The tour was titled "A Journey Through the Pages of an Unpublished Book (about Electrotrans and Beyond...)" and was conducted by local historian Andrii Shynkarenko.
How can one learn the history of the development of Mykolaiv's tram transport? First, by reading a book; second, by hearing it directly from the author while traveling through the city on a tram. Thirty-seven residents took advantage of this opportunity.
The tour began near the Marko Kropyvnytskyi Central Library. Participants were greeted by a festively decorated local history tram. This raised the travelers' spirits, and a cozy atmosphere filled the cabin. Then, the Mykolaiv residents were treated to an engaging story from the well-known local historian.
It was a journey not only through the city, but also through time. From the history of the emergence of the Mykolaiv tram to subtle details we pass by every day without even suspecting their past.
The tram route ran from the library to the Yacht Club. On Kotelna Street, they talked about the birth of tram traffic in Mykolaiv; on Slobidka, they recalled the former Mykolaiv Women's College (Mariinskyi High School); and in the People's Garden (Narodnyi Sad), they learned about the history of the citizens' favorite recreation spot and its names in different eras.
During the tour, Pan Andrii paid special attention to the "Belgian booths" and the metal horse-tram poles, which today are true architectural electric symbols of the city. Once part of cutting-edge infrastructure, they have now become witnesses to history.
Andrii Shynkarenko revealed Mykolaiv from unexpected angles. Participants learned about the city's first electric technologies, the history of the London–Calcutta telegraph line that passed through the city, the development of the water supply system, ancient springs, and the Turkish Fountain. Curious pages of the past were also recalled: corruption stories during the construction of the horsecar line and ticket counterfeiting. The local historian also mentioned tram accidents that occurred in the city in the past century.
A tram stop near the Builders' House of Culture revealed the history of the Sukhyi Fontan neighborhood, and near the Yacht Club, they discussed the second Spaskyi Spring, which came in handy for Mykolaiv residents at the beginning of the full-scale war when municipal tap water was cut off. Even the Mykolaiv catacombs turned out to be connected to the ancient water pipe!
The leitmotif of the journey was Andrii Shynkarenko's upcoming book. Tour participants were the first to hear its title – "AES of Mykolaiv." And no, it is not about a nuclear power plant! "AES" stands for Architectural Electric Symbols of our city. The book, which is being prepared for publication by Iryna Hudym Publishing, will tell the history of electrotrans and its infrastructure.
The tour was organized by the Marko Kropyvnytskyi Central Library and the Mykolaiv City Council Communal Enterprise Mykolaivelectrotrans with the support of the Culture and Arts Department of the Mykolaiv City Council.
The journey through time and the city, highlighted by Mykolaiv's "tram story," was a success. Even the rain did not get in the way. Mykolaiv revealed pages of its history from a new angle to those who were ready to read them attentively.
We sincerely thank Andrii Shynkarenko for the captivating narration, and the Mykolaiv City Council Communal Enterprise Mykolaivelectrotrans for the opportunity to see the city through the tram windows and hear its history.
The tram tour brought this year's "Veshtanka on the Buh" Book and Reading Festival to the home stretch.
Goodbye to the 2nd Festival, and see you at the next one!
