“There are three capitals…”: History and “urban text” of Lukhovitsy according to the townspeople

Abstract

In the summer of 2019, as part of the project “The People’s History of Russia” (https://pastandnow.ru/), an expedition took place to the town of Lukhovitsy, Moscow region. The aim of this field trip was to study local collective memory, urban text and vernacular districts, as well as to study how the residents assess the history of the town and the changes that have occurred in more than 60 years since its foundation. Eleven in-depth interviews were taken, mainly with senior citizens, who were present in person during the formation of the city and its active development in the Soviet era. The daily practices of the townspeople and their behavior in public spaces were observed. City branding of Lukhovitsy was also studied (city museum, monuments, billboards, media). The article also contains materials on the “people’s history” of Lukhovitsy - local residents’ stories about the urban space and their life, closely related to the history of the city, - about everyday worries and difficulties, holidays and entertainment, the most memorable events and significant places. In particular, comments upon the following topics are published: Socgorod - The beginning (the 1950s - early 1960s), the aircraft manufacturing plant, notable events (the death and funeral of the flying hero Vorobyov, the placing of the time capsule), festivals (New Year celebrations, Youth Day, May 1st, etc.), children’s games and youth leisure since the 1950s and up until the 1990s, summer vacations, city loci (Sushkovo, Samara, the Komsomol’sky park, the “Kosmos” cinema, Mamykin’s Hill, Cheremushki, the Greek houses, the Repin pond, the pits), monuments, local brands, etc.