Original scientific paper
Peršić Mill in Virje: Construction, Developments and Its End (1912-1948)
Mira Kolar Dimitrijević
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb – Full Professor (retired)
Elizabeta Wagner
; Zagreb
Abstract
Matija Peršić (b.1876 in Ferdinandovac, Podravina - d.1943) was the very first engineer from Podravina, to graduate from Technical College in Graz. His life was indivisible from Virje Watermill which he designed, built and operated until his death. His daughter Jelisava Kolar was helping him run the mill and continued to so, after he had died. Soon after his death, the authorities confiscated the mill from Jelisava, the rightful owner, despite her obvious her merits to the liberation cause, in order to avoid purchase. However, the farce continued on, all the way to 2009, when denationalization was finally completed. Yet, the heirs were tricked again, as the government said symbolic restitution, despite the fact that the mill was spared demolition or damage. This paper aims to remind that private property, that their rightful owners had worked hard for before 1941, was - after the WWII – was taken away by authorities in a quick and dishonest way, to create new class of the rich. We believe that this is the most comprehensive study of a watermill and its operation from 1912 to 2009 - its creation, building and operation - that has ever been made in our historiography. The study has been compiled from archives and documentation, as well as records kept by the family.
Keywords
Matija Peršić,; Jelisava Kolar; Podravina 1912-1948; Virje
Hrčak ID:
77662
URI
Publication date:
1.11.2010.
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