Noble Assembly

Categories / Population/Urban Living
NOBLE ASSEMBLY, public club establishment, originating from the so-called Merchants Assembly that was founded in 1782 by a group consisting mainly of German merchants who had resigned from the Burger Club (Petty Bourgeois Assembly, or Schuster Club). The first meeting was held on the Independence Day of the United States of America, hence the other name of the Assembly, The American Club. The Assembly's name was changed on several occasions. A representative of any society could join the Assembly apart from military ranks higher than colonel. People came to Assembly meetings to spend time (card games, billiards, dances, lunches or dinners). In 1792, the Noble Assembly numbered 550 members. The funds were supplemented with membership fees (16 Roubles), revenues from masquerades and balls (entry fee - 5 Roubles). At first the meetings were held at the House of Poggenpol near St. Isaac's Church (not preserved). Later the building "At Leon's" was rented (30 Nevsky Prospect). In 1812, it was renamed the Dance Assembly, and housed at the House of Kosikovsky (15 Nevsky Prospect; see House of Chicherin), there balls and masquerades were held. After 1822, the meetings were held at Tairov House on Millionnaya Street (not preserved). The numbers of its members decreased to 314, and in 1824 to 165 (the majority of them were Germans, the annual fee increased to 36 Roubles). In 1824 the Assembly moved every season. In 1845 it was officially named the Noble Assembly, its financial affairs improved and it rented the House of Pashkov (39 Liteiny Avenue), since the 1870s it again settled in the House of Kosikovsky (since 1858 the building belonged to merchants Eliseev), there balls, masquerades, musical and charity evenings were held (hence, another name for it - the Noble Dance Assembly). In the 1870-80s the Noble Assembly hosted literary soirees in which I.S. Turgenev, M.E. Saltykov-Sсhchedrin and F.M. Dostoevsky took part; in 1909 the jubilee performance in honour of M.G. Savina took place. In 1910, A.D. Vyaltseva performanced in the hall of the Noble Assembly. Since 1914 Noble Assembly occupied its own building in 27 Italyanskaya Street, (1912-14, architects Kosyakov brothers; now Radio House). The Noble Assembly was abolished in 1917.

Reference: Столетие С.-Петербургского благородного собрания, 10-го мая 1883 года. СПб., 1883.

Y. N. Kruzhnov. Dostoevsky Fedor Mikhailovich
Kosikovsky Andrey Ivanovich
Lion I.
Pashkov Ivan Vasilievich
Poggenpol S.
Saltykov-Shchedrin (real name Saltykov) Mikhail Evgrafovich
Savina Maria Gavrilovna
Tairov
the Eliseevs
the Kosyakovs
Turgenev Ivan Sergeevich
Vyaltseva Anastasiya Dmitrievna
Italyanskaya Street/Saint Petersburg, city, house 27
Liteiny Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 39
Millionnaya St./Saint Petersburg, city
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 15
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 30
Столетие С.-Петербургского благородного собрания, 10-го мая 1883 года. СПб.
Шульц С.Купеч. собрание, СПб., 1916. Chicherin House
Pashkov House (Liteiny Avenue)