The Rebirth of Konrāda House

The book “Look into the Future of the Past” describes the story of this house as a message about change and survival. A short version of its life story would be simple:“Built around the middle of the 19th century, the house changed owners many times throughout its existence. It underwent numerous reconstructions — both authorized and unauthorized — yet the building survived. However, for approximately the last 30 years, it waited for its rescuers, as its technical condition continued to deteriorate.”

“Konrāda House” is located in an exceptional spot, next to Rose Square, which has been the central square of Cēsis since the 13th century and was originally known as Market Square. In 1927, the city council decided to transform the square into a park in the city center, planting lilacs, linden trees, chestnut trees, and ornamental shrubs in the lawns. After 1936, it was renamed A. Pumpurs Square, and since the 1940s it has been known as Rose Square, even though roses no longer bloom there.

The building at Torņa Street 1 was constructed in the mid-19th century, approximately at the same time as the restoration of St. John’s Church in the 1850s, when a new church spire was built by local construction contractor Mārcis Sārums. Under his direct supervision, many churches and manor houses across Vidzeme were built or reconstructed in the mid-19th century. His most outstanding work is considered to be the tower of St. John’s Church in Cēsis, for whose model he received a small silver medal at an exhibition held at the House of the Blackheads in 1853. Mārcis Sārums is buried in the Lower Cemetery of Cēsis.

The building’s best-known name is “Konrāda House,” which originated after ownership rights were officially granted to Matilde Paulīne Emelīne Konrad in 1902. Today, this historic name has been restored and honored once again.

Because the building stood next to the old market square — effectively the center of Cēsis — active commercial life always flourished there. Since the late 19th century, the entire ground floor housed various shops, workshops, and stores, which led to repeated alterations of the street-facing façade openings, converting doors into windows and vice versa.

An interesting historical note can be found in the November 3, 1911 issue of the newspaper “Cēsu Ziņas”, which reported that at the beginning of that year, the first cinema in Cēsis — “Teatrs Pate Elektrokino” — had begun operating in rented premises within Konrāda House. Soon, Cēsis already had three cinemas in operation: “Pate,” “Fars,” and “Lux.”

The building remained a lively center of business activity until the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940, when private business and private property were abolished and everything became “property of the people.” Yet the desire to trade and profit continued. In the newspaper “Cēsu Stars” on January 15, 1941, an article titled “The Moonshiners” stated:

“Pēteris Bērziņš and Zelma Bērziņš had set up illegal state vodka sales in their apartment at 1 Torņa Street, Cēsis. The militia had already received reports that vodka could be purchased from the Bērziņš family at inflated prices, despite the fact that they had no permission to trade alcohol. On November 24 of the previous year, Pēteris Bērziņš sold vodka to Jānis Gulbis for 8.50 rubles per half-liter bottle. When the militia conducted a search, they found eight half-liter bottles of vodka hidden in a box mounted above a set of double doors. Even in court, the Bērziņš family denied wrongdoing, claiming they had purchased the vodka for holiday celebrations. A long line of witnesses was questioned, and their testimony proved Pēteris Bērziņš’s guilt. The People’s Court sentenced him to one month in prison and confiscated the vodka found on the premises, while Zelma Bērziņš was acquitted.”

During the Soviet years, apartments were located in the building at 1 Torņa Street, and residential use continued after Latvia regained independence. In 1993, as part of the denationalization process, the building was returned to its rightful owners.

For many years, the building waited for its rescuers until it was acquired by Draugiem Group. Now, “Konrāda House” can finally breathe again, shake off the tensions of the past, and look toward a brighter future. Business activity will return to the building, and people will once again live there — people who will seek to build a friendship with “Konrāda House.”