Сentral Post Office
The central location of Dnipropetrovs’k on the territory of Ukraine played an important role in its urban development, as it could join western and eastern parts of the Russian Empire.
Post telegraph office was established in 1787 in Dnipropetrovs’k, which at that time used to be called Katerynoslav. The street it was located on was known as Starodvoryans’ka Street, presently renamed as Plekhanova Street, however the General Post Office of Dnipropetrovs’k was replaced and now it’s located in the building on 62 Karl Marx Avenue, where a mansion of nobleman Anton Schekutin used to be in the 1830s. There is an interesting story about great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, who has visited Katerynoslav. When he was walking along the main street of the city he saw a girl on the balcony of this building and fell in love with her. Although the veracity of this story has not yet been confirmed, this balcony has become famous. People say, if you make a wish under this small balcony, it will come true.
In 1839 the mansion was purchased to place Katerynoslav Post Service there. In the beginning of the 20th century Post Office building was greatly altered. Engineer Panafutin and mechanic Sokolovych have completely changed the foundation of the building under the direction of city architect Alexander Miklashevs’ky. According to the project of architect Bocharov from St Petersburg a new building was constructed next to the old one, where the main post and telegraph office was planned to be located. The new building was impressive and presentable and at the same time it reflected desire for simplicity. The building of the General Post Office was designed to meet requirements and processes of this organization. The front side of the building and a gabled roof were made in the style of modernism. In 1905 the building was completed and post services were resumed on the 25th December. The Russian revolution of 1917 left its mark on the General Post Office while a prolonged battle between Haidamak troops that occupied this building and Red Guards. They exchanged fire and on the night of 29th December Red Guards won this battle.
The General Post Office of Dnipropetrovs’k was reconstructed to its 100th anniversary and now it is an operating historical and architectural monument of local importance. Many figures of policy and literature who contributed to the development and formation of Dnipropetrovs’k visited this place.
You are well advised to visit the city of Dnipropetrovs’k and walk along Karl Marx Avenue, its main street, in order to enjoy the beauty of monuments, including the remarkable General Post Office. Inside the building you can find a plaque with names of those who dealt with the post telegraph. Among them there is Russian and Ukrainian historian, archaeologist and writer Dmytro Yavornyts’kyi, leader of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in 1918-1921 Nestor Makhno, Ukrainian writer and publicist Oles Gonchar, Soviet and party activist Gregory Petrovs’kyi – the city of Dnipropetrovs’k was named in his honour, and others.
