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Post by andyep1 on Mar 29, 2008 13:39:41 GMT 3
I have just discovered a family story written down by my late father and told to him by his father. It states that my great-grandfather was the manager of a transport station on the Russian steppes in the latter part of the 19th century.
I would like to find some information about this type of station which was a resting place for men and animals, nothing to do with trains. According to this anecdote, there was a large fortress-like building in the centre of a plot of land of about 6 acres which were surrounded by a stone wall about 10 feet high. It was my great-grandfather's job to ensure that horses, cattle, dogs and human were clean, fed and watered.
I would appeciate any help in finding descriptions or photographs of something similar to add to a family history I am preparing.
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Post by erdene on Mar 29, 2008 17:06:54 GMT 3
I think you need to be a bit more specific I'm afraid!
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Post by andyep1 on Mar 29, 2008 18:26:42 GMT 3
I don't have any further info, I'm afraid, as there are no other members of my father's generation still alive and compos mentis. The family were Jewish and after five years managing this way-station, returned to Grodno to take up other occupations. Any ideas of how, where, etc to search on the Internet? All sensible suggestions welcome.
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Post by H. İhsan Erkoç on Mar 29, 2008 20:58:06 GMT 3
Greetings Mr. Andyep, welcome to SHF. Which region of the Russian Steppe was your great-grandfather's station located? As for the description of the station, it sounds very similar to the "Kervansaray"s (Kârvânsarây in Persian) built by the Seljuqid Turks in Iran and Anatolia in the 11th-13th centuries. A smaller version of these, which actually fits better for your description, were called "Han"s (different from the title "Khan"). You can find some more information here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravanserai
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Post by andyep1 on Mar 30, 2008 13:33:34 GMT 3
Many thanks - at least it gives us an impression of what it may have been like. As far as I know there is no information about where the station was located. If I learn any more I will add it.
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