Description Gus Crystal, Russia

In the impenetrable forests Meshcherskiy edge, on the river, Gus, is a small town with a beautiful name Gus-Crystal. The city, which rightly bears the title Rossiyskogo center of glassmaking. Nowadays, the population of the Goose-crystal is more than 70000 people. Gus Crystal Factory is the largest domestic company for the production of industrial and art glass. And in 1996, Gus-Crystal was awarded the international prize "Golden Mercury" for the preservation of historical and architectural appearance of the city.

The town is situated on the river Meshchora Gus, 63 km south of Vladimir.

Gus-Crystal City owes its origin and the existence of a crystal factory, a half century belonged to a merchant-noble family Maltsov.

Ancestor of the dynasty is Bogdan Maltsov of Chernigov, whose name in 1634 was made in the general Armorial noble families. History Glass Empire "begins with his great-grandson, drawing hundreds of Rila merchant Vasily Maltsov. In 1723. Druzhinin from Gjatsk and Sergei Aksenov brought from Kaluga, near Moscow, in Karachevskij and Mozhaiskom counties, glass case. Basil Maltsov they took in kompaneyschiki.

In 1746 after the death of the founders of the business remained the sole owner of Basil crystal factory in Mozhaisk district.
Basil's sons, Alexander and Orel merchants Hakim, took over the inheritance bought s new in Mozhaisk district and began to build a new factory. However, the decree of the Senate of 23 November 1747g decided to "tear down distilleries, copper, iron and glass factories within the city of Moscow and from Moscow about two hundred miles."

For brothers Maltsov it meant finding new land for business. And at 1750g. Alexander led his part of the crystal factory in Trubchevsk county. And Akim V. chose the site for construction of factories in the forest tract Shivorovo Goose on the river in 230 miles from Moscow and 90 miles from Vladimir. Thus began the settlement and the future of the city ..

At the factory with 4 Gorshkov furnaces have to work 59 serfs, who made the dishes, green, coach and mirror glass. In 1759, Hakim and built a second plant - window glass.

In 1775 Akim Maltsov with the family of "recovered" in the title of nobility, proving their descent from Bogdan Maltsov. Rhode Maltsov got his coat. Go to the nobility gave huge advantages entrepreneur, allowing the purchase of land and serfs baptized.

A well chosen location with an abundance of raw materials and timber, the proximity of the river and commercial cities (Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod) was key to rapid and intense development.

Forty years worked Akim Maltsev. Heir to the glass case after his death was the second son - Ivan, a senior, Sergei, cornet Horse Guards, in the case came later. Ivan also was only 14 years old and managing the factories claimed widow Akim Mariya. "Dvoryansha Mary", an energetic and enterprising, further expanded and strengthened glass case.

In 1811, all the factories around the Gusev Crystal Plant Ivan gave his brother Sergei. For factory workers Sergei built in 1816 a stone church in the name of Joachim and Anna. In addition, a small settlement, with a population of 372 people, the village became known as Gus.

After the death of parents Gusevskii factory with other factories and lands inherited Ivan Sergeevich Maltsov man extraordinary intelligence and abilities, by then already well-known diplomat.

In 1826, close to the Gusev Crystal Factory II Mal'tsev founded a small paper spinning manufactory, which employed 15 at the beginning of the serfs. It is constantly expanding, they get work, many have found no case of glass and their wives. In 1837, till it has 385 workers.

In 1830, IS Maltsov proceeded to micro-manage Gus crystal factory and other glassware. She worked at that time mainly on the local market, producing bottled crockery, glass and crystal products. Because of the limited market, lack of means of communication, with its vast distances, lack of cash infusions and a number of other reasons in the glass industry there has been stagnation.

When we go in service in Europe, II Mal'tsev acquainted with the state of glassmaking abroad, including in the Czech Republic. By way of Bohemian factories that do not use metal impurities, he starts a simple glass compositions to replace expensive crystal - "Bohemian crystal. Due to low cost and good quality, Maltsov glass soon becomes extremely popular. Realizing the importance of science, Ivan Sergeevich donated substantial sums to the experiments conducted for crystal production. New to Maltsov factories could manufacture "ruby glass, painted copper, uranium glass, greenish-yellow color.

Rights of the European mindset, IS Maltsov suits their factories and factory life in the European manner: for the workers building a hospital, pharmacy, school, generously charitable. Build one of the first in Russia working settlement with solid stone houses, which in 1861. It was about 40, and the total number was 427. The population is growing at factories.

Rapidly growing population of Gus-Crystal. If in 1859 there lived 3282 people, then in 1886 the inhabitants numbered about 8000.
IM Mal'tsev, uncrowned king of Russian crystal, diplomat, chamberlain of the Imperial Court, Actual Privy Councilor, a knight of almost all Russian and many foreign decorations, died in 1880 in Nice. His multimillion state and the industry went to his nephew, the son of her sister Sophia, Yuri Stepanovich Nechaev, who took the name Nechaev-Maltsev.
For the 30-odd years he was able to strongly promote the production, also gained fame as a generous benefactor. At Gus crystal factory introduced advanced technology. Gus crystal takes the gold medal at the All-Russia Exhibition of manufactured, a bronze medal at the World Exhibition in Chicago in 1893.

By the end of XIX century Gus Crystal was one of the largest industrial centers of the Vladimir province. The number of workers Gus-Crystal in 1890, took 17 place among all cities of the European part of Russia. In 1890 the factory was working out Gesevskaya production of 3 million 538 thousand rubles. We worked on her 4571 workers. At the same time on a crystal factory had 670 workers.

Revolution of 17 years, of course, radically changed the way people lived at that time. Unfortunately, much has been forgotten and lost. Resolution of the NKVD on February 25, 1919 Gus Crystal became a town. However, due to severe physical conditions, lack of administrative buildings and some public utilities, housing, money to pay salaries of city staff, the Goose-crystal could not cope with the city spending and subsequently was transferred to the position of the camp. Decree of the Central Executive Committee on August 23, 1926 was formed Gus county.

Gus-Crystal became the administrative center. On the territory of the county there were 26 very large industrial enterprises. With the abolition of the county was organized by Gus area. Town Gus-Crystal with 10 June 1929 became a district center. Resolution of the Central Executive Committee on 20 November 1931 the working settlement of Goose-crystal was transformed into the city and became a member of the Ivanovo region. Great contribution made Gusevchane during the Great Patriotic War. In the city there were 5 hospitals. Autumn of 1941 the city had established a committee of Defense, acting Fighter battalion of the national militia. As soon as production was reconstructed on a war footing. Crystal factory was producing at that time thermos, flasks, bottles, thermometers and so on.