sillamäe! Friendly and modern, open to new ideas. The "Town of fresh seawinds!"
The first mentions of Sillamäe refer to 1502 when Thor Bruggen opened a tavern here.
According to the legend, when the sea level had risen up to the coast, pirates landed here, in the delta of the river, which was near the sea. A tavern was built in this place. In fact, the founders and the place of tavern are not still known.It is known, that the sea-bottom had risen approximately 5000 years ago. Crossing of the delta of the river for trading way, became a good place for disembark. Also it is known, that in 1502 the territory, where the town now is, belonged to the Livonian (German) order.
There is no talk about the name of a tavern, as the place was sacred. Thor was the Thunder of Scandinavians. Estonians had the same deity in their religion. Taara (Big Taara, Tharapita, and Taarapita). Henrik wrote about Taarapita in the chronicle of Livonia. According to the chronicle, Taara flew from the mountain, where he had been born, to Saaremaa. Legend was connected with the falling of a Kaarli meteorite, as the meteorite was considered to be an ancient deity. The mountain, where deity was born and from where he flew to Saaremaa, is considered to be Ebavere Mountain or Sinimäe mountain, which is located near Sillamäe. Brook Uku, whose name is connected with Uku ancient deity, is located near the town.
We can be sure about the fact, that Narva trading way passed through Sillamäe (Narva was at that time a developed and important trading centre, as Saint-Petersburg was founded only two centuries later). In a part of the city, there was a river which played an important role in a trading way, as here it was possible to have a rest and hide from approaching dangers.
For a long time parts of the town belonged to the manor of Vaivara. Later from these grounds have been created separate manors. In the city there used to be 3 manor houses: Peuthof – church manor, Sillamägi-mõis, Türsel (Türsamäe) – knights manor.
It is known that Türsamäe manor was built in 17th century, near the village, where there was a windmill. Remains of the windmill are still near the town. Tursamäe manor was a knight manor and belonged to nobility. Tõnu Walk (Waldman) was the last owner of this manor.
In the 19th century, Sillamäe became a popular place for rest among the intellectual of Petersburg. Before World War I, Sillamäe was known as a summer resort, which was famous for its nature and peace. About 100 summerhouses were built here, most of which were destroyed during the war. (In 1928 80% of houses were summer houses, and other houses had rooms for people, who came here during summer). Before World War I the number of people was about 600-700, number of guests of the town was 1500. In the period of 1920-1928 it was about 300-600. Aristocracy chose Narva-Jõesuu as a place for rest, but writers, artists and scientists preferred Sillamäe for rest. Famous people such as composer Pjotr Tchaikovsky and physiologist Ivan Pavlov liked to rest here.
During these years other famous people visited this town. Botanist, professor, academician Andrei Famitchin (1935-1918), scholar of literature Pavel Fiskovatov (1842-1905), scholar of literature and language, historian, academician Vassili Latishev (1855-1922), professor of physiology Vyatcheslav Ivanov (1866-1949), poet Konstantin Balmont (1867-1942), artist Konstantin Somov (1869-1939), scientist , professor of Technological institution of Petersburg Boris Rosing (1869-1933), writer Endel Tennov (1926-1978), who was born near Sillamäe in the village of Kannuka. The number of visitors from different parts of Estonia increased after World War I.
In 1926 there were 100 houses; most of them were summer houses. Before World War I the number of ordinary inhabitants was 600-700 people and there were 1500 visitors of the town.
However, the industrial way of life spread to the resort area. In 1928 Estonia, using the capital of a Swedish consolidated company, built a factory for processing slate. During 1929-1939, finding Swedish capital was difficult. A new economy rise began in 1935. For the export of goods, in 1936 a port was built here. An electric power station was also built. Both the factory and the electric power station were destroyed during World War II. The equipment of factory was taken to Ural. Later, the port was destroyed too.
At that time, the protection of the environment was not so organized and the factory polluted an area in a radius of 300m around itself. Oil and grease from the port also polluted the environment. This reduced the number of resting here people (during 1920-1928 there were only 300-600 visitors). Today, the industrial and residential zones are divided among themselves, and in the use of technologies and manufacturing, all requirements on safety are observed.
After World War II, Sillamäe with its secret military industry was the most secret place in Estonia. For a long time Sillamäe was not marked on any maps, as its address was written only in special code. It was only possible to enter the town with special permission. The reason for all this was the military industry. Uranium was enriched in Sillamäe. Though World War II was over, the so-called cold war proceeded, and soon began an "arms race". The basic strategic goal of the Soviet Union became the possession a nuclear weapon. In the beginning uranium was used for creation of the nuclear weapon.
The interest of the Soviet Union to Sillamäe arose during winter 1944-1945, when a group of geologists from the Moscow Institution arrived here. Their work was so important, so much, that the government leader of Estonia, A. Veimer had to curate their work. Geologists had to investigate stocks of slate. The northern part of Estonia was still mined, so geologists were here only with the protection of the army.
In the spring of 1945, there was a meeting in the Kremlin to discuss the creation of a raw material base for the nuclear industry. Beria, Voroshilov, Malenkov, Mikojan, Zavenjagin, Andropov, academicians Kapitse and Smirnov, Gorjumov, Sherbakova and Altagusen took part in this discussion. According to some sources, Stalin also participated in this discussion. It was said that, there is not enough mineral deposits in Russia, however, a potentiality large deposit of minerals had been found in Estonia. As an example a piece of slate and three-litre jar of a uranium concentrate were put on a table. The meeting caused a big interest, as Voroshilov told, that "if it is necessary, uranium can be made from this clay".
The town suffered from the war and apartment houses remained only in coastal territory, but tenants were not allowed to live there. According to the order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, construction of Sillamäe factory nr.7. Construction of a new factory began on the ruins of a slate factory.
Construction was supervised from the ministerial council of the Soviet Union. Direction a factory and its name (Factory nr.7) and the order of a maintenance labour force were defined. In 1947 the factory received a unit number and it was forbidden to use its address in correspondence, only the number of a mail box, nr.22. The factory had a code name: Красильная фабрика (colour plant), in its personal correspondence it was sometimes named by name of its director-object of Gukov. In the first post-war years, construction of a secret factory in Sillamäe was one of the major goals for controls of the Soviet Union.
It is impossible to tell the exact number of builders of the Sillamäe factory, but according to some information, the number is about 18000 people (by the end of 1946). Due to the fact, that building of the factory was in the control of the ministry of internal affairs, the basic part of builders was done by soldiers and prisoners. Construction of the factory in Sillamäe was the largest during this period, so it affected development and formation of the population of all Northeast Estonia. Earlier, the Northeast was ethno cultural territory, during wars and occupations mostly all the population was lost, so the population in post-war years developed as a result of migration process. According to the data of population accounting of 1989, out of 1000 inhabitants, only 31 had Estonian as their mother tongue in Narva, and only 25 out of 1000, in Sillamäe. Together in Estonia those people totaled 619. Casual people could not get in the town, because here they needed people with special education and qualifications. Thus the population with a high educational level was generated.
In the beginning, local soil was used for producing. A mine was built for this purpose. During the period 01.01.1949 until 31.06.1952, from the local mine, 2 405 000 tons of soil with a concentration of uranium of 0,0036% have been taken, which means 63,3 tons of potential metal. Local soil did not have enough uranium, so raw material was brought from other socialist countries. Because of the lack of knowledge about radioactive radiation, during the processing of the uranium, problems with the wastes occurred. On the seacoast there was 12 million tons of waste, including the radioactive waste of uranium. Now this waste dump is safe, by virtue of the biggest environmental project in Estonia, which cost 312 millions kroons.
Supplies for Sillamäe passed through Moscow, so it was much better than in other cities of Estonia. All post-war history of Sillamäe is connected with construction of the secret enterprise. All other objects have been constructed only in view of interests of a factory. At the construction of a factory, money was not considered, as it has brought to town dwellers many privileges. Until now it is told about how people from other cities tried to get here to buy the scarce goods. The architecture of the town is a phenomenon. In the beginning of 1950, the town was generated and became one of the most unique in Estonia. Sillamäe was constructed according to the general plan in Stalin neo-classicist style. Construction passed on the basis of projects which were developed by representation of the ministry in Leningrad. In 1949 Sillamäe got the architectural premium of the ministerial council.
In September of 1950 there were more than 10000 inhabitants in Sillamäe.
On the 16th May 1950 the ministerial council published the decree on which the working settlement of Sillamäe became a town with the same name. The town was formed, but according to the decree, it was subordinated to the city of Narva. But circumstances changed: Sillamäe increased to the size of town because of the fast development of its industry. Sillamäe had a special condition: its secret industry, the fact that it was located on sea shore and nobody could enter the town without special permission. At that time many town institutions were subordinated to state institutions: security, ministry of internal affair and prosecutor institutions. Therefore there was a question on making Sillamäe a town, submitting directly to the state. Thus the town grew rapidly (In spite of being almost destroyed during World War II, town as built and in 1950 there were 10000 inhabitants). Besides, its industry was unique.
Sillamäe got the status of town in 1957.
During the Soviet period, the entire town depended on one employer - a secret uranium factory "Silmet". Today business conditions in Sillamäe have essentially changed, and now the town is one of the most quickly developing cities of Estonia.
Biggest advantages for development of both industry and trade are: the location of the city (on the border of the European Union and the Russian Federation, in a so-called transit corridor; on the Tallinn-Petersburg highway, near to the railway; on seacoast), the industrial region isolated from inhabited space (in an area of 600 hectares, there is all necessary infrastructure: roads, subdivision plans and service media: electricity supply cables, gas supply pipe work, water supply pipe work, water drainage and sewerage systems), a free trading zone and the presence of a port. For help and assistance to starting new enterprises, a "Business-incubator" (Non-profit organization "Development of Sillamäe Free zone") was created.
The presence of labour force resources is a big plus for developing business. In a radius of 25 kilometres 150000 people live. Sillamäe workers possess enough high qualifications, as in the past young experts were hired from all parts of the Soviet Union for the needs of the war industry, and is actually why nobody could get to the town.
The local population has a good motivation for finding a job and for retraining. Fine opportunities for the purchase of vocational and high education in the town, is convenient to prepare the labour force for work. From a human point of view, the personal attitudes of local residents with friends and relatives living in the territory of the former Soviet Union are important also.
The most important role in the economic life of the town is the "Silmet Group" corporation with its affiliated companies. "Silmet" makes mainly tantalum, niobium (being in first place in the world in this area) and rare-earth metals, which are well sold in the markets of Europe, USA and Japan. Affiliated companies of corporation are "Silport kinnisvara" (service of an infrastructure), "Sillamäe SEJ" (manufacture of thermo energy and electricity), "Õkosil" (ecological projects) and "Port of Sillamäe". Successfully operating in foreign markets is the Sillamäe enterprise "Polyform". Originally it made boxes for videocassettes, now being equipped by the last word of techniques "Polyform" manufactures ecologically pure packing for foodstuff. Basically this production is bought by Austria, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Italy, Russia, Czech and Iceland. "Norwes Metal" makes metal production. The European firms get from "Norwes Metal" various containers. Ecologically safe and modern technologies are used at a factory of recycling of accumulators "Ecometal". Many of Sillamäe residents work on industrial enterprise "Eesti Põlevkivi". Near to the town is located Narva career, which delivers slate for the Estonian thermal power station. The company " „Esfil Techno" is engaged in the manufacture of filtering materials from polymeric micro-and nanofibre.
This list of the largest enterprises of Sillamäe, show that local business climate is favourable for enterprises and a gives variety of opportunities.
Town square
The town square is located in a very picturesque place on the high seacoast. The square is located on a crossing of the major streets of town. The town square and buildings, surrounding it, were built in Stalin's new classicistic style, according to a subdivision plan of 1948. The square became an addition of this celebratory ensemble. Near to the square are the buildings of the cultural centre, the building of municipality (former executive committee) and residential houses. The wide ladder, which is continued by celebratory and spacious boulevard, goes down from the square and leads directly to the sea. Near to the ladder, there is an honours list where portraits of outstanding workers used to hang. In the square, there was a statue of Stalin, which was removed when cult status of Stalin was ended. In 1987 in honour of the 70th anniversary of the October revolution, a monument known as "Honour to work" was put in the square. The formation of greenery was made in characteristic symmetric decoration of the 1950 new classicistic style, (multicoloured flowerbeds, flower vases, benches, and rows of trees).
The building of the cultural centre is a monument of architectural design. Its similarity with the palace reflects the understanding of Stalin's epoch about the superiority of art. About 200 meters from the square, there is another monument of architecture; a building of the former cinema, which also is a very grandiose building. The area surrounds an architectural ensemble, which was constructed according to a characteristic subdivision plan of the 1950 new classicistic style.
Mere Boulevard
The wide ladder, which is continued by celebratory and spacious boulevard, goes down from the square and leads directly to the sea. Boulevard is located between the ceremoniously decorated houses. The view from the square downwards is so breathtaking, that it can be compared to Odessa. Near to the ladder, there is an honours list where portraits of outstanding workers used to hang.
Nowadays stairs and Mere Boulevard are one of the symbols of Sillamäe, and expressively show the ideology of the Stalinist new classicism. Architecture was one of the ways of propagation. In this way authorities could communicate with people. Classicism was chosen as a soviet architecture style, because it had such big, rhetorical potential. Stalinist new classicism was authority architecture. Authority communicated with the people ceremoniously and subordinately. Mighty colonnades, stairs, made people feel the presence of authority and their own nothingness.
So that the image was full, the ladder, (leading from the square to the boulevard) was decorated with sculptures and living palm trees (in winter palm trees were placed in greenhouses, and were taken back in the spring).
The Boulevard is built as usual for the 1950 symmetrical way. From both sides the boulevard is bordered by houses with facades decorated in new classicistic style. In the lower part of the boulevard, parallel to the sea, flows the River Sõtke, which runs into the sea after 200 metres. As the city was closed and near to a border zone, the people were not able to get to the sea, as the part of boulevard near the sea was not completely constructed. It is now planned to restore the boulevard in its former condition.
Building of town council and town government
The town government building is a part of architecture ensemble of 1950 and is built in new classicistic style. Architect Popov made this project of construction in 1950. An interesting fact is that, at that time in many cities of Estonia, administration centres were built and their construction was almost the same (for example in Otepää, Jõhvi, Orissaare, Vastseliina, Põlva, Räpina). The administration building of Sillamäe was constructed as a building which represents the authorities, but from the first sight it is possible to accept it for being a church. Nevertheless, there was never a church in this building, only the administration of the town worked here; at first the executive committee, and now Sillamäe town council and town government. There is an opinion, that it was the belief of architects of the Soviet Union, that in each city there should be a town hall and a church, therefore a building of Sillamäe executive committee was designed visually as a town hall and church.
However, the initial plan of the tower of a building differed from that which is now. The original design of the tower reminded authorities of a tower of a concentration camp, which was impossible to show at that time. So the tower has been re-designed.
The building had very plentiful decor from which the symbols of the Soviet Union have now been removed. It is now only possible to see this décor in old photos. The building is the highest in old part of the town. The view to the sea and over the town, which opens from this tower, is beautiful. Nowadays this is where the town council and town government work.
Centre of the town (architecture ensemble of 1940-1950- Stalinist neoclassicism)
Building of the town centre began with the period of the founding of the town. The basis for construction of an old part of the town, which is located on the bank of the Sõtke River, became the general plan of city made in 1946-1947 and the project of a detailed subdivision plan of 1948.
One of the main sights of the town is the town square. The square is bordered with the cultural centre and the building of the town council and town government. Not far from this square is located a cinema building, which was designed in Ashgabat. The wide ladder, which is continued by celebratory and spacious boulevard, goes down from the square and leads directly to the sea. The Boulevard is located between ceremoniously decorated houses. The view from the square downwards is so breathtaking, that it can be compared to Odessa. Near to the ladder, there is an honours list where portraits of outstanding workers used to hang.
The network of town streets is strictly geometric. Houses are settled in the strict order. In the centre of the area, there are buildings for general service. Most of these buildings are two-storied houses, yet closer to the sea there are four-storied houses. Most buildings have identical architectural designs; the elements of a facade executed in style new classicism were kept. Area has high milieu value.
Administration buildings of the factory
The Silmet factory is the main reason why the town as built, also why it was closed and confidential and how town now looks like. The town was built for the workers of the factory. Questions of administration of the factory were decided in the beginning of the construction of the town. Behind the administration buildings there was the confidential zone fenced by concrete walls where there was a factory for the processing of uranium.
Buildings play an important role in the history of the factory. They were also built in the new classicistic style. Greenery in front of the administration buildings was typical for the time. During the period of rule of the Soviet Union, in front of the buildings there was a statue of Lenin.
Houses of Sõtke Street
The group of houses in Sõtke Street is of premium value because it was the first inhabited area, which was constructed for the workers of the factory in 1940. The street is found between the river and the sea. The street has entire composition. Beautifully decorated two-storied houses are in the strict order located on the different sides of the street. Houses are built in classicistic style; houses from the sea are decorated with stucco décor, from the river however, they do not have a lot of decoration. This is supplemented with an abundance of greenery. Houses differ from the houses in the Kesk Street that were constructed at the same time, as they are less decorated, creating a pleasant and warm atmosphere.
The cinema building
The cinema was a very important kind of art in the Soviet Union because it possessed the big force of propaganda. During the Stalinist era, it was easy to control it. Cinema was popular in 1950 because, there were not so many other opportunities of spending spare time. Also, television was not popular at that time
The Sillamäe cinema building is located on Kesk Street 11, some 200 meters from the town square. According to the decree of the minister of culture, the building of a cinema is recognized as a monument of architecture.
In the Institute of Design in Ashgabat (Turkmen) in 1952, the project of constructing the Sillamäe cinema building was made. A Cinema with two halls was built in the Stalinist new classicistic style. In the Stalinist architecture the building, that was decorated, was considered to be beautiful. The cinema and the centre of culture were decorated, because art should be pure and majestic, and the purpose of the cultural policy was to supervise a position of the people and to form an opinion of the public and general attitude. So, the cinema and cultural centre had to create the necessary atmosphere. Both the external and internal decor of the cinema building is plentiful. It is possible to find motives of an ancient art, an emblem of Russian beauties, Pushkin, dared and crying masks etc, in the internal decor of the cinema building. There is a spacious foyer in the vestibule. On the second floor there was a restaurant, and in the beginning there was a dance hall where musicians played and local singers sang. In the cellar of a building there was a shooting gallery.
The cinema opened on 1 May 1955. There were 6 shows every day, and more during the weekends. (Factory workers had shift work). Separate shows for the children were organized. The cinema was very popular and the near two ticket offices were constantly busy. "Tarzan" was the first film which was shown there.
Houses- khrushchevkas
Constructed during 1950-1960, the first inhabited block which is located in the town centre, consists of typically five-floor houses (so called khrushchovkas). It was designed according to a so called free subdivision plan. Houses in relation to the streets are located diagonally and in the centre of the area there are to be found a stadium, kindergartens and different accessory buildings.
Before Khrushchev, preference in architecture was given to classicism that created the illusion of a beautiful and powerful country. However, in the middle 1950, the revolution in architecture occurred. In 1954, in the Kremlin, there was a meeting, devoted to building and architecture. Here it was decided in future to construct, so that it was possible to reduce the expense of building and to increase the capacity of houses. In order to achieve this goal, it was decided to build houses under the standard project, which assumed the typical design for construction. It was also decided to remove excessive ornaments from construction. The architecture in the days of Khrushchev was laconic, for at this time, the idea of unduly decorated houses did not seem appropriate. Simple is beautiful. The area was typical, covered with verdure and built in a complex.
Last updated: 23.07.2025
