The everyday tranquility of the contemporary city is like the fresh spring grass sprouting on the scorched earth in its last tumultuous autumn. The fascinating history of this locality, called in some sources an "Atlantis of Bessarabia", attracts you to come back here to discover its mysteries that are literally buried in the hiding place of time.
The town of Mărculești is known mainly because of the stories about the Jews who once lived here, with the big fair that has been organized since the Soviet period; by the name of the Mărculești International Airport built on the coasts of the city; thanks to good schools that have trained thousands of craftsmen over time and many other memorable aspects.
A surprising locality, with good and worthy people, good at advice, good at joking and skilled at work. A clean and hospitable city that seems to have never been disturbed. A tap with refreshing water quenches the traveler's thirst, next to a bank of flowers in the center of the town. Not far, an attractive restaurant, around - Jewish houses and a synagogue that silently remind of the history of the place. The stories about the shops with goods from the East, the singing walk of the traders, the cafes of yesteryear, the craft workshops mentioned in the historical writings swarm in my mind - a vanished universe, which kept few tangents with the current city. The ethnic composition of the population has been changed over time, due to hostile regimes that have ruined the community's rhythm of life, while preserving the enterprising and lively spirit of the place. In the beginning - Jews, then Roma, now, of the approximately 2050 inhabitants, 80% are Moldovan Romanians, the rest - Ukrainians, Russians and other ethnicities.
Currently, the city of Mărculești is becoming younger and more attractive. Located on the left bank of the Răut River, with a railway, on the Florești-Bălți route, at a distance of 7 km from the city of Florești and 32 km from Bălți, it has a favorable geographical location for economic development. A small but neat city, with practicable roads, lighting, which offers basic conditions for a decent life, without the crowds and dust of big cities. Thus, young people from the villages of Megier come to Mărculești to build a home in a quiet and tidy environment, with the possibility of working in the nearby towns, to which public transport regularly runs.
The city of Mărculești has an area of 336.53 ha. In the locality, the Gymnasium "V. Alecsandri", director Svetlana Nagrineac; IET "Andrieș" - director Silvia Dobînda, Social aid canteen enjoyed by about 60 beneficiaries, head Nadejda Lungu, public bathroom, Health Center "Gr. Bivol" from Mărculeşti - the most modern institution in the region, serving over 10,000 citizens from 6 localities, headed by Rodica Olaru, the House of Culture, the museum, a gymnasium, playgrounds, a library led by Svetlana Cocieru, in which children, in addition to books, can see a corner of nature with parrots and fish; 25 economic agents: shops, car wash, the market, gas stations, etc. Mărculești is also proud of its junior football team, coached by Oleg Stan. "A mouthful of heaven" - that's how the people of Mărculăce call their city where they build their future every day.
From collected christoaves
From historical sources we learn that the town of Mărculești was founded on the land of the landowner Semion Starov, administrator of Soroca, who took 400 pieces of land from the village of Mărculeşti and leased them to a Jewish community, displaced here from the Podolia governorate, for a period of 12 years. On May 25, 1837, the Jewish colony of Cot was registered. In 1861, the colony was called Starovca, having 70 households, 713 inhabitants, 2 synagogues, a soap factory, a slaughterhouse, a tavern. In 1907, 1662 people lived here, a telephone connection was established. The colony grew rapidly and by 1923, a popular bank, a consumer cooperative, a steam mill, 7 oil factories, industrial workshops, a mixed primary school, a high school, 9 pubs and 3 restaurants, 3 warehouses were operating in the locality for brandy, a stone quarry.
The Second World War had tragic consequences for Mărculești. In 1941, the fascists destroyed the population of the fair, a part was deported. During the Soviet regime the city was repopulated, rebuilt and the economy of the settlement took off again. New social-cultural objectives were built.
In 1952, the locality was granted the status of a small town. Vocational-technical school (not active for 5 years), eight-year school, culture house were opened in the locality. In 1994, Mărculești received the status of a city. The temple of the city is celebrated on November 8.
The memorial in Mărculești
It's almost unbelievable that something like this actually happened here. On the site of the former camp surrounded by barbed wire established in the fall of 1941, today stands testimony to a Memorial dedicated to the Jews who suffered and died here. It was raised in 2008 and repaired in 2011. On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Jews return here to commemorate.
The number of victims, in official reports, varies between 460 and 1040 people shot and buried in anti-tank trenches. The researchers collected testimonies from the locals, there are also data from the war investigations, but many remain unknown, and with the passage of time, hardly anyone can tell from what was seen and heard 79 years ago. Excavations were never made. There are mass graves, but no one has opened them yet. The legends remain and the land that sometimes still lets out steam. The locals said that after being shot and covered with earth, the place still groaned and wails could be heard.
According to some information from Jewish sources, the total number of Bessarabian Jews imprisoned in the camp in Mărculești was 10,737. In the course of time, over ten thousand other Jews from the surrounding areas passed through the camp, with a view to their deportation to Transnistria. An old man of the town said that only one Jew returned to his homeland. Some residents still keep in touch with the descendants of the Jews who escaped alive. The memory of the victims is preserved by the locals, because a tragedy is never limited to the people against whom it was committed.
The Jewish cemetery
Opposite the school lies the Jewish cemetery. An impressive image that causes a state of stiffness. Cleaned of brambles by volunteers, employees of public institutions, led by the mayor's office, the cemetery is shocking in its size and appearance. Tombstones with Jewish inscriptions and symbols, straightened after many years of being torn down, "testify" to a vanished culture like a myth. There were people, they lived here, walked these streets and contributed their time in building the town. The local authorities are still struggling to find funds to restore the cemetery, but in the end they are left on their own. Recently, thuja trees were planted on the edge of the cemetery and its peripheral landscaping is being planned.
Two-level belfry at the "St. Nicholas" Church
The first priest who served in the church in Mărculești was father Vitalie Zîcu, then Mihail Postoroncă. Since 2018, the parish priest is Mitrofor Protoiereu Carp Cebotaru: "There was no church in the city of Mărculești until the 90s, when people felt the need to build one. They were going to the village of Prajila. In 1991, at the initiative of some good Christians, the construction was proposed. Through many impediments, this work was achieved, with the efforts of Messrs. Ion Cernei, who still comes to the church, Fiodor Morohai who passed to the Lord and 3-5 other people.
On May 23, 1991, the day after the feast of Saint Nicholas, the foundation was laid. In that year, the Ministry of Culture and Cults, under the leadership of Mr. I. Ungureanu, issued the registration document of this church. The construction was completed in 1993. It is a large, beautiful church with special architecture, with a bell tower on two levels. The church was built, but there was no priest. It was the world that was striving. Don't forget Mr. Tatarin, who was also mayor here and fought to bring this divine miracle to fruition."
Drăgaicele – the cherry on the cake of Flores culture
The culture of the city of Mărculești is represented by artistic collectives: the dance ensemble "De la mic la mare", the ensemble "Doremicii", "Ciocârlia", "Ritm" and the ethno-folkloric ensemble "Drăgaicele", artistic leader Maria Pînzari. - "We are ambitious, we conquer every stage wherever we go and return to the town with various trophies.
The most beautiful are the winter holidays, then March 8 and Teacher's Day, when the 58 senior teachers of the city are congratulated. Mărculești has a beautiful park that is being developed, where the Romance Festival is planned. We thank the mayor for his support!"
The word of Mayor Ion Vîrlan
Ion Vîrlan exercises his third mandate as mayor of the city. You mark. Even if he did not always have external support, he managed, through effort and good understanding with the councilors, with some economic agents and with the active inhabitants of the city, to carry out several important projects for development: the repair of all the roads, the construction of the aqueduct to which they are connected 80% of households, street lighting, repair of a kindergarten block for children, with the installation of biomass heating, with solar panels, repairs to the gymnasium - paving the territory, the start of the social canteen, the public bathroom and others.
"If the plans are made, you have to keep your word and fulfill them, says the mayor. There are many external factors that prevail over local public administration, as well as internal, natural factors. But great things are done with people. I thank all those who contribute to the development of the city of Mărculești, the city council because we have no cases when someone is against when decisions are made for the city. We have a locality with good-hearted people, eager to help, that's why I'm with them".
The source of the information and photos - ziarulnostru.info.
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