Zajecar - engleski - niska rezolucija

ZAJEČAR − CAPITAL OF SERBIAN EAST
32
BRIEF HISTORY OF ZA JE ČAR CULTURE
GROWING OF A NEW TOWN
Although seemingly dull place and distant from all major
roads, as far back as 1830, three years before the liberation
from Turks, Za je čar was able to laud itself with an elementary
school. It truly began to thrive after the Ottomans had
left. Partly thanks to its diligent, resourceful and wise inhabitants,
partly thanks to duke Miloš who had not only elevated
it into the ranks of a district town, but used it as the Eparchy
seat of the newly developed region.
The same year when the Eparchy was founded, in 1834,
the first subscribers to then still very rare books emerged.
Some of them were from Za je ča r, but also from surrounding
villages. Education was undergoing quick development
(and this will be the topic of a separate section), as well as
the entire city. As a district town, Za je čar was becoming increasingly
interesting for merchants, craftsmen and people
of other professions. Lifestyle was also changing, as well as
the needs of the people. In 1845, merchant Mi len ko Ste va nović
was the first to offer books to them in his shop, and they
were also sold by traveling merchants, mostly at fairs.
An important contribution to Zaječar’s catching up with
the world was provided by district chief Alek san dar N. Trifko
vić, a cousin of Prince Alek san dar Ka ra đor đe vi ć. Not at all
fascinated by the fact that the first streets of Zaječar (created
after the liberation from Turkey) would turn into deep mud
with the first autumn rain, and not at all popular because
of levies and mandatory work that he had imposed, in the
spring of 1856 he ordered that gravel, sand and river stone
be delivered to Za je čar from the entire Crna Reka district, in
order to begin cobbling of the streets. Reckless tongues whispered
that this decision was conceived by his wife Ju li ja na,
for whose entertainment Mr. Trif ko vić had introduced the
fashion of balls (“... which were pompously attended, with
mandatory welcome and bowing”). At any rate, that same
Lear when the cobbling began, a correspondent of Srp ski
dnev ni k proudly reported from Za je ča r: “Thank god, we got
pavement as well!”
The first cobbled pavement was made at the street where
District Office was located, and then it was to a large extent
built in the downtown area. And so, in the mid June 1865,
Za je čar began to look as a “true city”, like those in the most
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Za je ča r city centre,
early 20 th century
Kra lje vo Se lo,
Timok District
Administration
Early Polity
“In the late 19 th
century, Za je čar was
distinguished among
Serbian towns for its
initiative and solutions
for communal
problems. The main
streets were cobbled,
the town centre
and open market
were landscaped,
street lanterns were
mounted, public bath
was built together
with city hospital,
post office, numerous
schools and other
public institutions.
The excavation of
first artesian wells
had begun, water was
supplied from the
spring in Kra lje vi ca,
and power supply was
initiated. Kraljevica
was forested at
the beginning of
20 th century, having
become such a
beautiful promenade
for citizens of Za ječa
r.” (Sve ti slav Ži kić:
“Co mmu nal -housing
construction”, in:
Za je čar – Ku ti na, Zaje
čar, 1982)