Buildings and Streets

Emerging from an agricultural village, old Mazeikiai was mostly characterized by small wooden houses and shacks, surrounded by gardens where vegetables were grown, and livestock was held, mostly for private consumption. Water supply was from local wells, operated by hand pumps. Most streets were unpaved, and wooden sidewalks were used during winter periods in order to avoid walking in the mud and slush.

Circle by Railway station.jpg (1159338 bytes)
The photo was taken from the railway station towards "Laisves gatve"

View Towards the Railway Station.jpg (1565809 bytes)
The photo was taken towards the railway station from  "Laisves gatve"

Characteristic street views in Mazeikiai, 1920’s
this street was previously "Stotles gatve" and today is "February 16"
The photo was taken from the railway station towards "Laisves gatve"
[courtesy of Barbara Aharoni]

 Modern houses replaced most of the old ones. Only few original buildings survived, like the one in no. 3 Vytautas Str., where the butcher Zorach Peckel and his family used to live until World War II. The small hut to the left of the house served as an animal house and rest room.

House at Vytautas 3 Str., Mazeikiai, ‏2003
(courtesy Benzi Kahana)

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