Elektros gatvė Panevėžio miesto plėtros ir kultūros kontekste.

Elektros gatvė - viena iš centrinių ir seniausių Panevėžio miesto gatvių, jos pradžia siekia XVI a. Tai gatvė, kurios istorija ir geografinė padėtis glaudžiai susijusi su Laisvės aikšte. 1554 m. Žemaičių žemės aprašyme Panevėžys jau pavadintas miestu: jame buvo 64 karčemos (51 alaus, 10 degtinės, 3 midaus) ir 11 mėsinių (skerdėjų)1; minimos trys kairiojo upės kranto miesto gatvės, susiformavusios senųjų kelių vietoje. Pirmoji veikiausiai tapatinta su Ramygalos gatve; antroji gatvė, ėjusi iš turgaus Plukių kaimo link, neabejotinai sutapo su keliu į Livoniją ir, sprendžiant pagal vėlesnį jos pavadinimą, - į Šeduvą. Trečioji gatvė greičiausiai sutapo su keliu, ėjusiu per tiltą į Senąjį Panevėžį ir šiaurės rytų Lietuvą, nes šios gatvės sklypai buvo prie Nevėžio2. Tikėtina, kad tai dabartinė Elektros gatvė, tai yra kelias tarp Naujojo ir Senojo Panevėžio miestelių bei dvaro3. Visos trys gatvės suėjo į Turgaus - dabartinę Laisvės - aikštę.Elektros Street is one of the central and oldest streets of Panevėžys City. The beginning of it reaches XVIth century. It is the street the history and geographical position of which is closely connected with Laisvės Square. Historical sources mention that Elektros Street used to be the road between the towns of Old and New Panevėžys, and the manor. At the end of the first half of the XlXth century the street is named as Tilto Street, Malūno Street, and the street also had the name of Aptiekarskajos (Aptiekos) in the first project plan of Panevėžys City in 1872 and further plans approved later. It is known that Jewish Hospital had been situated in Aptiekos Street at that time. After proclaiming Independence of Lithuania, the changes of the names of streets had been taken into consideration. Taking into account historical data, testifying the fact that the hill used to be in the central part of the city and that was connected with the belief of Lithuanians in old times, it was proposed to name the street after the name of Perkūno. On November 22nd, 1919 the City Council of Panevėžys decided to name the Street of Aptiekos after the name of Elektros. It was not done randomly as this street has close links with the history of Elektros Street. The first public diesel power plant started its activities on October 19th, 1923. In 1935 3 000 consumers were supplied with electricity from Panevėžys Power Plant. The Power Plant used to work till August of 1944. In 1959 the premises of the Power Plant were rearranged and functioned as Sports School for children and youngsters named after V. Variakojis name. Between the wars Panevėžys was famous for favourable educational and cultural space in stressing the tolerance to national minorities. This was influenced by national composition of Panevėžys inhabitants. Jewish Gymnasium was established on September 26th, 1920. The language of studies was old Jewish. In 1928 the school celebrating its opening in a new, modern building in Elektros Street. Pastato statybai isleista 111 390 Litas was spent for the constructions of the building. Between the wars a number of companies providing trade and health care services had been functioning in Elektros Street. During Soviet times, when urbanisation and massive constructions started, at 6-7th decade the constructions of 3-storied buildings started, water supply networks of the city were built. In such a way Elektros Street took the view of nowadays. Though, we have to state that in building J. Miltinis Drama Theatre monumental stones of the old Jewish cemetery were bricked into the fence sort of connecting Elektros Street with Laisvės Square, by ex- Synagogue. This once again violated the heritage of Jewish nation, culture into the development and history of Elektros Street and at the same time Panevėžys as Little Jerusalem. It is symbolic that a monument was built to the founder of Panevėžys City the Duke Alexander in this place in 2003