Vidzy. The watermill.

In the 1930s, a mill appeared in the settlement of Vidzy, built at the expense of Gershka Gusman, a successful local businessman of Jewish origin.

Initially, there were three mills operating continuously in Vidzy. The profitability of this activity was obvious, allowing you to earn almost from nothing. Only the mill that belonged to Guzman has survived to this day.

The mill was a multidisciplinary enterprise. Its mechanisms made it possible to produce flour, including the highest quality for baking, as well as livestock feed and cereals (barley, wheat). The building also housed a dyeing workshop for processing flax and wool, a felting production and a wool processing workshop. The mill was operating around the clock, so the staff exceeded 15 people. There were five people in the flour mill alone at all times. Gershka and his family lived on the second floor.

The mill was powered by firewood. The spacious room contained a boiler and a steam engine, which were serviced by a team of stokers and firewood suppliers. The work required a lot of water, which explained the proximity to the stream.

During the war, Guzman hid on a farm. After returning, he tried to resume production, but faced high taxes from the Soviet authorities and left. In the 1970s, his son tried to revive the mill, but also unsuccessfully.

During the war, the mill was used as a power plant. In Soviet times, there was a hotel and a library there.

In the 1990s, the mill was bought by entrepreneur Vladislav Saykovsky, and it started working again. The watermill is currently abandoned.

Today, the mill is an important landmark of Vidzy, which can be visited as part of various tourist programs.