Beginning of the 1900s in the pictures of Gömöri Museum

Either talking about work or relaxation, life was rather different in Hungary one hundred years ago. In fact, there are similarities too. In this week’s virtual exhibition, we are evoking the world of the beginning of the 20th century via pictures and period articles of the archive collection of Gömöri Museum, through modern eyes, especially in terms of different activities: from work and professions to amusement and hobbies.

Discharging document from the army from 1906 - Gömöri Múzeum; Putnok, CC BY-NC-ND

Changing enthusiasm in the army

Sometimes certain professions seem ideal from a distance, but when you face reality, it might discourage you:
“Former home-defence undersecretary Ferenc Bolgár, whose expertise is recognised even by the workers’ party, had a rather interesting speech yesterday during the defensive power debate, in which he pointed at a special phenomenon. The two-year military service is a very popular catchword, arousing great enthusiasm in the soul of the crowd, but when it comes to realisation, enthusiasm usually cools off.” – Északkelet, 1911

Life in a camp during World War I - Gömöri Múzeum; Putnok, CC BY-NC-ND

A steam engine makes both threshing and towing easier!

Where are those times, when wheat had to be threshed out of wheatears by hand? Although hard work ennobles you, everyone would be happy if technical development made one’s job a bit easier.

Workers beside the steam-driven threshing machine in 1916 - Gömöri Múzeum; Putnok, CC BY-NC-ND

“There are thousands of threshing machines in Hungary. Towing them to the threshing places or far-away farms requires a lot of towing power, especially when roads deteriorate in fall or after raining. On muddy and deep roads, these machine haulages are a real nightmare to farmers, particularly because towing power is getting weaker day by day. If you see the great strain of a few oxen towing with insufficient power on bad meadow roads or uphill; or in case the threshing machine must be towed from a train station, a farm or a village to a distant threshing place on those meadow roads, the latest invention is a real salvation there. (…) The value and practicality of this invention is enhanced by the fact that it can be driven forward or backward with a perfectly solved equipment that does not disturb the operation of the steam machine, without stopping the flywheel. (…) If we also praise the huge advantage that this transformation makes all the steam machines capable of towing and ploughing besides threshing, we will able to bring a vast dead power into action with this extremely important epochal Hungarian innovation.” – Andor Löherer, Zalamegye, 1905

Good work demands time and rest

Workers having a rest in the attic during the roof reconstruction of the Friedl House in 1910 - Gömöri Múzeum; Putnok, CC BY-NC-ND

Naturally, work can be really efficient only if you have a rest in due course of time. Excellent methods for that are playing ninepins, tennis or going boating. Just like during work, you had better watch out for security in case of amusements as well.

Adventure in water getting off with a boat capsizing

Trip to the fishpond in 1920 - Gömöri Múzeum; Putnok, CC BY-NC-ND

“A fairly jolly company took a trip from Túrkeve (…) to Gyoma to spend a cheerful day there. (…) The specialities of Gyoma are ninepins and boating: well, they enjoyed both. After that ninepins brightened them, they went boating and it overpassed their expectations. Three persons were sitting in a boat and the steersman, who directed the boat with all his efforts and good will, fell into Kőrös river in an unguarded moment with his clothes on. He sank, hove his head, huffed and sneezed and kicked so hard with his legs as if he was about to die. Fortunately, his companions did not lose their nerves, quickly pulled to him and the rescue attempt was successful, but not completely. Due to the eager striving of the rescuers, the boat capsized and the boaters – gentlemen and officers – floated on the river with their field caps and straw hats. The only victims were three attires and a straw hat. Thanks God, the guests could leave the town in the early morning in perfect health and excellent humour.” Békésmegyei közlöny (Bulletin of Békés County), 1902

Players with ninepins in 1907 - Gömöri Múzeum; Putnok, CC BY-NC-ND

If you are tired from tennis or stressed from a boat capsizing, a dinner together with your partners could serve as a balm for both:

“Saturday evening, tennis players organised an extremely successful dinner in the boathouse of the sports club. The guests were over forty, many ladies were among them, which resulted that Rudi Kiss’ smoky band made music until four in the morning.” – István Borbély, Váci Híralp, 1914

After a tennis match in 1910 - Gömöri Múzeum; Putnok, CC BY-NC-ND

If you want to escape the summer heat and go to a cooling program, you choose well if you opt for potholing. Walking and small-talking in cool caves and the beauty of dripstones refresh your spirits. Just like today, the Cave of Aggtelek was a rather beloved destination a hundred years ago as well:

"You can go on an excursion to the Valley of Szádellő and of Áj, the Cave of Aggtelek, the bath of Ránk or the High Tatra. If you want to visit the Cave of Aggtelek, leave at 8:45 pm on 9 August for Torna, stay there for a night and next morning at 4 o’clock travel to Szín, where the train arrives at 4:57 am. From here, you can reach the new entrance of the Cave after a 90-minute coaching.” – Felsőbányai Hírlap, 1903

Cross section drawings of the Cave of Aggtelek - Gömöri Múzeum; Putnok, CC BY-NC-ND

Rejuvenating perfumer: there is no better than if your hobby is your job

They say it is important to do what you love, but a hobby as a job is ideal only if it earns your living:

“Mrs. Gyöngy (…) earned her living in her fertile little garden: with growing lilies and roses. Her only daughter, the sixteen year-old Vera, also helped her in the work. Their poetic profession was almost printed on their faces. Vera’s face was so bloomy and peachy that it could compete with her lilies. In addition, her mother’s face did not want to grow old either. Villagers called them the “Lilies”. It was wonderful looking into their garden around June. A true forest of lilies nodded towards you from there. From their courtyard, the most beautiful red and yellow roses laughed out of the fence. When the roses and lilies reached their full flush: the local pharmacist picked them and made perfumes from them. Later on, these perfumes reached the glorious perfumeries of big cities.” – Felsőbányai Hírlap, 1903

Károly Erdélyi

Translated by Zita Aknai

Sources:

A kétéves katonai szolgálat. Északkelet, 1911 (3.) 249.
Löherer Andor: Cséplő gőzkazánoknak uti mozgonyokká való átalakítása. Zalamegye, 1905 (24). 41.
Szerencsés szerencsétlenség. Békésmegyei közlöny, 1902 (29). 50.
Borbély István: Tenisz-vacsora. Váci Hírlap, 1914 (28). 52.
Meghívó. Felsőbányai Hírlap, 1903 (8.) 15.
Sepsiszentgyörgyi: Liliomok. Felsőbányai Hírlap, 1903 (8.) 15.

Recommendation

Block perspectives

Living in a block of flats is a special experience: the sounds coming through the thin walls, the distinctive smell of linoleum on the stairway, the sound of the garbage chute, the sultriness in summer in the heated rooms, the aroma of food prepared next door - all of these can be familiar. Not to mention how the community and infrastructure of the housing estate - the playground, kindergarten, school or even the convenience store - were defining elements of the block life.

Do you want to play?

The history of toys is older that humanity, because mammals, mostly young animals can attend to an object that they promote to a toy for a long time. Toys were present in the ancient times and several relics remained from the period of first human civilisations. They were mainly models of adults’ everyday objects, arms or dolls and animal statuettes. They served and still serve as tools for roleplays: children can play the adults’ world with them. But let’s not go so far in the past, just 100-150 years ago.

Beach-style – Swimsuit fashion from bathing costumes to bikinis

In our current exhibition, we are going to visit the lidos of the past century and find out how bathing suits became smaller and shorter. What beach fashion did our parents and grandparents follow? Who popularized the bikini that was regarded as a taboo initially? How did the atomic bomb and a strip dancer influence the swimsuit fashion? And how was it connected to James Bond and Star Wars? Our exhibition will give you the answers.

Marlboro Man in the Eastern Bloc

Inhaling the smoke of tobacco leaves, which is often mentioned as ‘brown gold’, has a cultural history of about 5-7000 years. Smoke can be made by a pipe, a cigar, a cigarette or a nargile, but people consume tobacco in the form of taking snuff or maccabaw and chewing quid as well. How did smoking become an inevitable part of our cultural history? How did Hungary ascend to the top of tobacco industry and how did it vanish slowly? This short resume about the history of smoking is going to shed light on the questions.

As long as the Danube… - hairstyle-historical curiosities

The human head of hair is an inevitable part of cultural history. During history, men usually formed their hair and facial hair according to fashion, followed the actual ruler – and sometimes wore a certain hairstyle because of revolt or constraint. In case of women, mainly in folk cultures, hairstyles always meant something: age, marital status – besides the fashion and revolt. Wearing and presenting hair are immortal symbols of life-force, health, and it also signifies power and is a tool of self-expression.

Two iconic expos in the socialist era in Hungary: the Budapest International Fair (BNV) and the OMÉK

The story of the Budapest International Fair (BNV) is definitely a success story, just like that of the Agricultural Fair. As extremely popular events, both attracted masses of visitors during long decades. Especially the BNV, whose success was mainly due to its entertaining features as well, owing to diverse programs like film screenings, fashion shows and food-tastings. Its popularity was even boosted by the “big hype” generated by TV and radio broadcasts.

More thematic virtual exhibitions