Centuries-old buildings, the walls of which have heard the secrets and events of the people who lived from generation to generation, still today remind us of riddles about the events of different eras. In Vilnius, in the very center of the capital, on the street named in honor of the Lithuanian philosopher, theologian and poet Adam Dambrauskas-Jakštas, the unique building, marked with number 9, preserves a special history. The four-story neo-Gothic brick building was designed by the famous Russian architect Mikhail Prozorov. 14th century The architect and his family owned 1905 rooms in the house built at the end of the XNUMXth century, while other rooms were rented out to shops, the railwaymen's club and private individuals. An ornate hall was set up in the building, where meetings of artists, politicians, scientists and other intellectuals took place. In XNUMX, the performance "America in the bathhouse" was performed here, and several decades later, the director Juozas Kanopka founded the "Flying Vaidila" theater with his students.
For some time, between the wars and during the war, the building housed an elementary school and the Vytautas Didigios gymnasium. However, this cradle of culture and business in the heart of the city was shaken by a tragic event - a plane crash. According to historian Karolis Kučiauskas, in 1936 June 8 Polish pilot Włodzimierz Paprzycki and Vilnius cadet Czesław Kiernowicz took off from Kirtim Airport (then called Porubanek) on a French-made Potez XV plane. The latter was assigned to pilot the aircraft. Less than fifteen minutes to four in the afternoon, the residents of Vilnius, who were near the current A. Jakšto Street, heard a terrible sound - after the engine failed, the plane plunged down and crashed into the roof of the 9th building. The aircraft broke into pieces, pierced the roof and several floors of the building - the propeller appeared in the teacher's room of the elementary school at the time. Only part of the wing and two wheels of the plane hung above the street. A large fuselage fragment was rolling in the middle of the street. According to the witnesses interviewed on the spot, the pilots flew outside the barracks of the XNUMXst Brigade (today the North town), then turned towards the city. But here the plane's engine suddenly began to stall and shut down.
It seems that the pilot tried to land the aircraft Lukiškiai square. Unfortunately, both pilots died tragically. At the beginning of the Second World War, the building was badly damaged, but was later rebuilt. After Lithuania won its independence, intellectuals began to gather in the 9th house of A. Jakštas again, and artists found a place for their work - performances were organized here by Vytautas Kernagis, director Adolfas Večerskis and others.
Now in the center of Vilnius, in the Neo-Gothic house located between Gediminas Avenue and the Neris River, there are various business and cultural centers. Perhaps the most famous are the unique-style bar "Variokas", which opened its doors a few years ago, and the "Vaidila theater" above it, which has become a cultural center, where impressive classical music evenings are regularly organized. Dozens of artists, craftsmen and creators who provide private services also develop their activities here. Vainius Indreliūnas, who has been doing business in the legendary building for many years and founded a "steampunk" style bar, is not surprised that there is a special atmosphere here. At night, it is haunted by spirits, several people have said that they have seen the hazy silhouette of a woman in this place.
Information prepared by: VilniusGO.lt
Mobile application "VilniusGO" introduces 300 cultural, historical and natural objects of the city of Vilnius. The app is not only limited to well-known objects, but also popularizes other equally important, but less well-known objects located further from the city center. Mobile app "VilniusGO" can download from Google Play ir iTunes.
