1900-1917
The beginning of the century
In the first decades of the 20th century, Tyumen remained one of the largest and most developed cities in the Tobolsk Governorate. The city was a trade center; there were many merchants of the first guild, and branches of foreign firms operated there. Local industry was actively developing.
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the city had 119 enterprises producing goods worth almost three million rubles a year. The total number of workers and craftspeople was approximately 4,000. Tyumen was becoming a major commercial and industrial centre of Siberia. The first Siberian capitalists emerged here, including the Zhernakov, Kolokolnikov, Kolmogorov, Plotnikov, Podaruev, Poklevsky and Tekutyev families, among others.
One of the largest metalworking enterprises in Siberia was the N. D. Masharov factory. Founded in 1900, it produced cast iron goods, turbines for mills, nails and enamelled tableware.
At the beginning of the 20th century, stock exchange trading became a new form of commerce in Siberia. The Tyumen Stock Exchange, opened in 1910, was the first of its kind in Western Siberia. Its distinguishing feature was wholesale trading based on samples and standards. In particular, grain, butter and sugar were traded on the Tyumen Stock Exchange.
At the end of the 19th century, branches and offices of the State Bank, the Siberian Commercial Bank, the Russian Bank for Foreign Trade and the Volga-Kama Bank opened in Tyumen. The Tyumen Public Bank was also established. Bill discounting and lending played a major role in their activities. The first insurance company was established, and compulsory provincial fire insurance was introduced.
At the beginning of the 20th century, stock exchange trading became a new form of commerce in Siberia. The Tyumen Stock Exchange, opened in 1910, was the first of its kind in Western Siberia. Its distinguishing feature was wholesale trading based on samples and standards. In particular, grain, butter and sugar were traded on the Tyumen Stock Exchange.
At the end of the 19th century, branches and offices of the State Bank, the Siberian Commercial Bank, the Russian Bank for Foreign Trade and the Volga-Kama Bank opened in Tyumen. The Tyumen Public Bank was also established. Bill discounting and lending played a major role in their activities. The first insurance company was established, and compulsory provincial fire insurance was introduced.
At the end of the 19th century, a theatre-circus performed in the city. A permanent circus troupe appeared in 1910. At the beginning of the 20th century, the first cinemas opened in Tyumen.
In 1885, construction of the first railway in Siberia was completed, connecting Tyumen with Yekaterinburg and central Russia. In 1912, a railway connection with Omsk was opened.
The city’s first public power station, built at the corner of what are now Lenin and Kirov Streets, was commissioned in 1909. Earlier, Tyumen merchants V. Burkov and K. V. Zhernakov had established the "City Power Stations Partnership".
Throughout Tyumen’s history, crossing the Tura River remained a challenge. In 1796, the only solution achieved was a floating bridge at the mouth of the Tyumenka River. It consisted of two rafts fastened together. To allow barges, boats and timber rafts to pass, the bridge was opened and then put back into place. In winter, people crossed the river over the ice. During the transitional seasons, they used a so-called "samolyot" (an air plane) — a ferry attached by a long rope to barrels anchored near the monastery. Crossing on this type of vessel cost one or two kopecks.
The question of building a permanent bridge across the Tura was raised on numerous occasions. In 1916, the merchant Andrey Ivanovich Tekutyev bequeathed funds to the city specifically for the construction of a bridge across the river. However, the Revolution intervened. As a result, the bridge was not built until 1924−1926.
Tyumen’s Muslim community had no place of worship of its own until 1905, when Sulkarnay Rechapov, a Bukhara-born owner of a leather-processing business, donated his stone house on Spasskaya Street for use as a mosque.
Tyumen’s Muslim community had no place of worship of its own until 1905, when Sulkarnay Rechapov, a Bukhara-born owner of a leather-processing business, donated his stone house on Spasskaya Street for use as a mosque.
Following the opening of the mosque on Spasskaya Street, on 8 July 1911, the City Council issued a permit for the construction of a "Muslim service building". In the same year, Khayrit Abaydullin, a merchant from Bukhara, purchased the neighbouring mansion from German Zeitz, a forestry supplies merchant. A complex of Muslim buildings emerged, comprising a madrasa, a hotel and a dining hall.
All the main shops of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were located on Tsarskaya Street. The street’s old quarters were, in a sense, the "Nevsky Prospekt" of merchant Tyumen — the city’s main commercial district.
Among the Tyumen merchants involved in public and charitable activities, the Kolokolnikov family held a special place. Ivan Petrovich Kolokolnikov, a first-guild merchant, was well known for holding a monopoly on tea trading at the Irbit Fair, the largest fair in Siberia.
In 1909, the Shaychik brothers opened a department store selling fur coats, furs and clothing on Tsarskaya Street. In addition to the shop, the building housed the Salesmen’s Club on the second floor, which was a centre of Tyumen’s social life.
All the main shops of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were located on Tsarskaya Street. The street’s old quarters were, in a sense, the "Nevsky Prospekt" of merchant Tyumen — the city’s main commercial district.
Among the Tyumen merchants involved in public and charitable activities, the Kolokolnikov family held a special place. Ivan Petrovich Kolokolnikov, a first-guild merchant, was well known for holding a monopoly on tea trading at the Irbit Fair, the largest fair in Siberia.
In 1909, the Shaychik brothers opened a department store selling fur coats, furs and clothing on Tsarskaya Street. In addition to the shop, the building housed the Salesmen’s Club on the second floor, which was a centre of Tyumen’s social life.
At the Tyumen branch of the Yekaterinburg-based trading house "Brothers Agafurov", customers could purchase school and stationery supplies. Tickets for performances at the Salesmen’s Club were also sold there. The perfumery department offered perfumes, colognes, creams and powders from the finest English, French and Warsaw manufacturers, as well as products of comparable quality from Moscow firms such as "Brocard & Co.", "Rallet & Co." and "R. Koehler", and from the St Petersburg Chemical Laboratory.
The Brandt family name was well known in Tyumen in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The three-storey mansion of this influential Jewish family still stands on Respubliki Street, and until recently, traces of a removed Star of David could be seen on its pediment.
The Brandt family name was well known in Tyumen in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The three-storey mansion of this influential Jewish family still stands on Respubliki Street, and until recently, traces of a removed Star of David could be seen on its pediment.
Contemporaries wrote about the city: "Tyumen is laid out in a regular and beautiful manner, and in some places its buildings are luxurious… The principal buildings, together with many well-built and brightly painted wooden houses, make the appearance of Tyumen highly picturesque… The finest views of Tyumen can be seen when entering the city from the Tobolsk and Russian highways."