St. Petersburg Powder Mill

Categories / Economy/Industry
POWDER MILL, Zeleiny Plant, the first enterprise for production of powder (Russian zelye, hence the other name) in St. Petersburg. The mill was founded in 1710 in the north-west part of Berezovy Island at the end of the cut-through, which went from the Kronverk of Peter and Paul Fortress by the left side of the Malaya Nevka (today Vvedenskaya Street, Rybatskaya Street and Bolshaya Zelenina Street). The Powder Mill occupied a vast territory, and was fenced in. It was located near the present-day entrance to Krestovsky Bridge. In 1714 recycling of rotten powder started. In 1719 Powder Mill turned to producing extra quality powder in the Dutch manner under the guidance of foreman P. Schmitt. In the mid-18th century the Powder Mill employed some 100 workers; up to 3,500 pounds of powder were produced annually. Production levels gradually went down. The enterprise was liquidated in 1801. Power Mill buildings were sold and demolished, the equipment and the workforce were transferred to Okhta powder plants. There was a settlement of Zeleinaya Sloboda at the plant (hence the names of of Bolshaya Zelenina Street, Malaya Zelenina Street and Glukhaya Zelenina Street).

Reference: Каменев К. И. Историческое описание Охтенского порохового завода. СПб., 1891.

A. D. Margolis. Schmitt P.
Bolshaya Zelenina Street/Saint Petersburg, city
Glukhaya Zelenina Street/Saint Petersburg, city
Malaya Zelenina Street/Saint Petersburg, city
Rybatskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city
Vvedenskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city
Каменев К. И. Историческое описание Охтенского порохового завода. СПб., 1891