This weekend, the Open Houses Festival is taking place in Tallinn. People can visit places that are usually off-limits. For example, they can see luxurious and old buildings.
100 years ago, Nikolai von Glehn said that a city would emerge here. And so Nõmme was born. But the Soviet authorities decided that a giant grain elevator would be good for a garden city. This elevator was built 70 years ago. It was unique in Estonia. For example, the Rotermann and Vana-Kalamaja elevators were made of limestone, but the Nõmme one was made of concrete. The building could hold 11,000 tons of grain.
Amateur historian Jan-Erik Moon mentioned that in the 1980s, the grain went to Leibur. There were very high standards there. Low-quality goods were not accepted. The purity and moisture of the grain were carefully checked.
Mathias, a boy from Pääsküla, attended the festival and was satisfied. He said, "There are many things and rooms here."
People who attended the festival were prepared. For example, Margite, a Finn of Estonian descent, spoke about her plan: "First, we’ll visit Hundipea, then Paljassaar, and next the foreign ministry building. Tomorrow we’ll visit the chancellor of justice and another ministry building."
Hundipea harbor was once a secured area. Women couldn’t get close without papers. The harbor had its own dentist, hairdresser, restaurant, and chemical cleaning. There was also a cinema where special films were shown. Censorship reviewed the films.
Kairi, a volunteer guide, said that the harbor could be a residential area. She thinks it would be logical.