Memory Office: B. Landsbergytė
Birutė Landsbergytė, a musicologist, tells about a family house in Kačerginė, about people who lived and spent their summer holiday there.
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“Aunt Aliutė was ten years older than my father. She told me, after she found out that parents are planning to buy a plot in Kačerginė, she was very disappointed - it meant that they would no longer go to Palanga and there would no longer be summer entertainments, recreation, romping with cousins. Of course, it proved to be truth, as grandmother had lived here economically. There was a large plot for vegetables and a lot of fruit trees. Three pigs were bought every summer, raised until autumn, and later, like in a meat processing factory: pigs were slaughtered, meat was processed, sausages are made, ham, smoked, salted, canned, and so on. Forty chickens were bought. Briefly, everything what my aunt feared of, has happened. Then new responsibilities for children came to feed, care, water, and weed it. Of course, children would always have time for entertainment - both dad and uncle went fishing, mushroom picking, swimming. Dad used to read a lot since childhood. Besides, there were more than three children all the time - children of Jablonskiai, Petkevičiai, their classmates - scouts used to come as well.”
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“Let‘s not stick to such a stereotypical thinking that summer houses, especially to those who owned them, were only a place of resting. Cottage owners had to work a lot. Like plots of Landsbergiai, Zikarai and Mašiotai, these plots were huge, women of those families had to work, take care of the flowers, and the trees and the gardens. Although they could have seemed to be city dwellers and had other professions, but upon arrival here very quickly had to retrain and work a lot. Briefly, vacation was a very conditional thing. Of course, they were drinking coffee with other ladies on Sunday, and had short breaks for half an hour, but work was very sincere. While those who came as guests who did not own summer houses, who rented - were on vacation, they were swimming a lot, walking, resting, reading, sunbathing on the beach.”
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“Family‘s relationship with Jews were good, it is an old cultural tradition of Lithuania. In fact, this has not changed during the years of the war, especially because somebody somehow decided they do not fit in this world. There is only one criterion – humanity and help, not even necessarily only for the Jewish people. In this house, there was one girl, who was hidden here, Bela Gurvičiūtė, while other people were hiding at Kaunas house, forced to do so because of some other historical circumstances. For example, the family of Juozas Vitas, when he was persecuted, then Vladas Kurkauskas, a former Klaipėda burmestor, a member of Seimas during Independence. When Soviets came, he had various threats as a figure of Independence, then he had lived in Kaunas for some time. During that time, my father kept saying, and I have seen that already - there is no grouping of nationalities, there is simply help for those who needs it at that time. And that's it.”
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“Usually, you would ask help from people of your profession. Musicians from ghetto went to other musicians, that was the case for Kipras Petrauskas and his wife, Čiurlionienė and her family; while doctor went to the doctor whom she knew and from whom she could expect some help. Grandmother had invited Fruma Gurvičienė to her room as a patient, soothed her, put some cotton wipes on her eyes, as if she had undergone medical therapy to warm her from the inside. When she heard the request, she said, "Let her come". And that's it. Bela Gurvičiūtė was brought here immediately, she had only lived for a short time - soon Gestapo arrested her son Gabrielius, it was feared of all sorts of searches, more frequent visits to all family headquarters, so other supported were found for her. Bela managed to survive, escape and leave for Israel. Recently, three children of hers came to Kačerginė to thank the father - as a family representative and look at the place where their mother had sheltered during the war. Not everyone had the courage to do this, but many elders did, many people. Too little is spoken about them, different angle is being presented.”
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“The summer house, which was given back, was not reconstructed during the Soviet times, so that it would not be possible to restore it as it used to be. In this case, we got lucky, it had a humane purpose - pharmacy. Doctor, pharmacist and a nurse used to live on the second floor. Of course, no one really cared much about saving the shutters or the balcony; Then, of course, painting and some other minor repairs had remained.”
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“I knew more about the house of Kaunas, I could pass it, and look at it any time. Here, of course, I was able to go inside the pharmacy, but I didn't until I got the house returned. Kačerginė had appeared in my life quite unexpectedly, I had to get used to it, to fall in love with it. Of course, grandfather used to stay here with his second wife, and was so happy about it, then I‘ve started to dive into the history of the house, it became homey. And now this is no longer a matter to be questioned, it is my main residence. Summer house had remained with its own past. And we are becoming a part of it.”
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“Kaunas, as strange as it is for someone from Vilnius, is a very familiar city. I have once been told that you can only feel best in a place you were born in. And I was born in Kaunas. Mom came here because they had lived in Vilnius poorly, the conditions to bring me weren‘t the best. I came to the world in Kaunas and had lived here for a while, in a house where grandfather had two rooms. The family house on K. Donelaitis street was also nationalized, but grandparents were allowed to live in two rooms. That‘s how Kaunas accompanies me all the time. After all, I took my job appointment to Kaunas, where I worked for thirteen to fourteen years. Then I‘ve decided to return to Vilnius, and now again - here. And, basically, I came back because of Kačerginė. Because it attracts me; I cannot abandon it, lock it up and leave.”
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“Kaunas is cozy and beautiful, especially Naujamiestis (New Town), with its beautiful buildings designed by grandfather (architect Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis). Of course, he told me about them. You see those buildings and they become more relatable than others, and you can't stop loving them and being happy about. Of course, one cannot be so bias and praise only a particular one, ignoring other buildings designed by architects, beautiful Post [building], the War Museum, or the Palace of Progress. You can see the differences, the pattern, but in the end - grandfather is a number one.”
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“Family summer house now and back then differs but remains similar as well. Maybe it is no different, because the house remained public, just as it was back then. The house is open, we are using it, but it's not a private, personal property. Also, the events that I organize here in the yard. There had not been such official events, but others would come as friends, historical personalities, such as Dvarionas, Gruodis, Ms. Lozoraitienė, General Antanas Gustaitis and so on. Briefly, house was full of artistic and musical spirit, only now we have a different format. Another difference, is that I can‘t handle animals as my grandmother used to, a garden and a cultivated field is enough. I am trying to restore room functionality as much as possible, interiors. I write letters to my aunt, I‘ve asked my father and uncle, I wanted to know everything exactly as it had used to be - about the colors, things, neighbors, friends. Not everything can be restored, but the first floor should be.”
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Birutė Landsbergytė
Musicologist Birutė Landsbergytė was born in Kaunas, 1960, but spent her childhood and graduated in Vilnius. Her parents - pianist, concertmaster, pedagogue professor Gražina Ručytė-Landsbergienė and pianist, musicologist, politician professor Vytautas Landsbergis. Grandparents - businessman, exile Pranas Ručys and dairywoman, deportee Agnietė Putilaitė-Ručienė, eye doctor Ona Jablonskytė-Landsbergienė and architect Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis. During the interwar period, Landsbergiai family acquired a plot in Kačerginė and in 1937-1938, a summer house designed by V. Landsbergis-Žemkalnis was built. During the warm season, family would often spend time there with relatives and friends. During the Soviet times, the house was nationalized, a pharmacy was located there, but after the restoration of Independence, family got their summer house back. Currently, the house is serving its original function, besides, during the summertime, music and literature evenings are taking place -"Music of Kačerginė Pine Forest". More stories and narrations about Kačergine can be read in a book by professor V. Landsbergis "Bangos, duokit kelią: Kačerginės paveikslėliai“ (en. Waves, show me way: Kačerginė pictures) (2004).
Date of the interview: 2018-10-11