Mozyr. An abandoned county hospital of the early XX century.

Until recently, a unique architectural monument of the early 20th century stood in the heart of Polesie, on the picturesque hills of Mozyr. The yellow brick building, known as the former county hospital, was not just an abandoned building, but a silent witness to an entire era.

The birth of a masterpiece.

Built in 1910, the building immediately attracted attention for its extraordinary architecture. It was made of yellow brick in the shape of the letter "E" and had two floors with a basement. Its size was impressive - about 20 by 45 meters. The corner tower with a spiral staircase leading to the roof gave the building a special charm.

Researchers are still arguing about the original purpose of the building. According to one version, it was the mansion of a wealthy citizen who, before the First World War, turned it over to a 35-bed county hospital. Other local historians are sure that it was built immediately as a medical institution, pointing to the striking similarity of the architectural decor with the complex of the Kiev Polytechnic Institute. Anyway, the building has become one of the decorations of the city.

The era of service to people.

In Soviet times, the hospital expanded: a new, three-story building was added to the historical building, which, unfortunately, was at odds with the old mansion in style. Over the years, the regional hospital and then the children's hospital were located here. For decades, the walls of this building remembered the laughter of children, the hopes of patients and the selfless work of doctors. But in 2004, the doctors left the building - it was declared an emergency.

Years of oblivion.

After the closure, the former hospital began to wander through the hands of the owners. At first, it was handed over to a private individual, but the reconstruction never began. In 2018, by a court decision, the object was returned to the state and an attempt was made to auction it. The price dropped from half a million rubles to 80% of the initial cost, but investors avoided the architectural monument. The restoration conditions were too complicated and expensive, which had to be coordinated with the ministries.

The abandoned building has become a magnet for stalkers, antiquarians, and photo artists. It was also favored by people without a fixed place of residence, inside they found remnants of clothes and even a semblance of a barbecue. In 2022, there was hope: they wanted to use the building for filming "Belarusfilm" - its appearance was too "cinematic".

But the movie about the past was never made, and in reality a drama played out. On the evening of October 4, 2024, the first videos of the burning building appeared on social networks. The fire destroyed the roof on an area of 200 square meters and ceiling ceilings. The cause of the fire is still being determined, but the arson version is one of the main ones.

The irony of fate: just a few days before the tragedy, employees of the Department of culture were tidying up the territory, cutting down bushes and removing garbage, trying to preserve the object of historical and cultural value (code 312G000861).

Today, Mozyr has lost one of its most colorful monuments. Locals bitterly recall that it was the "favorite abandoned building" of the city, which could have become a wonderful attraction. The history of the building, which survived world wars, the change of epochs and states, ended on a dead autumn night in 2024.

One can only hope that the walls, built of yellow brick in 1910, can still be saved and restored to their former greatness before they finally turn into ruins.