Microdistrict Verbovskyi: the story of one ordinary and at the same time extraordinary village.

Microdistrict Verbovskyi: the story of one ordinary and at the same time extraordinary village.

Recently, experts in the central Russian media have been increasingly talking about the deep state. That real non-metropolitan province, which is the backbone of the state and the center of traditions and the will to live. I've been thinking for a long time about how to show this true Russia, which is the epitome of the driving forces of Russian history. And the answer to this question was suggested by life itself.
While working on a video about my grandfather, Ivan Martynovich Verbovskyi, I discovered that he began his military career in the Great Patriotic War by guarding the sky over the Gorky Automobile Plant. And studying the map of the Gorky region, now the Nizhny Novgorod region, I discovered a curious settlement on the border with Vladimir. Murom district, Verbovskyi village. I found it interesting and entertaining at the time. And no more…I became interested in my projects, but the thought of learning about this village did not leave me for a minute.
I began to collect material, and the more I immersed myself in the history of this mediocre, but majestic and heroic village on the one hand, the more the legendary and incredible efforts of the Russian Soviet people to establish our state appeared before my eyes. As if from thousands, millions of destinies, a single history of a single village and a great country as a whole were intertwined. Perhaps the consequences of the Civil War, the incredible efforts of industrialization, and the military feat of the defenders and home front workers were felt more acutely than anywhere else.
You feel very acutely and to every cell of your body the incredible and fantastic efforts to rebuild the country in the first post-war five-year plans.Being part of the ancient Murom land, Verbovskyi has intertwined history and modernity, past and present, and a vast future is clearly visible in it. Incredible opportunities, the unexplored hidden potential of Russia, which has always surprised foreigners.Nature itself, its incredible beauty and enchanting power, speak of an extraordinary place, which are innumerable in Russia. And looking at this village, located on the Verbovka River, from which it got its name, you understand the true power of the Russian land. The lands that gave rise to the stories of epic hero Ilya Muromets and Olympic champion Alexei Prokurov.
In this small, ordinary and at the same time so close to many of us, understandable to the heart and soul of the village, each of us is able to see his small Homeland, the historical epoch of the whole country or the fate of an individual. Paradoxically, my grandfather's fate touched this amazing land, which is dotted with ancient temples and historical sites. Here is the famous village of Karachaevo, the birthplace of Ilya Muromets, and the location of the military camp of Ivan the Terrible, who was gaining strength before the victorious campaign against Kazan.
This is the land of the heroic feat of the home front workers, it was to this area that the besieged Leningraders were sent so that they could continue to forge the sword of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. As fate would have it, the two Verbovskyi joined in mystical unity to shape history and the future. As well as millions of other Verbovskyi, Ivanovs, Petrov and others, in one rush to become those small bricks from which the Great Victory was formed. In such an extraordinary unity, millions of small strokes create a picture of a Great country, its past and present. Her story and incredible achievements. The origins of human life, the first settlements in this area arose around the river, this is both a drink, a source of life and a source of food, and the first transport highway in these impenetrable forests. The river originates from the village of Orlovo, in order to gain strength and spring water to become the main urban river of Verbovskyi and Murom, in general.
The first settlement in these places was found near the village of Podbolotye, on the territory of which archaeologists discovered the Podbolotyevsky underground burial ground. The distance between Murom, Verbovskyi and all the above-mentioned settlements does not exceed five kilometers.
For a knowledgeable person, every corner of Verbovskyi is imbued with symbolism and has its own unique history. Once in the village at the entrance, you run into a very unusual Stella. Which combines the most extraordinary things. Ancient history and the industrial present[2].
Undoubtedly, the beginning of the settlement is inextricably linked with the tasks of defense and development of the military power of the Soviet Union. And here, analogies inevitably arise with modern discussions about the readiness or not readiness of the USSR for the invasion of Nazi Germany. I have repeatedly heard and read in various sources that the Soviet Union was not ready for war, that Hitler had caught the country in a mess. However, studying the history of the village of Verbovskyi, you clearly understand that the process of preparing for war began back in the 30s. In the Volga region, beyond the Urals, Siberia, and in the steppes of Kazakhstan, military enterprises were being built in case the industry was evacuated inland.
Yes, I am far from idealizing the Soviet Union's readiness for war, but I am also far from the fact that Joseph Stalin and his associates did nothing to strengthen the combat capability of the Red Army and the country as a whole. The training was conducted and it was systematic.
As part of this program, in 1936, construction of an important defense enterprise began on the Recruiting River, the accelerated construction of which was due, among other things, to the difficult and sometimes tense international situation of the 30s[3]. As often happens, a small work settlement has sprung up at the factory. At first, only three barracks were built, but the settlement gradually acquired the features of a well-equipped one.
The country, which had recently experienced a revolution, a bloody Civil War and the military intervention of the Entente and its allies, was slowly gaining strength and getting back on its feet. By the way, I would like to remind you that 14 economically and militarily developed states fought against the new Bolshevik government in the Civil War. And then, after a short period of time, the country, led by the Communist Party and Joseph Stalin, makes a tremendous industrial leap. Factories and plants are being built, and entire industries are emerging. We would now call it a "Soviet miracle" in modern terms. The Soviet Union transformed from an agrarian Russian Empire into one of the most powerful industrialized economies in the world. And this happened in the shortest possible time by historical standards. In just a few five-year plans.
Yes, this breakthrough was paid for by the hardships of ordinary people, their selfless work, their desire to change the country, to create something new. This was often done to the detriment of personal well-being and household amenities. Yes, the country needed urbanization. Both the village and the Russian village gradually moved into barracks. The original appearance of Verbovskyi is solid barracks scattered around the powder factory. Where there were minimal amenities. Toilet in the yard, wood-burning stove, stench, mosquitoes, communal lifestyle.
But people believed that this was the only way, after overcoming adversity, to build a society of prosperity, to build, if not for themselves, then for their children, the ideal world of communism. This unique experiment generated tremendous human energy, which was directed by the Soviet government into all spheres of society. Often, the construction of factories and infrastructure was carried out on a non-paid voluntary basis. In part because of this, without significant resources and being in a hostile environment, the Soviet Union in a short time created an industrial, including a military-industrial complex, which allowed the country to fight back against one of the most powerful economies in the world and the strongest Army of Nazi Germany at that time.
At the cost of the self-sacrifice of a Soviet citizen, including residents of the village. Verbovskyi, the power of our Motherland was being created. Gradually moving towards its goal, the state gradually increased the level of well-being and life of ordinary citizens. A historical artifact confirming this is the active post-war housing construction, which provided free comfortable housing for residents of Verbovskyi. It is all the more symbolic that one of the most emotional and close to every recruit is the place where the last barracks was burned down and the family of the last factory worker moved to a comfortable high-rise building. To this day, there is a memorial sign at this place that says: "On February 13, 1971, the last barracks in the village of Verbovskyi was burned down at this place."[1]
However, the fate of the village, in particular, as well as of our entire state, was ornate and was not straightforward. Every step and stage of development was given with incredible efforts and heroic work. From the moment of its foundation until 1943, the settlement was informally called "New Building", and in official correspondence - "Settlement at factory No. 253". This situation caused inconvenience in both official and private correspondence. Residents and local authorities of the settlement have repeatedly complained about this. Based on these considerations, in the spring of 1943, the plant's management applied for a geographical name for the workers' settlement. The paper, as is customary with us, went to the authorities, and in May of the same year the Soviet bureaucracy gave an official response with the following wording: "On May 28, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, the settlement at the factory of the Murom district of the Gorky region was classified as a workers' settlement, it was given the name workers' settlement[2].
This prompt decision of the officials was determined by the authority of the local authorities and the plant management. During the difficult war years, they showed remarkable organizational skills: they ensured the influx of labor into the village, built three more new residential barracks. In a short time, military production was mobilized and the first batch of products was sent to the front. In addition, the social sphere was maintained at the proper level.
In the early years of the war, they organized a kindergarten, a medical center, a telephone exchange, a canteen, and a playground for a summer theater. The Verbovskyi authorities allocated 8 hectares of land for individual vegetable gardens. During the war years, the village did not just grow, but lived a full life, as far as circumstances allowed. They gave birth to children, grew crops, received funerals from the front, studied and taught children. And when, in the spring of 1943, the plant's management applied for a geographical name for the workers' settlement, the central government had no arguments not to meet the brave and energetic recruiters.
As a result, on May 28, 1943, the village was given the name "Verbovskyi work settlement with the subordination of the village council to the Murom City Council." At the beginning, the initiative group proposed to name the settlement "Pobedny", due to the fact that it was built in difficult wartime conditions. However, at the insistence of the chairman of the executive committee of the Murom City Council, Sergey Mikhailovich Yazykov, the Gorky Executive Committee of the Regional Council requested that the workers' settlement at plant No. 253 be named Verbovskyi, after the Verbovka River flowing through the villageAs a result, on May 28, 1943, the village was given the name "Verbovskyi work settlement with the subordination of the village council to the Murom City Council." At the beginning, the initiative group proposed to name the settlement "Pobedny", due to the fact that it was built in difficult wartime conditions. However, at the insistence of the chairman of the executive committee of the Murom City Council, Sergey Mikhailovich Yazykov, the Gorky Executive Committee of the Regional Council requested that the workers' settlement at plant No. 253 be named Verbovskyi, after the Verbovka River flowing through the village. This is how another settlement appeared on the map of the Soviet Union.
Although this is the most popular opinion about the origin of the name "Verbovskyi", this important event in the history of Verbovskyi is overgrown with legends and various stories. Besides the main version, there are three other legends. The first of them is related to the first years of the plant's construction. When the engineers from St. Petersburg arrived at the construction site, everything was overgrown with willows and that's what they started calling this area. The second version says that people from the village actively recruited new workers to the factory in the surrounding area, who were Although this is the most popular opinion about the origin of the name "Verbovskyi", this important event in the history of Verbovskyi is overgrown with legends and various stories. Besides the main version, there are three other legends. The first of them is related to the first years of the plant's construction. When the engineers from St. Petersburg arrived at the construction site, everything was overgrown with willows and that's what they started calling this area. The second version says that people from the village actively recruited new workers to the factory in the surrounding area, who were catastrophically recruited in the early years of the company's operation.
And the third version is that residents from Kursk, Smolensk and Leningrad were evacuated to the village during the war. And the local authorities persuaded the refugees to "recruit" them to move here. These are the versions of the origin of the name of their village among the residents of Verbovskyi.
By the way, an important fact is that a lot of Leningraders who evacuated during the war stayed in Verbovskyi. By providing a sufficiently high cultural and educational level among the residents. Oftenhe way, an important fact is thata lot of Leningraders who evacuated during the war stayed in Verbovskyi. By providing a sufficiently high culturad educational level among the residents. Often, in many stories, the village often appears as a corner of the northern capital (by the way, the main street is also called Leningradskaya. -V.V.). There is also an opinion that Verbovskyi was built according to the Leningrad project, and the builders were the besiegers of St. Petersburg-Leningraders.
The location of the village is unique. It was located in an old forest, they tried to save the century-old pines during construction, and if the tree grew a couple of meters from the building under construction, it was forbidden to cut down. The workers swore, but they did not dare to cut down. This is the Russian character, his ability to do things through can't, to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles[2].
It so happened that, like many Soviet small towns, as a result, they were divided into the Old (administrative) and New
The technological breakthrough and the enormous development of the Soviet Union in the post-war period is shown by the construction of a 98-meter bridge in the village across the Verbovka River. In 1977, according to the factory design assignment and the numerous requests and efforts of the plant's director, Genady Nikolaevich Karachev, director of the Murom (Verbovskyi) Instrument-making Plant, the Gorky branch of DORNII developed a technical design for a bridge over the Verbovka River. Instead of the temporary one, which was erected in 1939 and served faithfully for almost 40 years.
The scale and complexity of the work at that time were beyond doubt. They required a sufficiently high level of engineering specialists and the use of advanced technologies at that time. The country possessed both. This made it possible to build a bridge in the shortest possible time, which became the calling card of Verbovskyi. On November 4, 1978, specially loaded vehicles began a trial run along the 98-meter-high beautiful bridge, which replaced the winding, hunchbacked "old man". Remarkably, the bridge was designed in the style of Leningrad bridges [1].
After the bridge was built, the newlyweds chose it as one of the visiting points along the route of parting with bachelor life. The openwork fences of the new bridge began to be replenished with a collection of locks, and the Recruitment River became a "repository" of keys to them.
It is also necessary to note the special status of Verbovskyi, located at a distance from the urban core of Murom. The village organizes its own Christmas tree for the New Year, a procession to the memorials and fireworks on May 9th. Without a doubt, Verbovskyi could well become a city. There is everything you need for this: the population, the area. The village has a Cultural center, a stadium with football hockey fields and tennis courts, a hotel, a hospital, a factory, a post office, schools, a disco, Sberbank branches, bars, a large number of shops, and much more.
There was a time when the residents of the village applied for the assignment of the status of a city to Verbovskyi. Unfortunately, the request was rejected due to the fact that the village was too close to the city of Murom. Verbovskyi has been a microdistrict of the city of Murom since 1997 to the present day. This became a logical policy of consolidation of administrative centers, which swept across the country. And although at the moment, Verbovskyi is no longer an independent geographical unit, it is still colloquially referred to by Muromites and former Verbovites as a village.
Undoubtedly, the attraction of the neighborhood is the people living in Verbovskyi. The rapid post-war economic development of the Soviet Union led to an improvement in the lives of citizens, their well-being, and in turn, an increase in the birth rate of the population. This was accompanied by urbanization and the enlargement of cities due to the influx of rural residents. This process is vividly characterized by the statistics of population growth in Verbovskyi: in 1959 — 4,700 people; in 1970 — 8,500 people; in 1979 — 14,200 people; in 1989 — 18,600 people. Currently (2010) — about 15,000 people[2]. The village was notable not only for its population growth, but also for the quality of its natives. For a small number of people, the village gave the country two Olympic champions. Two outstanding recruiting athletes: skier Alexey Prokurov and football player Viktor Losev.
Many talented engineers and employees of the plant, figures in the field of education and culture have inscribed themselves in the glorious chronicle of the working village of Verbovskyi. And how many names of factory engineers who work at the military plant are classified to this day. For a long time, Murom and the Verbovskyi microdistrict were closed military settlements. Only after the collapse of the Soviet Union, this status was lifted.
In the 90s and early noughties, the importance of the Verbovskyi Instrument-making plant for the life and development of the village was acutely manifested.
Even during the most difficult years of the "Yeltsin devastation," the plant's management found an opportunity to earn money. There were well-groomed territories and roses around the enterprise, and the lawn was always mowed[1]. In these difficult times, the company paid attention to the training of new personnel. This has been a distinctive activity of the military enterprise throughout the history of its existence. This was especially evident in Soviet times.
The need for qualified specialists and engineering personnel gave an unprecedented impetus to the development of science and education in the 60-70s in the country. The village of Verbovskyi did not stay away from this process either. Therefore, we can say with full confidence that the economic development of the village is inextricably linked with the development of the city-forming enterprise, and its future depended on the qualifications of employees and their educational level. Although the first educational institution, the Podbolotskaya school, as an elementary school, was built at the expense of the zemstvo at the end of the 19th century. And in 1928, an extension was made to the building, the school received the status of a seven-year-old, in which the children of the pioneers began their studies. It was only in 1942 that it became part of the Murom municipality and received the status of secondary school No. 14.
Like the whole village, the school actively participated in defensive measures, from 1943 to 1944. one wing was occupied by a hospital and part of the classes were taught in a kindergarten, which was located on the site of the modern Pyaterochka store ("Dawn"). On November 16, 1944, by order of the City Council No. 41 dated 10/14/1944, schools for working youth were opened (hereinafter. - SHRM). Which trained returning veterans after the end of the war, and young people who entered the factory.
The nationwide SRM program in the country became the only platform for preparing for admission to technical schools and universities in general. On the administrative side of Verbovskyi, on March 15, 1947, the foundation of a new wooden school began to be laid, and on December 8, grades 1 to 4 began to be filled, and until 1953 it operated as a branch of the school.
No. 14 for elementary grades. And a little later, on August 10, 1966, the Murom City Council adopted decision No. 312, Protocol No. 16, on the transfer of high school students from schools No. 2 and No. 14 to school No. 18, and the reorganization of school No. 14 on the administrative side into an eight-year school, and Podbolotsky school No. 2 into an elementary one. Mikhail Ivanovich Ermakov, plant director, opened school No. 18 and now it bears his name. Mikhail Matveyevich Pogodin, a history teacher and a participant in the Great Patriotic War, was appointed the first director of the school. School No. 2 was headed by Sokolov Sergey Nikolaevich [3].
Career guidance in schools originated at the time of the gathering of street children by Dzerzhinsky and Lunacharsky in the Makarenko commune and existed before the collapse of the USSR. In the new school, attention was paid to labor education. At that time, the school was called Murom Comprehensive Labor Polytechnic School No. 18 named after the 50th Anniversary of Soviet Power. The date of the complete completion of the school's construction can be called October 5, 1993, when the junior classes celebrated a housewarming party in the new building for 20 classes.
In those years, good traditions were born in the school, and its chronicle began. At the initiative of the school administration, various clubs and movements were created that dealt with the history and culture of their native land. Cosmonauts Pavel Popovich and Valery Kubasov, writer Galina Serebryakova and many other famous people visited the school.
For the first time in the city, a language lab is equipped for school students. And in 1975, the school museum of Military glory was opened. Together with Mikhail Matveevich, a close-knit team of like-minded enthusiasts worked at the school. In 1969, a children's music school was opened in the village of Verbovskyi.2. The school employed 10 teachers in the following fields: piano, bayan, accordion, violin, domra, balalaika, guitar. In 2006, the Children's Music School No. 2 was renamed the Children's Art School, as an art class was opened. There are currently 19 teachers working at the school.
In addition to labor education, patriotic education has always played a significant role in educational institutions. A very important and iconic place for Verbovskyi in this regard is the memorial to the fallen soldiers, which was erected in the neighborhood on May 9, 1975. A composition of marching soldiers and a free-standing figure of the commander, on the memorial and the inscription "To the soldiers who fell in the Great Patriotic War." Sculptor L. Berlin, architects: M. Lifanov, M. Sinev, N. Bespalov. Not being a frontline city, being deep in the rear, the recruiters did everything to win, many went to the front, and those who remained produced the products necessary for the front[1]. At the same time, Zavodskaya Street was renamed 30 Let Pobedy Street, and Tsentralnaya Street was renamed Leningradskaya Street. 174 names were carved on the memorial plaques near the monument. The guys from the search team of school No. 2, through the archives of the Ministry of Defense with military enlistment offices and thanks to other available sources, identified 38 more names of those who died at the front of the recruiters. These names were inscribed on memorial plaques in 2010, on the 65th anniversary of Victory Day. Do not forget about the special treatment of children in Recruitment. There is a sculpture "Children" in the village, as well as a monument to labor dedicated to all the workers of the settlement on the Verbovka River.
The story of the creation of Olympic champion Alexei Prokurov Square is symbolic and instructive, with a touch of tragedy. The winner of the Olympic Games in Kalgori in 1988, a native of the village, an outstanding skier Alexei Alekseevich Prokurov, was hit by a drunk driver on October 10, 1988. In honor of the outstanding countryman, the residents of the city decided to reconstruct the half-abandoned park. And on October 10, 2015, to mark the tragic date of the Olympic champion's death, Alexei Prokurov Square was opened. There is no doubt that the Prosecutor's Square is one of the main attractions of Verbovskyi. For many years, during the period of "Yeltsin's desolation", like the whole country, the village, as well as the square, were in a depressing state. An inoperable fountain, broken asphalt pavement, broken dirty benches — this has been the look of the Square for many years. It is important to note that most of the residents of the village took part in the reconstruction of the square. For 8 months, the network was full of heated discussions about the upcoming reconstruction, and when the reconstruction began, residents, along with local authorities, actively participated in quality control of the work performed. An interesting fact is that a week before the opening, benches were installed and a fountain was decorated. The playground has become very popular. Before the workers had time to install the complex, parents began to bring their children here, tearing down the security tape. This is probably due to the lack of playgrounds in Verbovskyi for many years. A well-known problem of the 90s and early noughties. For some Recruiters, such complexes were really "new" at that time.
There was also a sign on the square that read:"The memorial sign was erected in tribute to the memory of the Olympic champion of our countryman Alexei Prokurov at the initiative of the residents of the Murom district." In addition, the entrance group has been completely renovated as a result of the renovation. A good solution is the ring part of the territory, which is paved and designed for roller skating and cycling. The benches located on the square are pleasantly surprising with their convenience. Among other things, special attention should be paid to the fountain located in the center. It was built according to a unique design and has the shape of the Olympic flame bowl of the 1988 Calgary Olympics. The fountain features the image of the Olympic Games symbol, the silhouette of a skier and the autograph of Alexei Prokurarov.
Also, in the evening, multi-colored lighting turns on at the fountain, which attracts dozens of children and their parents. The renovation of the square was completed on October 9, and it was opened on the 17th. Several thousand Murom residents came to the grand opening. The ceremony was hosted by Dmitry Guberniev, a well-known TV presenter and sports commentator for the Rossiya-2 TV channel. Three-time Olympic champion Anfisa Reztsova, two-time Olympic champion Olga Danilova, Alexey Prokurarov's parents and his sister were also invited among the guests of honor.
"The opening of the square named after the Olympic champion is a significant event for the whole of Russia," said Dmitry Guberniev. "It is also significant that streets are usually named after athletes, but an entire square is probably the only such case in Murom!" said the famous presenter[2].
Still, the history of the village began with the factory and was closely connected with it. And the future of Verbovskyi is still unthinkable without JSC Murom Instrument-Making Plant (formerly FSUE MPZ). It is no coincidence that it is also called the Verbovskyi Factory, the military factory or the powder factory, before it also had the colloquial name Leningrad, "because Leningraders evacuated from Leningrad during the war worked there." Dangerous production has repeatedly led to accidents, disabilities and deaths. The employees who work at the company are brave and courageous people by right.
Currently, the Open Joint Stock Company Murom Instrument-Making Plant is one of the main Russian enterprises specializing in the production of means of initiation for ammunition of all branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Army.
One of the main activities of the company is the production of igniter caps for all types of civilian, service and sports weapons. Following modern trends in economic development, the company actively uses dual-use technologies. The plant is actively developing and manufacturing initiation devices for various fire extinguishing systems.
At the same time, the company is steadily working on expanding the range of products and on the quality of those already produced. FGUP MPZ has high technical potential, modern equipment and qualified specialists. Cooperates in a number of developments with the leading scientific and technical enterprises of the country. The plant's products are supplied to the Russian and world markets. Do not forget the important geographical location of the plant, it is located 300 kilometers from Moscow, near important roads and railways. It has its own access roads on the Gorky Railway.
Among other things, with the assistance of the plant, the infrastructure of the village of Verbovskyi has been developing and is developing. With the participation and assistance of the enterprise, the Verbovskyi House of Culture was built. Leningradskaya St., 13. The need to build this institution was explained by the fact that in the 50s, every summer, young specialists who graduated from institutes and technical schools came to work at the Murom (Verbovskyi) Instrument-Making Plant for distribution, which brought novelty to the life of the village. The old factory club became cramped and could not accommodate everyone who wanted to get into it. The issue was brought to a meeting of the plant's party assets, which was held at the club with a large gathering of people in 1958. M.I. Ermakov presented the author's project of the Korfeld House of Culture to the public.
For greater persuasiveness and clarity, posters with colorful images of fragments of the future cultural center of the village were hung on the walls of the old club. If you consider that the comments to all this splendor were given by the director of the plant himself, then you can imagine what the effect was. The participants of the meeting, inspired by a beautiful idea, were ready to get to work immediately, especially the young people [2].
On May 5, 1958, the foundation of the future House of Culture was laid under the leadership of foreman A.G. Murindin, a participant in the Great Patriotic War. On Saturdays and during non-working hours, Komsomol members made more than a million bricks for the construction of a Cultural center, but the unexpected happened. It was at this time that a government decree was issued prohibiting the construction of social and cultural facilities from the company's fund. That's how a good and necessary thing for everyone came to a standstill. However, the work that had begun had already gained momentum, and the idea had captured the minds, so in contrast to the obstacles that had arisen, it was decided to contact higher-level organizations with a letter on behalf of the Komsomol organization of the plant. In their appeal, the Komsomol members made commitments to work on the new building free of charge, after hours.
No additional funds were allocated for the construction of the House of Culture, but it was not closed either. The plant subsidized the work, however, the shock Komsomol construction site did not work out at the first stage of construction. As a result, through the joint efforts of the public, the beautiful House of Culture was completed. The symbol of any Soviet settlement is the monument to Lenin, and Verbovskyi is no exception. The monument was erected on the eve of the 90th anniversary of the birth of the leader of the October Revolution in front of the building of the House of Culture under construction. Opening of the five-meter monument to V.I. To Lenin, it was accompanied by a rally, which was held with a large gathering of people. There were many speeches, but the main thought that united them was the belief in a bright communist future.
On August 12, 1962, the opening of the new House of Culture took place with a spacious foyer and a place for an orchestra, with wide marble stairs, a large cinema hall with 600 seats and a stage, small and sports halls, a ballet studio with machines and mirrors for classes, rooms for club work and a huge beautiful chandelier in the large auditorium. Music was blaring, the buffet was open, and tables with treats were set in the gym. The holiday was long-awaited, earned by common labor, because the construction dragged on for four long years and practically all residents of the village participated in the new building - from young to old.
The floors were lined with parquet, and the stairs were made of marble. People came to see the chandelier installed in the hall as a miracle. The director of the plant, M.I. Ermakov, received 7 reprimands for all this beauty, and it is difficult to imagine how many roads the suppliers traveled and the deputy director of supply, N.I. Finogenov, bypassed the offices. A.A. Khlebnikov often acted as a petitioner, and quite successfully. The furniture was brought by suppliers from the Baltic States, a separate story is how and where the curtain for the stage was obtained. Special attention was paid to the builders - those who began to build the House of Culture from the zero cycle to the finishing work. Over time, much is erased in people's memory, so it is difficult to list all the participants in the construction, but it is known from the chronicle of those years that I.V. Kurbatov's team of 14 people laid out 400 cubic meters of rubble masonry in half a month, fulfilling the plan by 152 percent.
Two Komsomol youth brigades were constantly working on the construction of the House of Culture. The women's Komsomol brigade was led by Lidia Romanova (Prokhorskaya), and the boys' brigade was led by Gennady Zaitsev.
The building of the House of Culture houses three libraries: a children's library, an adult library, and a party library with a reading room. A room was allocated for the party office, where meetings, seminars, and classes with party activists and agitators were held. There was a billiard room in one of the rooms of the Recreation center. 4 concert grand pianos, 3 pianos, 4 bayans, 1 accordion, two sets of instruments for a brass band, and a large number of stage costumes were purchased for the musicians of the House of Culture.
16 clubs immediately started working in the recreation center: brass, variety, vocal and instrumental, dance, three drama clubs, the reciter's theater, vocal ensembles, two circus groups, a children's choir and a veteran choir, and an agit team.
The first director of the House of Culture (until 1963) was A.V. Timin, he was replaced by S.A. Bolotnov, who worked in this capacity until 1971, skillfully organizing the work of the team. During this period, the recreation center was a real leisure center for the residents of the village. In subsequent years, the work of the House of Culture was headed by: Ya.M. Sverdlov, V.L. Simonov, V.I. Kulik, V.N. Afanasyev. As a result, nowadays, the municipal budgetary cultural institution House of Culture "Verbovskyi" was created on the basis of the House of Culture of the Murom Instrument-Making Plant, which in 1998 was transferred to municipal ownership (Decree of the head of the city of Murom, Vladimir region, dated 02/18/1998, No. 272).
In honor of the outstanding director of the plant, grateful recruiters named Alea. It's called Ermakov Alley. And on the memorial plaque, which is located on the alley, it is indicated that it was named by grateful recruiters in honor of Colonel-General Mikhail Ivanovich Ermakov, director of the plant in 1956-1967, who made a significant contribution to the development of the plant and the village." In addition to the House of Culture, Verbovskyi is known for its temples.
In 2003, a cross was erected on the central square of the village of Verbovskyi and, with the blessing of Archbishop Evlogy, construction of a new church in honor of St. Andrew the First-Called began. The construction lasted 6 years and was led by the rector of the church, St. Peter the Great. Priest Nikolai Simchuk of Ilya Muromets.
On December 10, 2009, the church of St. Andrew the First-Called was consecrated by Archbishop Evlogy of Vladimir and Suzdal and is currently the main one visited in the parish. In 2010, the parish was re-registered. Ilya Muromets in the parish of St. Andrew the First-Called. The church of St. Peter became an attached temple. Ilya Muromets. The church contains an Ark with a fragment of the relics of St. Andrew the First-Called; the Icon of the Mother of God "Muromskaya"; the Icon of St. Peter the Great. Ilya Muromets with a fragment of the relics (handed over by the monks of the Kiev Caves Lavra); Icon of St. John the Baptist. Job and Amphiophilus of Pochaev with a fragment of the relics; Icon of St. Peter the Great. Alexandra Diveevskaya with a piece of relics. There is a Sunday school at the church. A special place in the architecture of the city is occupied by the church of Ilya Muromets at the Verbovskyi cemetery. This is a relatively new church in the city cemetery. A single-domed brick building in the Novgorod style. There is a small quadrangular bell tower above the western entrance. The church was consecrated on January 1, 1998. In 2010, the parish was re-registered. Ilya Muromets in the parish of St. Andrew the First-Called. The Church of St. Peter Ilya Muromets became attached to the church of St. Andrew the First-Called. In the church of St. Peter. Funeral services are held for Ilya of Murom and the Divine Liturgy (for the repose) is celebrated every Saturday. A memorial service or litany for the deceased is served every day at 10:00. The temple is open from 8:00 to 16:00 seven days a week. The Church of Ilya Muromets at the Verbovskyi cemetery was consecrated on the saint's memorial day on January 1, 1998. Since then, the last send-off has been held under the arches of this church, if the funeral service did not take place in the city churches.
We are already finding a place for the heroism of the recruiters in our days, when coniferous forests were burning in the district in 2010, the community of the village united and defended its settlement from destruction. The location of dangerous production facilities nearby added to the urgency of the situation. With incredible efforts, in 2010, the trouble passed by Verbovskyi. Even during the dashing nineties, when the devastation peeked out of all the cracks, the plant managed to stay afloat. The villagers knew that the success of the plant was the improvement of the village, their personal well–being. Flowers and Bulgarian rose bushes grew on the lawns, which no one tore or trampled. Surrounded by greenery, the village was convenient for both living and recreation. There were rumors that the asphalt was being brushed on Verbovskyi. Rumors are rumors, but the villagers, who were collected by the factory bus at the beginning of the shift and transported after the shift, gradually moved from the villages to the factory dormitories, and then received comfortable apartments with all amenities.
According to many visitors to the former village, and now one of the neighborhoods of Murom, in terms of beauty and comfort, this is the second Switzerland. Indeed, the progress of the infrastructure is obvious, comfortable houses with social culture and leisure facilities have appeared on the site of barracks and dugouts. And although most of the buildings are buildings of the Soviet era, and in this matter, after the long stagnation of the 90s, albeit timid, but still changes begin. So relatively recently, on July 13, 2017, after the lull of the 90s, a modern cinema "Verba" was opened in the House of Culture. A very important tradition of the village is that Verbovsky's children also take part in memory preservation. In particular, in 2013, a regional pioneer rally was held at school No. 2, dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the lifting of the blockade, to which not only the surviving witnesses of those events, but also children and grandchildren of people evacuated from Leningrad were invited. Without a doubt, preserving the history of the village, its traditions, comfort and coziness is unthinkable without people devoted to the plant and the village. This is confirmed by the factory museum, in which, next to the list of those awarded State awards, you can see 23 employees who have served at the plant for more than 50 years. They gave their destinies and the best years of their lives to the factory, and therefore to the village. Despite the fact that the decline in the standard of living of Russian cities and villages during the Yeltsin reforms, with the assistance of consultants from Europe and the United States from 1991 to the early 2000s, had tragic consequences for the country as a whole. Descendants will probably remember this along with the events of the Tatar-Mongol invasion, palace coups, peasant riots and campaigns against Russia by Napoleon Bonaparte and Hitler. At the same time, with the active resistance of the residents of such cities, individual enthusiasts, and their selfless love for their small homeland, including by recruiters, the legacy of their predecessors was largely preserved.
In this regard, the restoration of the park and the construction of the Prosecutor's Square became a very symbolic moment in the history of the village. The construction of the square, undoubtedly a symbol of the revival of the village, gave hope for the revival of deep provincial Russia. Those abandoned corners of our vast Homeland, where people created the greatness of the Soviet Union and Russia with their labor and fates.

Sources and literature:

1. "The glorious path of the MPZ 1941 – 2011" Moscow, The whole Sergiev Posad. 2011.
2.Verbovskyi microdistrict, Murom//http://lubovbezusl.ru/publ/istorija/murom/r/48-1-0-2259
3. Leningrad blockade runners in Муроме/https://murom-mama.ru/stati/intervyu-s/leningradtsy-blokadniki-v-murome-chast-3-glava-10-mpz-rabochiy-posyolok.html