Destruction always becomes the mother of creation. Khitrovskaya Square in Moscow became such an example. People lived peacefully at this place until the tragedy happened. The renewed and rebuilt territory was supposed to become a kind of shopping center, but turned into a abode of social bottom.
City authorities of different time periods changed the layout of the area, modified or demolished buildings, but the name still causes mixed feelings among the population. On the one hand, this is something that resembles the market described at the beginning of the book "The Story of a Murderer" by Suskind, on the other - a beautiful square.
History of Creation
No one could have imagined that Khitrovskaya Square in Moscow would exist. If not for the sad coincidence, then who knows, perhaps to this day this territory would have remained a kind of sleeping area of the city.
When the fire of 1812 swept through Moscow, a large number of buildings were destroyed. Many houses were also burned down. Since keeping funds in treasuries orimitations of banks were not accepted; money was invested in jewelry, real estate, or simply kept at home. After the city was burned, many lost both their homes and livelihoods. Residents of two mansions in the center of the White City of Moscow were no exception.
The owners couldn't rebuild the houses themselves, and they still had to pay taxes. It was decided to sell these estates under the hammer. N. Z. Khitrovo bought them out in order to build a square and donate it to the city.
This fact is documented in the correspondence between Nikolai Zakharovich and the then governor. Thanks to the generosity of the city dweller, Moscow received a beautiful place called Khitrovskaya Square.
Plan of the area and its surroundings
The master plan depicts a square, one side surrounded by buildings, and the other by trees that would add beauty. The four "ribs" were named according to the cardinal directions.
South has placed on itself shopping arcades and residential courtyards. When Khitrovo died, these buildings passed to new owners, but have survived to this day, although slightly modified.
Khitrovskaya Square did not meet the plan of its "parent". After the death of the general, the number of shopping arcades was increased by building up the park. The location in the city center made this market extremely popular, and over time, more and more buyers and traders began to come here.
Khitrovskaya Square in the 19th century (from the second half) began a new stage in development.
Dangerous Period
In the first half of the 19th centuryAnother shopping mall was completed on the "east" side. The construction of the park area was first postponed, and then completely ignored after the construction of the "northern" and "western" sides. Some of the chambers have also survived to this day, although they have already been slightly modified both inside and outside.
Khitrovskaya Square has been gaining trading momentum every year even more.
First, before church holidays and during festivities, sellers with portable trays came out, then permanent tenants began to occupy the places.
Real hell began when a canopy was built over the area. The labor exchange was located here, and the unemployed, fugitive peasants from all over the district began to converge here in search of earnings. Many have stayed that way. For a couple of years, Khitrovskaya Square has become a haven for the destitute and drinkers. In a word, if people were looking for a place in Moscow where the social bottom was located, then it is located right here.
In addition to the dysfunctional contingent, there was also a complete collapse of any infrastructure. Lack of lighting, robbery and theft flourished in the area. The locals said they didn't need the lanterns, as they would always find their way, and there was nothing for strangers to try.
Then Khitrovskaya Square is the most dangerous place in 19th-century Moscow.
Soviet period
In 1929, a building was built on this site, which is better known as the "Iron", it housed a grocery store. lived in apartmentsmany citizens, including famous ones, for example, actor Yevgeny Morgunov.
In the 1920s, Khitrovskaya Square lost its park with rare and valuable varieties of trees. Of the former plants, only three poplars remained.
In the late 1930s, the construction of the "house with sculptures" beloved by the locals began. At the same time, a school was built as a substitute for the Conception Monastery.
Khitrovskaya Square, once the most dangerous, has lost its name. It was renamed Gorkovskaya. This toponym existed until the 60s of the XX century. His appearance is tied to the play "At the Bottom", because they believe that Maxim Gorky came here for inspiration and studied the peculiarities of the life of lost people. But this fact has no documentary evidence.
Reconstruction
The idea to restore the former appearance of the square arose back in 1996. However, it was not until 2008 that the application for restructuring was considered. Local residents were offered a project, according to which, instead of the Electromechanical College, a multi-storey building intended for offices was to appear. In addition to the building itself, it was planned to build a large parking lot for five hundred places. However, this caused resentment among local residents and local historians. Over 10,000 signatures were collected, and the historical heritage was successfully defended.
The government recently granted Khitrovka conservation status.
Attractions
Khitrovskaya Square, a dangerous place in the last century, returns to its former bright image. They often come heretake a walk and see the legendary places. Moviegoers present Morgunov, who often went out into the yard to play ball or wait for a friend.
Architectural structures are of particular value, among which is the preserved Khitrovo house, Bunin's profitable estate.
Musicians honor the square as the birthplace of the great composer Alexander Scriabin. The building founded in the 17th century, Yaroshenko's house, which at various times belonged to high-ranking officials, has also been preserved.
Among philologists, a literary salon is known, located in one of the apartments, in which the most famous writers and poets gathered. L. Kashina also lived here, who became the prototype of Anna Snegina. He and Sergei Yesenin were close friends, and the poet often came to visit.
Myths of the Square
Rumor has it that Khitrovskaya Square, once dangerous, also attracted the legendary swindler Sonya the Golden Hand. It was here that she found her social circle, could practice her skills and learn new ones. As the legends say, in one of the houses the girl hid a treasure consisting of stolen jewels, but no one has been able to find it so far. Lovers of easy money either went crazy or died under mysterious circumstances.
And there are supposedly ghosts walking the streets. They appeared when the thieves tried to enrich themselves at the expense of the Temple of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The attackers decided to make a dig, and when they were already under the sanctuary, the building could not stand it and fell right onthem. Since then, their souls have been wandering the streets and frightening passers-by with requests to pray for someone else's sin.
Another version says that the merchant-burner saw in a dream Nicholas the Wonderworker, who ordered him to steal and sell the cassock from the statue in order to resume business with this money. The man listened to him, and after a while the robe turned out to be in the same place.
Modern Square
Khitrovka is a unique district of the city not only because it managed to preserve historical buildings. This is the only place in the center of Moscow, where there are an order of magnitude more residential premises than offices and entertainment centers. Residents won the area once, and now they are ready to defend their territory again in the fight against developers.
Very often, the local population can watch the shooting of historical films on the territory of Khitrovskaya Square, which has become the pride of Moscow.
