Historic 19th-century educational building in the heart of Almaty -
The architectural heritage of Verny -
The Verny Municipal Primary School named after G.A. Kolpakovsky became one of the key educational institutions of pre-revolutionary Verny and played a significant role in shaping the city's cultural environment. The institution was founded during a period of active growth, when Verny was becoming the administrative, military, and educational center of Semirechye.
The school became one of the first official schools in the city, accepting children of both immigrants and native residents. It provided a systematic education according to state standards of the time: mathematics, writing, reading, geography, the fundamentals of natural science, and the Law of God.
For many Verny residents, this school became their first opportunity to receive a primary education, significantly increasing literacy.
History and Significance
The institution was founded in 1889, when the town of Verny was actively developing as the regional administrative center.
The school was named in honor of Governor-General G. A. Kolpakovsky, a key public figure who played a major role in the development and strengthening of Semirechye, as well as the development of infrastructure, schools, and medical facilities. He made a significant contribution to the development of Verny: he supported the construction of schools, medical centers, and roads, strengthened the city's infrastructure, and promoted reforms aimed at raising the level of education among the local population.
The school became one of the city's first official educational institutions. It provided basic education to children of all social classes: Russian language, arithmetic, geography, the Law of Religion, and the fundamentals of natural science. The school served an important social function, raising literacy among the population and shaping the first intellectual environment of the future Almaty.
Furthermore, the school served as a center of public life, hosting meetings, gatherings, and discussions of city initiatives. Within its walls, the first generations of educated residents of the future Almaty were formed – teachers, scribes, administrators, and artisans, who later participated in the development of Semirechye.
Architecture
Originally, the building was typical of Verny in the late 19th century: a one-story house constructed in the regional style – brick with wooden elements, austere facades, wide windows, and a symmetrical composition. Such buildings were distinguished by their earthquake resistance and reflected the practical approaches of the time.
Simplicity and strength were its guiding principles. The one-story building (its height was limited due to the risk of earthquakes) is constructed of yellow brick and is distinguished by strict symmetry. Its façade is adorned only by a central arched entrance and similarly arched windows, as well as a modest ornamental parapet. This simplicity and reliability are the hallmarks of all Verny architecture of that period.
The building has been renovated several times and adapted to the needs of educational institutions, while maintaining its historical character. Today, this site is considered part of Almaty's cultural and historical heritage.
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How to get there and visit
The Vernoye Kolpakovsky City Primary School is located in Almaty at 37 Gogol Street, Medeu District, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°15'39"N 76°57'25"E
The former school building is easily accessible by public transportation. Buses #13, 16, 17, 22, 42, 71, 117, and 126, as well as trolleybuses #1 and 12, are available. Get off at the "Kaldayakova Street" stop. The closest metro station to the school, Zhibek Zholy, is located 1 kilometer away. For convenience, it's best to take a taxi or drive your own car.
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School's Role in the Development of Education and Its Significance
The Vernoye School became a model for the development of other educational institutions in Semirechye.
The school graduated the first teachers, clerks, and city administration employees. The foundations of secular education were laid here, which later grew into a wider network of gymnasiums and colleges. Various educational institutions operated on the site of the school in the following decades, continuing the educational tradition established in the 19th century.
The significance of this building for Almaty is difficult to overestimate. It is an architectural and historical landmark, a living symbol of the transition from a wooden past to a stone future. Today, as a national monument, it reminds us of the importance of education and respect for our history.
Seeing it with your own eyes means traveling back in time and understanding the labor and hope that went into reviving the city we now call the southern capital of Kazakhstan.
Legend
As befits an ancient building, it is shrouded in legend. The most popular of these speaks of the existence of an underground passage, which may have led to other administrative buildings in the city.
Another, more romantic story tells of the ghost of a strict teacher who supposedly still haunts his alma mater.
Some claim that a capsule containing a message from Kolpakovsky himself was hidden during the laying of the foundation, and it has yet to be found.
There is a local legend that if you walk past the old school building early in the morning and touch its wall, you can "transfer" a piece of luck to yourself, which helped students of the past gain knowledge and shape their destinies.
The following attractions are nearby:
• Tulebaev Street;
• Zhibek-Zholy Pedestrian street;
• The Art Theater;
• The State Puppet Theater;
• Gorky Central Park;
• The Green Bazaar;
• Zhambyl Zhabaev State Philharmonic Society;
• Museum of Musical Instruments Ykylas named;
• Military Historical Museum of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• Ascension Cathedral;
• Park named after 28 Panfilov Guards;
• Memorial of Glory;
• Alley of Heads of State;
• Monument to General I. V. Panfilov.
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