The Culture of Dacha Recreation among Russian Provincial Merchants in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries (Using the Example of the Stakheevs’ Dacha Estate “Svyatoy Klyuch”)
Inga V. Maslova, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor
Yelabuga Institute, Kazan Federal University, Yelabuga, Russia, imaslovainga@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0914-0707
Abstract
Based on personal sources and photographic documentation, the article examines the daily life of Russian provincial merchants at dachas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The study was conducted using materials from the Stakheev family’s dacha estate “Svyatoy Klyuch”, located in the Ufa Province. The analysis revealed common features inherent in dacha construction and summer recreation practices among entrepreneurs from the capital and the provinces. The Stakheev dachas were built in the tradition of noble country estates: with a manor house, large parks, landscaped areas, and orchards. Well-off merchants created comfortable summer homes that reflected the technological progress of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Dachas had electric lighting, running water, and telephones. These country estates were located in picturesque natural settings with convenient transportation options, allowing the owners to quickly reach their trading offices and maintain strict control over their businesses.
Keywords
History of everyday life, merchants, dacha recreation, the Stakheev dynasty, Svyatoy Klyuch estate.
For citation:
Maslova I. V. The Culture of Dacha Recreation among Russian Provincial Merchants in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries (Using the Example of the Stakheevs’ Dacha Estate “Svyatoy Klyuch”). Vestnik of Orenburg State Pedagogical University. Electronic Scientific Journal, 2026, no. 2 (58), pp. 181—198. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32516/2303-9922.2026.58.11.
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