MAIN STREET OF THE CITY
Merchant... And immediately in our imagination arise the mansions of merchants, numerous shops, trading and entertainment establishments. But in reality, it hardly differed from other streets of Pishpek. The same adobe houses, occasionally interspersed with wooden ones, impassable mud and dust; the further west you went, closer to the Dungan settlement (now the area west of Togołok Moldо Street), where small traders and eateries huddled, the more unappealing the picture became.
But it seems that it was not by chance that the street was called Merchant. Here stood the houses of the large Dungan merchant L. Matanyu and other smaller Dungan, Tatar, and Russian traders. Among the inconspicuous adobe houses of the street, their homes stood out because they were built on brick foundations.
Among the "sights" of the street, one should mention the Seraphim Church and the Tatar mosque with a madrasah. In 1929, the church was closed, and the premises were adapted for a club, later transferred to the N. K. Krupskaya Children's Home. Films were shown here, concerts were organized, and plays were staged. In connection with the construction of the trolleybus line in the early 1950s, the remnants of the church were demolished, and in its place, in the 1960s, a flower garden was created, and a model of an atomic nucleus was erected, symbolizing the flourishing of Soviet science. As for the mosque with the madrasah, located at the corner of Vernenskaya (now Almatinskaya), a seven-year school opened there in the 1920s, and a student carpentry workshop was organized in the mosque itself (both were demolished in 1976).
In 1924, Merchant Street was renamed Civil. This act emphasized the equality of all citizens of the new state. Since 1938, the street bore the name of I. V. Stalin, and in 1961, considering the historical significance of the XXII Congress of the CPSU, it was renamed XXII Party Congress Street. In 1974, in the year of the 50th anniversary of the Kyrgyz SSR and the Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan, the section from Cholpon-Ata Street to Fuchik Street was renamed Lenin Avenue (Lenin Prospect).
In May 1927, on the banks of the Ala-Archa River, a factory built by the Czechoslovak cooperative "Intergelpo" was commissioned, as evidenced by a memorial plaque affixed to one of the first production buildings. The text reads: "Here in 1927, the Czechoslovak industrial cooperative 'Intergelpo' built the first production facilities of the woolen factory."
Throughout the 1930s, a number of two-story residential, public, and industrial enterprises grew on the street. Between First of May Street and Kyrgyz Street, a bakery was built, and across from the current city executive committee, a shoe factory was established. In 1932, the House of the Red Army was erected, later becoming the Officers' House. The bakery was demolished in 1976, and in its place, a park was created in 1977.
In 1934, a significant event occurred in the city. It was decided to improve Civil Street by the 18th anniversary of the October Revolution and the 10th anniversary of national demarcation. On September 18, columns of workers with an orchestra first went to work on gravel procurement and street planning. As a result of mass Saturday workdays, which involved up to 2000 people, the first street in the city was covered with gravel. In 1938, its asphalt paving began.
In 1932, a stadium was built at the southern end of the "Red Star" park. On the day of its opening, the best athletes of the republic - V. Sinusov, A. Kurbatov, F. Ivakin, A. Salnikov, and others were awarded the first GTO badges. Since 1943, this stadium has been named "Labor Reserves."
By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the "Kyrgyzstan" hotel with 40 rooms and a restaurant (1938), the "Ala-Tuu" cinema (1938), and several two-story residential buildings had been constructed. The first beautiful three-story building at the corner of Kyrgyz Street (intersecting Kyiv Street) was intended for a department store, but the war changed the original plan. The nearly completed building was handed over to the evacuated knitwear factory named after Mikoyan from Kharkov. The factory settled in at its new location.
Especially extensive construction and improvement of the city of Frunze unfolded in the post-war years. Many residential buildings were constructed. In 1953, a three-story House of Artists was built; in 1954, the House of Trade Unions; in 1957, the "October" cinema; in 1961, the "Son-Kul" cafe, the financial and economic technical school; and in 1963, the first panoramic cinema in Central Asia, "Russia," with 800 seats. The buildings of industrial ministries were completed. Large specialized stores opened - the Central Department Store (1957 - now the "Children's World" department store), "Furniture," "Clothing House," and others. The street crossed the Ala-Medin River. Many multi-story buildings of various purposes grew here.
In 1961, the first phase of the heat and power plant with a capacity of 25 thousand kilowatts was commissioned. From the time of its launch until 1989, the enterprise produced 75 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. Currently, 10 turbo-generators are operational. The energy from the station supplies not only Frunze and the Chui Valley but also cities and remote villages of the Pre-Issyk-Kul and Central Tien Shan regions.
Here is also the largest woolen and cloth combine in Central Asia, which was fully commissioned in 1965. In 1984, the combine produced 7.4 million meters of woolen fabrics and 1237 tons of yarn per year.
Many cities have their unique ensembles, architectural complexes that give the city a distinctive appearance. In our city, during the post-war years, the skilled hands of builders erected two such complexes. You will definitely notice the ensembles of the Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz SSR and Soviet Square. The architectural ensemble of the Academy (architects Yu. Bilinsky and A. Bocharov) consists of a six-story building of the Presidium of the Academy, flanked by two-story laboratory buildings and institutes, in the external decoration of which colored majolica is used. These beautiful buildings house 13 institutes and three departments. In 1985, the Academy employed 54 full members and corresponding members and 1512 scientific workers, among whom were 80 doctors and 512 candidates of sciences.
In 1975, the Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz SSR was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples for its contributions to accelerating the scientific and technological progress of Soviet society.
The project for the development of Soviet Square was developed by architects E. Pisarsky and B. Likholetov. Here are located the buildings of the city executive committee (1957, architect P. P. Ivanov), the Ministry of Agriculture (1957, architect V. Nusov), the State Committee for Construction Affairs, and the Polytechnic Technical School (architect E. Pisarsky). In December 1980, in the northeastern part of the square, completing its composition, one of the most beautiful buildings in the city was commissioned - the Kyrgyz State Philharmonic named after Toktogul, awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor. The white marble building has two halls - for 1200 and 300 seats. The philharmonic received the most modern equipment, and the first organ in the republic, made in the GDR, was installed here.
In the new building of the philharmonic, the XVII Congress of the Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan took place on February 20, 1981, and on March 19, a grand concert marked its opening.
Since 1936, the philharmonic has hosted remarkable Kyrgyz folk akyns, singers, and musicians such as K. Orozov, M. Kurunkeev, M. Musulmankulov, K. Akiev, O. Bolebalaev, A. Ogonbaev, Y. Tumano, M. Bayetov, A. Tynybekov, A. Usenbaev, J. Sheraliyev, and others. Currently, it employs a collective of professional musicians, singers, dancers, the state orchestra of folk instruments named after K. Orozov, a pop orchestra, a komuz ensemble, and a dance ensemble.
In the same 1981, an architectural and sculptural composition "Manas" was erected in front of the philharmonic, dedicated to the main heroes of the eponymous Kyrgyz epic. The center of the composition is the figure of Manas, riding a horse in full battle armor and weapons after defeating the dragon. The height of the sculpture is 6.3 m, the length of the dragon is 13 m, and the height of the pedestal, faced with gray granite, is 14.7 m. Below the central figure, on either side, are two figures: Kanikey - Manas's wife and the sage Bakai. All three figures are made of copper. At the edges of the sculptural composition are busts made of red granite of the great storytellers of the epic "Manas": Sayakbay Karalaev, Sagynbay Orozbakov, Tynybek Japy uulu, and Naymanbay Balik uulu. The architectural-sculptural composition is surrounded by a pool with fountains and flower beds. Today, this is one of the most beautiful places in our city. The authors of this composition are sculptor T. Sadykov and architect A. Pechenkina.
Soviet Square is connected to the Frunze Park, which stretches to the university.
In 1974, the avenue was adorned with a five-story building of the Central Department Store "Ai-Churek" with 380 trading places, featuring a beautifully designed corner with fountains and weeping willows, and flower beds on the western side (architects Yu. S. Peresvetov, B. A. Sobolevsky). Across the Ala-Medin River, a store called "Thousand Trifles" opened in a multi-story building, and at the corner of 40 Years of October Street, a five-story House of Household opened in 1976 (1976, architect Yu. Karih). At the end of 1977, underground passages were opened at the intersection with Belinsky Street, and in mid-1980 at the intersection with Soviet Street, where various trading points operate.
In our city, there are many monumental and memorial monuments and commemorative places. On October 29, 1948, a bust monument to twice Hero of the Soviet Union, pilot-stormtrooper Talgat Yakubekovich Begeldinov, who was born and spent his youth in Frunze, was unveiled in the square opposite the former building of the Central Executive Committee (since 1967, the Historical Museum of the Kyrgyz SSR). During the Great Patriotic War, he made 305 combat sorties and destroyed many German fascist equipment and personnel (the authors of the monument are sculptor I. A. Abakumov and architect V. Veryuzhsky). In 1984, the monument was moved to the Young Guard Boulevard.
In October 1963, the republic celebrated a memorable date - the 100th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan's voluntary accession to Russia. In memory of this event, a Friendship Monument was opened in the square between Orozbekov and Panfilov Streets in 1974 (sculptors T. Sadykov, Z. Khabibulin, O. B. Bakashev, architect A. Nezhurin). Two snow-white marble pillars, soaring to a height of 30 meters, surrounded by a multi-figure ring of forged copper, symbolize the indissoluble unity of the Russian and Kyrgyz peoples. At the center of the composition are two mother figures: a Russian woman and a Kyrgyz woman. Their hands, clasped in a handshake, and their majestic, proud appearance speak of the bright present and the beautiful future of the Soviet homeland.
At the intersection of Soviet Street and Lenin Avenue, on the site of one-story nondescript buildings, a monument to the fighters of the revolution was ceremoniously opened in September 1978 (sculptor T. Sadykov, architect G. Kutateladze). On a high granite pedestal stands the figure of a woman with a flag in her hand; with the other, she points to those who gave their lives for a bright future. Two side groups symbolize the awakening of the people and their participation in the revolution.
The prototype for the figure of the woman was Urkuya Salieva, a collective farm organizer and member of the Central Executive Committee of the Kyrgyz ASSR.
Memorial plaques affixed to the multi-story building No. 163 indicate that prominent academicians of the Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz SSR lived here: the director of the automation institute, Doctor of Technical Sciences Yuri Evgenyevich Nebolyubov (1962-1973) and geologist, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, President of the Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz SSR Musa Mirzapayazovich Adyshev (1957-1979).
Large construction works were carried out in the republic in 1983-1984 in preparation for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the formation of the Kyrgyz SSR. The center of the city - the section of Lenin Avenue and Kyiv Street - turned into a huge construction site. The "Kyrgyzstan" hotel with a restaurant, the Officers' House, and other small buildings were demolished.
In their place, several modern white marble buildings appeared in a short time, majestically transforming the main square of the capital.
It is worth stopping to detail these changes, as they somewhat reflect modern trends in urban planning and architecture of the city.
On the site of the former stadium (which served as an ice rink in winter), a seven-story building was erected. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan and the Council of Ministers of the Kyrgyz SSR moved here from the old House of Government. The project authors are architects R. Mukhamediyev, U. Alymkulov, A. Zusik, V. Lazarev, V. Sultanov, V. Shevchenko, T. Samusik. The building has a classic scheme of simple rectangular outline, with four entrances, the main one facing Lenin Avenue. On this side, at the top, the republic's coat of arms and a flagpole are installed. In front of the main entrance, there are fountains. On the north side, the building adjoins the Panfilov Park of Culture and Recreation.
At the same time, a branch of the Central Museum of V. I. Lenin and a monument to the leader were erected in the main square of the capital.
A large number of architects, artists, and engineers participated in the development of the museum project and the design of the interiors. The fruit of their creative collaboration is a beautiful three-story building. The first floor houses a lobby, a hall for periodic exhibitions, and an introductory hall; above, on the other floors, are the main exhibition halls, and in the basement - a cinema-lecture hall for 300 seats, a storage room, libraries, and a cloakroom.
In terms of design and technical equipment, it is one of the best museums in the country. It is equipped with simultaneous translation in six languages: Russian, English, French, German, Spanish, and Arabic. Today, the museum has become a methodological center for the scientific and educational and ideological work of the republican party organization to deepen the study of the life and activities of V. I. Lenin, his immortal teachings, and to promote the triumph of the Leninist national policy of the party. It also contributes to a deeper study of the decisions and materials of the CPSU congresses, the works of outstanding figures of the party and government.
In front of the museum, a majestic monument to V. I. Lenin was erected. The authors are sculptors A. Kibalnikov, T. Sadykov, architects E. Kutuyev, A. Isaev.
Now the main square of Frunze has become Lenin Square. Fountains have been built on both sides, and flower beds have been laid out. Here, columns of demonstrators pass, rallies are held, and other large ceremonial events of a mass nature are organized.
In the summer of 1984, in the center of the city, at the corner of Lenin Avenue and Soviet Street, residents and guests of the capital heard the sounds of the first tower clock with chimes in Kyrgyzstan. The height of the tower is 50 m. It is part of the architectural complex of the new automated telephone exchange building. The project architects are A. Isaev, Y. Ishenov, O. Shanekov.
The building, in addition to the tower, which adjoins from the side of Lenin Avenue, consists of two blocks: the first main block is five stories high, the second is three stories high.
Here, in a spacious, well-designed room, 17 long-distance telephone booths have been installed, allowing direct contact with 47 populated points in Kyrgyzstan and the country without the help of operators. Now, there are already about 200 long-distance telephone booths operating in Frunze.
This building has undoubtedly blended well into the architectural complex of the section of Lenin Avenue and Soviet Street and has become one of the city's landmarks.
In 1985, builders presented the citizens with a wonderful gift. On Lenin Avenue, next to the "Children's World" store, a compact, beautiful two-story building "Ai-Peri" ("Moon Beauty") was built according to the project of architects K. Ibraev, M. Kerimkulov, A. Fedorov, U. Beyshenbaev. Here, under the guidance of experienced specialists, various household services are provided at a high professional level.
The central street of our capital - Lenin Avenue - becomes more and more beautiful day by day, with new beautiful houses, administrative and other buildings rising. The squares and parks adjacent to the avenue are becoming more interesting and festive.
Losev D. S., Kochkunov A. S. What the Streets Tell
Streets of Bishkek
