«Gorkovskaya kommuna» (Gorky Commune) was a Nizhny Novgorod regional newspaper published under that name from October 1932. The publication changed its masthead from Gorkovskaya Kommuna (newspaper))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))» (Nizhny Novgorod Commune) following The City of Gorky, and subsequently became known as Gorkovskaya Pravda» (Gorky Truth), which in turn gave rise to Nizhny Novgorod Pravda» (Nizhny Novgorod Truth).
History of the name
The newspaper traces its origins to «Nizhegorodskaya kommuna», the first issue of which appeared on 1 November 1918. In September 1932, «Nizhegorodskaya kommuna» published a resolution of the regional executive committee dated 23 September, naming a number of municipal enterprises and institutions after Maxim Gorky to mark the 40th anniversary of the writer's literary and public career.[1] In October 1932, following the official renaming of Nizhny Novgorod to Gorky, the editorial board changed the masthead to «Gorkovskaya kommuna».[1] The publication later appeared under the name «Gorkovskaya pravda», and after the city's historic name was restored, as «Nizhegorodskaya pravda».
Over the years, notable figures of Nizhny Novgorod cultural life worked at the editorial office: in particular, the post of editorial secretary until 1923 was held by local historian Viktor Illarionov, who was removed from his position by a decision of the bureau of the Nizhny Novgorod Provincial Committee of the RCP(b).
Coverage of major construction projects
«Nizhegorodskaya kommuna» formally took patronage over the construction of the automobile plant and the bridge across the Oka, reporting on the building work issue after issue, demanding that violations be remedied, and drawing attention to problems.[1]
On 30 April 1930, the newspaper ran the headline «The question of building a bridge across the Oka has been resolved», reporting on USSR. The publication emphasized that the future bridge would rival America in beauty and elegance. The foundation was laid on 5 June 1930; the newspaper described how «by 5 o'clock in the afternoon the Yarmarka embankment of the Oka was packed» and «small steamboats and rowboats could not keep up with ferrying all those who wished to cross». The bridge was opened on 1 May 1933, an event hailed as «the region's greatest victory»; it was subsequently named the Kanavinsky Bridge.[1]
In May 1935, «Gorkovskaya kommuna» reported that from 11 May, freight trains began running through from Kotelnich to Gorky via the newly built Volga bridge, while passenger services were due to open in the first half of June that same year. The bridge was initially named after Nikolay Pakhomov, who had headed the Nizhny Novgorod and later the Gorky Regional Executive Committee, but in 1938, following his repression, Kanavinsky Bridge.[1]
On 2 May 1930, the newspaper described the laying of the foundation stone of the Nizhny Novgorod automobile plant. On 1 January 1932, «Nizhegorodskaya kommuna» ran the headline «The launch of the automobile plant — a victory for the party's general line». In December 1932, already under the name «Gorkovskaya kommuna», the publication reported on the production of the first passenger cars at the Gorky Automobile Plant, and on 15 April 1935, on preparations to produce the 100,000th automobile, which was to be named after People's Commissar Sergo Ordzhonikidze.[1] The newspaper also covered the construction of a silicate brick plant at Mokhovye Hills, a glass plant, a machine-tool plant, the Sormovo plant, and an aircraft plant.[1]
Sources
- Nizhegorodskaya pravda — City of Gorky