Stag Park and Concert Hall "Valmiera" Memorial site
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The park is located in the center of Valmiera.
In 1914, eight enterprising Valmiera residents decided to establish a park with a non-alcoholic buffet and a book table on the outskirts of the city at that time - thus began the history of the Vecpuiši Park.
The park's development work was interrupted by the First World War.
Already at the beginning of the war, a hospital for wounded soldiers was established in the pavilion hall. The second floor of the building housed the Valmiera Red Cross Committee, its central donation reception point, and a warehouse.
The Valmiera Committee was one of the most active in Latvia. In October 1914, it was in charge of 33 infirmaries with 375 beds. The Committee raised funds for the maintenance of infirmaries and the treatment of wounded soldiers, for the provision of warm linen and travel money to those who had recovered, for the feeding of wounded soldiers passing through, and also sent gifts directly to the front. One of the most active Red Cross Committee employees in fundraising was Kārlis Ulmanis (1877-1942), who later became the first Prime Minister of independent Latvia.
The history of the founding of the legendary Latvian rifle battalions is also connected with Vecpuiši Park. On August 4 and 5, 1915, a volunteer recruitment committee operated in the park, and on August 6, young soldiers were taken from here for training. Later, young men from Valmiera and the surrounding area were also taken from here many times as soldiers. During the war, various cultural and charity events were also held in the park, but all the funds raised were used to help those affected by the war.
On November 18, 1918, the national flag was raised for the first time in Valmiera as the state flag and the new national anthem “God, Bless Latvia” was played for the first time.
During World War II, the pavilion building of the Vecpuiši Park housed a hospital and riflemen were taken to battle. During the Soviet occupation, on August 12, 1940, by decision of the Valmiera City Board, the park was renamed Komsomol Park.
After World War II, the pavilion, designed by architect Freibergs, was used both as a cultural center (until 1966) and as a sports school. In the late nineties (1998), the pavilion in the Bachelor Park began to be active again.
The photographs displayed in the premises of the restaurant "Vecpuisis" show the founders of the park.
Used sources and references:
Tālis Pumpuriņš, Cēsis History and Art Museum
https://lr1.lsm.lv/lv/raksts/latvijas-perles/vecpuisu-parks-vieta-kur-romantika-saplust-ar-skaistumu.a69707/
https://www.valmiera.lv/lv/pilseta/dabas_teritorijas/skveri_un_parki/vecpuisu_parks/
http://www.periodika.lv/periodika2-viewer/view/index-dev.html?lang=fr#panel:pa|issue:/p_003_xbrl2001n20|article:DIVL319|issueType:P
http://www.periodika.lv/periodika2-viewer/view/index-dev.html?lang=fr#panel:pa|issue:/p_003_xbrl2001n21|article:DIVL362|issueType:P
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