In the news1891–1892
Famine and Cholera Epidemic
A severe famine and cholera epidemic struck Russia in 1891-1892, causing widespread suffering and loss of life across the empire.
Saint Petersburg, 24 Jan 1897 – Faversham, 8 May 1981
8 facts3 sources
24 Jan 1897
Born in Saint Petersburg
8 May 1981
Dies in Faversham, aged 84
He lived through 10 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Saint Petersburg.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1891–1892
A severe famine and cholera epidemic struck Russia in 1891-1892, causing widespread suffering and loss of life across the empire.
What people wore
Essential male headwear and belts
Men wore hats or caps constantly outdoors and felt it was improper to be seen bareheaded or without a belt. A belt or cap was so essential that a man might even leave one as a pawn in a tavern to guarantee he would return.
Getting around
Cost of Post-Horse Travel
Travelers using post-horses paid 8 to 10 kopecks per horse per verst, making a 450-verst trip from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod cost over 100 rubles. A journey using one's own horses for a similar distance was significantly cheaper, costing only 20 to 25 rubles.
Around the world · 1896The first modern Olympics. Athens hosted the first modern Olympic Games, with 241 athletes from 14 nations.
In the news1897
Guglielmo Marconi received the first patent for radio communications in 1897.
Music
Large communal round dances
The khorovod, a traditional round dance, could involve as many as one hundred participants moving in a circle or in lines.
Daily life
Water and lighting in peasant homes
Peasant households relied on water from natural sources like rivers or wells, often using wooden buckets, and did not have indoor plumbing. Lighting was traditionally provided by burning slivers of wood, though wealthier families began adopting kerosene lamps in the late 19th century.