The formation and activities of the Central Workers’ Club of the Moscow-Kaluga Railway created by the local railway union for its 8000 members in 1923.

‘Progress in Culture among the Railwaymen’ by Vladimir Gavrilov from International Press Correspondence. Vol. 5 No. 14. February 11, 1925.

Close to the station Moscow I, there were two buildings of the Army Munition Works which had been damaged by fire in 1919. They stood there, destroyed and deserted, without windows and doors, with half burnt roofs, an eyesore of the passing railwaymen. For some time the railwaymen’s organisation had had its eye on the deserted buildings, and imagination pictured in their place a large, well equipped club, which could satisfy the requirements of an organisation with 8000 members, for at that time nothing but small premises, which had been miserably equipped in the first years of revolution, were at their disposal, in which the development of cultural work, vehemently demanded by the masses of workers, was out of the question.

Then came the year 1923 and what had hitherto appeared impossible or only a beautiful dream, became a reality. The beginning was made by visiting all the larger financial departments of the railway administration which promised material help; the workers also promised support from their own resources. Estimates were given for the restoration of the buildings, calculations and re-calculations were made, gentle pressure was exercised once more on the economic departments and the conclusion was come to, that a start could be made. In spite of the good will of the masses of workers to work with their own hands at the creation of their club, the building had to be handed over to a building society; they themselves could only work in their free time and that would have taken too long; time pressed, the demand for new, spacious premises grew from day to day. The members of the railwaymen’s union however undertook the interior decorations and the supply of the equipment; furniture was brought from every direction, the individual pieces were repaired, educational material and accessories, requirements for the social side of the work were provided etc.

At last the longed-for, joyful day arrived: on Feb. 22nd 1923 the club was opened and was given the name of Comrade Kuchmisterov, an ex-locksmith in the railway workshop, the first who worked for culture on the Moscow-Kaluga railway. The first festive meeting of the club members took place within the still damp walls, and surrounded by portraits of the leaders of the revolution. Thus another vigorous organisation came into being, created from the remains of former times, hammered and chiseled by the will and work of those who had been of no significance and have become all important.

As soon as the Red Star began to shine over the entrance door of the club, many workers began to go out of their way to drop in to the club to read a newspaper or magazine. The young people flocked to join the study-circles for Marxism, classes for physical culture, the choir, the dramatic class and others. They were followed by the fathers who were attracted by some classes in which questions of production were discussed, and in which they could get information about the theoretical side of their work, the economic situation and methods of perfecting technique. Gradually those women who were not too much taken up with the demands of children and household were also included in the club work. Classes were opened in cutting and sewing, lectures were held on questions of hygiene, household management, care of children and other subjects. The members of the club were so enthusiastic about the educational classes, the attendance was so large, that the club committee had to apply to the railway administration for permission to use the second building.

Besides the already mentioned groups, the Kuchmisterov Club has several smaller NOT. (scientific organisations for work), the fine arts, wireless and others, a legal information bureau for members etc.

The club has now three buildings. Two of them are two- storied and are joined by a covered gallery. In one of them is a hall for theatrical performances with accommodation for 750 persons, amply provided with chairs and benches, the stage also is supplied with every necessary requisite. The first floor is devoted to the classes; each class has its own room, equipped with the necessary educational material and appliances. Here also there is a nursery under medical supervision; every working woman and every worker’s wife who comes to the club can leave her child there and be undisturbed in her occupation. One floor of the second building contains recreation rooms, which are furnished with upholstered furniture; here are found a chess room, a reading room, the Lenin corner, the corner of the “godless” (anti-religious association) etc. Exhibitions of various kinds are also held here. The club does not forget the children: it has a pioneer division with 250 members, to which also a special room is allotted.

In order to meet as far as possible the needs of the masses of workers, the club committee entered into negotiations with the “Narpit” (Society for National Feeding) and now we have on the first floor of the second building a dining hall in which 2500 good dinners can be served daily at minimum prices. Nearby there is a hairdressing and shaving saloon; the prices are 65% less than in the town. The club possesses a library of more than 8000 volumes from all branches of knowledge. In the neighbouring building which had also been destroyed, there is a gymnasium with all the necessary apparatus. Behind the platform there is room for a lantern, and lectures are often illustrated with lantern slides.

For warm weather the club has a summer stage with a garden, a special open-air stage and reading hall, also a cinema in the open air. In summer the garden is always overcrowded, healthy life abounds everywhere. A brass-band composed of workers plays on the open-air stage.

Thus our club has developed from close small premises to an extent of 500 square archin, and now, as regards sizes, equipment and work, it holds the first place among all the clubs of the Moscow railway centre. It bears the name of “model club”, and we hope that its work will serve as an example to our western comrades, when they finally shake off the yoke of slavery and march in step with their brothers, the Russian workers, on the road to Communism.

(Literary group “Smelting Furnace” of the Rogoschko-Simonow district, Moscow.)

International Press Correspondence, widely known as”Inprecorr” was published by the Executive Committee of the Communist International (ECCI) regularly in German and English, occasionally in many other languages, beginning in 1921 and lasting in English until 1938. Inprecorr’s role was to supply translated articles to the English-speaking press of the International from the Comintern’s different sections, as well as news and statements from the ECCI. Many ‘Daily Worker’ and ‘Communist’ articles originated in Inprecorr, and it also published articles by American comrades for use in other countries. It was published at least weekly, and often thrice weekly.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/international/comintern/inprecor/1925/v05n14-feb-11-1925-inprecor.pdf