Historical and old photos of Madona (german - Modohn)

A small historical reference Geography: The town of Madona lies in hilly surroundings, that descents underneath the town in a northwestern-southeastern direction. Several minor rivers and streams flows through the town, such as: Lisa River, Leivārīte, Ridzīte, Mucenieki River, Rieba River and Madona River — which flows can be seen in beautiful glens, like: The Love Glen, The Wedding Glen and The Divorce Glen. In The Love Glen is a park, in which the manmade water reservoir has one of the highest fountains in Latvia. Date of foundation: History: Population: 9 394 Sights:
Agricultural work, in the background - a steam thresher	Baloža street	Big street, 1918	Composition of the headquarters of the 7th Sigulda Infantry Regiment, 1935.jpg
Courthouse	Cultural festival	District House of Soviets, 1938	Evangelical-Lutheran Church

Fire department, 1938	Gymnasium, 1926	Gymnasium, 1930s	Gymnasium, 1938
Grocery Store of Victor Zeltin, 1935	House of Culture	Male Gymnasium, interior, 1931	Panorama of the city, 1939

Panorama of city houses, 1926	Panorama of city street, 1935	Post office	Riga Boulevard
Railway Station, 1938	Railway Station	Railway Station and City	Women's Gymnasium

History

The surrounding area of Madona had been populated in earlier times, which is confirmed by discoveries of old burial grounds in the city's vicinity. Madona is first mentioned in writing in 1461, when Archbishop Sylvester began renting the lands of Birži Manor. However, the Swedish government placed the land under state control. After the Great Northern War, Madona became property of the Russian Empire. Empress Elizabeth presented Birži Manor along with other of Vidzeme's manors to Count Alexander Buturlin.

Empress Catherine II bought the lands back as a present to another relative of her court — the Serbian major-general Maxim Zorić. From the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century, the location of Madona was the fields of Birži Manor.

According to one version, the name of Madona stems from the adjacent Madona Lake. According to another version, Madona got its name from Birži Manor, which German exonym is Madohn or Modohn. For this reason, the railway station situated at the Pļaviņas - Valka narrow gauge railway line was named Madona as well. The populated place that slowly emerged around the station also got this name after the erection of the Madona railway station in 1903.

Village privileges was given to Madona 1 July 1921, and town privileges 7 June 1926. Since 1 April 1925 Madona was the center of the newly founded County of Madona (Madonas apriņķis). Madona had 1,357 inhabitants at the time.

Origin: en.wikipedia.org