“Preserving, creating”: an open-air museum was opened in the Ivatsevichi district

The site of historical memory “Preserving, Creating” was opened in the open air today, November 6, in the Ivatsevichi district. It is located in the center of the village of Great Gat. The project, created on the civil initiative of local residents, presents household items and old equipment. This is reported by the correspondent of sb.by.

There are already about a hundred rare exhibits: from a loom, a wooden cart, traditional beehive decks and oil mills to a fragment of a narrow-gauge railway with a model of a steam locomotive - decades ago, the narrow-gauge railway Ivatsevichi - Telekhany - Yanov-Polesssky passed through the Great Gat. The central element of the location was a memorial stone, reminding that the village was first mentioned in archival sources in 1554.

- Initially, only a commemorative sign was installed on the site. Later, residents offered to mark the historical past of the local narrow gauge, and then the idea was born to create a full-fledged historical corner, clearly reflecting the way of life of our ancestors. The foundation of the museum fund was laid by the head of the village Alexei Kudravets, who transferred here most of the exhibits from his personal collection. He has been fond of history since childhood, has equipped his own mini-museum at home, and also creates unique wood products himself, Anatoly Shchurko, Chairman of the Svyatovolsk Village Council, shares details of the creation of the exposition.

The new location gained popularity even before the official opening: people passing by often stop, all with great interest examine the exhibits.

The importance of joint work of villagers and authorities was emphasized by the Chairman of the Ivatsevichi District Executive Committee Vladimir Belov:

- This is not the first civic initiative in the Ivatsevichi district, but this is the first time that we have opened an object of this scale that is connected with historical memory. The project was implemented thanks to the enthusiasm of the population, which is very valuable. We do not plan to stop there: now we are discussing the arrangement of the canopy, and in the future, walls may appear here, so that the site will grow into a full-fledged people’s museum.

The deputy of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Oleg Kuzmin also praised the new attraction:

- It turned out to be an excellent tourist site. This project shows that only living in a peaceful country can create, create and lay a solid foundation for future generations so that our grandchildren and great-grandchildren know and remember their roots.

The appearance of the open-air museum is also welcomed by the villagers themselves. A native resident of the Great Gati Svetlana Kopytich shared her emotions:

- Such a platform is especially needed for the younger generation. Our children and grandchildren will be able to come here and get acquainted with the history of their native land. I love my village very much, so I stayed here and my husband, Victor, moved in from the nearby Holy Will. By the way, the opening of the historical site coincided with another significant holiday for the village - the 60th anniversary of the Velikogatskaya secondary school, within the walls of which 60 students are studying today.

Natalia Skorupich, foreman of the livestock production team of OJSC “Svyatoya Volya”, who is from Gantsevichi district, shared her impressions, but came here 25 years ago on the distribution that ultimately determined her fate:

- I love this village and its good-natured people. The opening of the open-air museum is an important event for all of us and our children.

It is very nice to see people passing by stop and study the exhibition with interest.

It is worth noting that the Great Gat today is a promising and developing village, the second largest in the village council, recently new streets have grown in the village. Now about 500 people live here, including many young families, for whom OJSC “Saint Will” builds housing. Five new homes were commissioned last year and construction will continue next year. Local residents are provided with jobs with decent wages, and the entire infrastructure of the economy is fully adapted for a comfortable life.