Imperial Yacht Club

[Mike]

You know why I was "in favor" of #31 even before finding an exact reference? Because it used to belong to Princes Lobanov-Rostovsky, one of whom was the club's founder and first commander. Probably the buiding still belonged to this family when the Yacht Club occupied it.

[Belochka]

Mike your analysis is really fascinating. Despite the lack of an imperious facade, compared to # 37 B. Morskaya, it was probably advantageous to be fairly indistinct.

Another reason why I was hoping that it was next to the Astoria because it was mentioned in this way in one of the many memoirs in my possession.

Do you know what this building is today?

[Mike]

it was probably advantageous to be fairly indistinct....Do you know what this building is today?  

I don't think they wanted to look indistinct.  Just the building belonged to their president who, it may be assumed, rented it out (and later sold) to the club for less money than the market price in this most expensive neighbourhood. Being very wealthy, he definitely could afford that.

Today the building houses several offices (among them the city council's committee for the youth affairs), a Greek taverna named Oliva, and some residential apartments. In one of them - an astonishing coincidence! - my colleague at work here in Israel used to live until 1990. He has a book on B. Morskaya which I hope to get within a few days. Apparently it contains a photo of No. 31 as it looked back in the 1900s.

[Joanna]

Many thanks Mike for the information of 31 B. Morskaya!! I had stayed at the Astoria and to see your photos is fascinating.

Also I am super curious of the book on B. Morskaya!!! After you receive it can you post descriptions of it and the ISBN number please. And post a photo of 31 B.   Morskaya c1900!!!!

Joanna

[Belochka]

Thanks Mike for solving this mystery. I too would be very interested in seeing a photograph of the building as it looked in the early 1900's.

Do you know whether the book you are receiving is part of a series on old streets of SPb? I would also welcome more information.  

In appreciation,

Belochka

[Mike]

As promised - this is how the 31, B. Morskaya looked back in the 1900s. At the right, you can see a large glazed balcony just above the Yacht Club entrance. This balcony was used by the club members as a strategic observation post over the street and called The Sopka - a clear allusion to the hills of Manchuria.

And this is the book's cover. Details: Bol'shaya Morskaya, by L. Broitman & E. Krasnova, from the series Petersburg na ladoni [=~ in full view], Petersburg, Papirus Publ., 1997, 221 pp., ISBN 5-87472-161-4.

[Belochka]

Mike thanks very much for the images and your information about this series of books. I will now have to search for them!

[Joanna]

Many many thanks Mike !!! It is enchanting to see c1900's photographs of what we have read of !!!

Joanna

[hikaru]

Does somebody knows how the members could use yacht? Was they only private proper? or members could rent the property of the club too?
Did the Russian aristaucracy used yachts being on Dacha a lot?

[AlexP]

Does somebody knows how the members could use yacht? Was they only private proper? or members could rent the property of the club too?
Did the Russian aristaucracy used yachts being on Dacha a lot?

Hikarushka,

My question concerns "the aristocracy being on dacha".  To speak personally and humbly, in my own family, there was no "dacha".  There was house on the Millionaya, in Petersburg, the manor house or feodal estate, whichever word you choose to use, in Courlandia (modern Estonia), and than there were apartments in Tsarkoe Selo (but only after 1910).

So I would like to ask the other board members whose families came from Russia -- what about your particular family's situation?
Where did  they live in Peter?  And in the country?

Hiraku, na premierna, p---la...

Regards,

A.A.

[hikaru]

And what about Yacht?

[David_Pritchard]

Hikarushka,

My question concerns "the aristocracy being on dacha".  To speak personally and humbly, in my own family, there was no "dacha".  There was house on the Millionaya, in Petersburg, the manor house or feodal estate, whichever word you choose to use, in Courlandia (modern Estonia), and than there were apartments in Tsarkoe Selo (but only after 1910).

So I would like to ask the other board members whose families came from Russia -- what about your particular family's situation?
Where did  they live in Peter?  And in the country?

Hiraku, na premierna, p---la...

Regards,

A.A.

Courlandia is in modern day Latvia not in modern day Estonia!

Please use the 1772 map in the collections of the University Library as a point of reference:

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/baltics_1772.jpg

David

[NAAOTMA]

David is perfectly correct in that "Courlandia" or in Estonian "Kurland" was NEVER in Estonian territory. Kurland was located west of Riga in present day Latvia, well south and west of Estonian territory.

It was never part of either Livonia (Livland) or Estonia (Estland). This goes for Estonia under Swedish rule or under Imperial Russian rule, as well as under the earlier Hanseatic League and the Germanic Baltic barons.

At times Kurland was under Polish rule and Lithuanian rule.

Just sign me a Proud Estonian By Marriage

[NAAOTMA]

The source I used to confirm the above post is:

  Estonia and the Estonians by Toivu U. Raun
  Second Edition/Hoover Institution/Stanford University
  1991

   This book covers Estonia from pre-historic times through de-Sovietization & the second Estonian Independence Movement in 1991.