Bucharest in 1909: The city, the streets, people, habits (Part 1)

Part 1

(to read part 2, click here)

I received an e-mail from a friend with pictures and information about the old Bucharest and i would like to share it with you.

Were the inhabitants of Bucharest from a century ago, our grandparents, other than we are?  Were the city streets different? Sure they were, but no better and no worse than today –  as we speak of two different eras. We will try to reconstruct something of the old atmosphere of Bucharest.

• 1909, the capital had seven times less inhabitants than it has now, respectively only 300,000 which is less than today's population of the Constanța town. The city occupied only a quarter of the area it occupies today. Our capital was so small 100 years ago that the streets called then and now "roads", formed the "city belt" of Bucharest Sos. Stefan cel Mare, Sos.Mihai Bravu, Sos Vacaresti, Sos.Viilor, Sos.Panduri, Sos Basarab (todaySos.N Titulescu), Sos Bonaparte (today, Sos Iancu de Hunedoara). Beyond these "roads" you were not in Bucharest anymore, but in its neighboring municipalities. Some of entry and exit checkpoints from the city, so called "barriers" were: Barrier Vergului (now Piața Muncii/Hurmuzaki, at the crossing with Calea Calarasi – formerly called Calea Vergului – Sos Mihai Bravu) Vitan barrier (at the intersection withof Calea Vitan with Sos.Mihai Bravu Vitan horses), Serban Voda barrier (intersection of Sos. Viilor with Calea Serban Voda – in front of Bellu cemetery) Mosilor barrier (today Bucur Obor shop), etc..

Like today, a century ago, the streets called "paths" were the entry-exit roads of the town (Victoria, Mosilor, Calea Grivitei etc..), And at the intersection of a " path" with a "road" there was a barrier (checkpoint) on order to enter in Bucharest.  The area which are today heavily populated like: Giulesti Tei Berceni were some little villages beyond the town edge.

• A Hungarian map from those years shows us the " city belt" city (marked with red dots) and the access "barriers" (x):
• 100 years ago, you could count on finger the blocks build in Bucharest and all of them were only 3 stores high and located downtown. The inhabitants of Bucharest lived in houses, most without an upper floor, but with yard and garden, both in center and outside the city. The church steeples were the tallest buildings, the city was a green one with many – gardens, vineyards and parks.
• Here's a panorama from a century ago towards the Church of St Spiridon Nou, between Calea SerbanVoda and Bvd.D. Cantemir

• At the beginning of the century no one heard of crowded city streets. The public transportation was assured by trams which were connecting various points in town and had their end station at the "barrier" and carriages (cars were still very rare).
• An old photograph from 1909 of the old University buildings and Academy Boulevard (today the eastern end of Elizabeth Boulevard) towards the intersection with Calea Victoriei, the old trees obscure view of statues opposite the university:
• Carriages – " birjele" – were something like the taxis are today and were driven by "coachman" of Russian origin dressed as well in winter and summer with long, dark coats and wearing Russian hats. The main station carriages was on Calea Victoriei, the former National Theatre Square, today the front of Hotel Novotel (first taxi-cars will only appear only in 1911, mandatory painted in a green – red and they would line-up beside the carriages within the same square)
• With the "open carriages (convertible !) ladies were taking a ride through the center to show off their outfits. Few people know that the ladies had no access at Cpasa, even if accompanied. The ban was not written, but it was known and respected as a tacit convention. Casa Capsa, Bucharest's most exclusive local a century ago, was really a men's club, where they discussed policy, literature, art, journalism, it was the place where they "indulged in petty politics".
• Still during the summer, the beautiful ladies of the city used to stop with their carriages in front of Capsa and ordering from the carriage ice cream served on the spot, leaving the gentlemen from café to admire their beauty:
• Along with trams, carriages and 200 cars which were traveling across the streets of Bucharest in 1909 appeared also bicycles (cycle "). The most famous female cyclist of the city was Maria Mihaescu legendary " Mita- the biker" , young, beautiful, smart and a mignon courtesan at the beginning of century. She used to start with her bike from home, the house near Amzei church which still exists today, cycling from Calea Victoriei to Victoria Square and back, making romantic conquests among the Bucharest's elite .
• On hot summer days, the thirst of walkers was quenched by the sellers "braga" and "salep, both – Turkish drinks. From the same sellers you could also purchase sweets .: sesame and Turkish delight .
• A braga seller offering sesame and braga in front of the House of Deposits (CEC Palace)
• One hundred years ago, our grandmothers sewed their dresses and blouses with Singer machines (today, the Singer company produces printers )
• To get married to an officer was the dream of many girls = a secure future without worries.

• " A marriage painting " from one century ago, made at "Studio" photographic

• For hundreds of years it was the same show: to drive the cattle to market through the center of the city:
• Incredible heat! "Sanitation" will sprinkle the street

Tomorrow, 05.12.2010, part 2
Source: www.bucurestiivechi.ro