*Aldona:* “I have lived in Kulautuva my entire life. I grew up in a wooden house nearby that was built by my father Jonas Petrauskas and my grandfather. It was the most beautiful resort for me. Decorated windows, shutters and the veranda.

Aldona: “I have lived in Kulautuva my entire life. I grew up in a wooden house nearby that was built by my father Jonas Petrauskas and my grandfather. It was the most beautiful resort for me. Decorated windows, shutters and the veranda.

A lot of people used to arrive here from Kaunas to have some rest, a lot of doctors as well.  All my friends used to arrive. One of them wore only dresses. We were surprised: who needs them here...  Jews used to arrive here as well. My father liked them a lot, because they help us greatly. All of my brothers were studying, one of them was studying medicine, another architecture, two engineering and my sister was studying pharmacy... My father needed to borrow money to pay for their studies, and no one else used to borrow like they did. My dad used to say: when I die, I want to be with Jews.

I had a very good childhood here. There were May dances in the park, you could purchase a "bubble" candy with gifts inside, we purchased ring-shaped rolls in Tamšė's bakery. A lot of people used to live off selling everything they grew in their farms like chickens or eggs... And during the Soviet times, I remember myself running from home to the centre of Kulautuva where the dance used to take place. The used to play ball here. Back them, we rented a part of our house for the holidaymakers, we called it seklyčia.“

*Algirdas: *“This villa belonged to Antanas Vaitkevičius, director of the Savings Bank. It was built in 1935. Since the building was nationalised in 1949, the villa was divided into apartments. On the ground floor, since 1951, there was home for Kazimieras Gurauskas, chief doctor of Tuberculosis Sanatorium. Next to the former sanatorium guest room for supervisors from Vilnius and Moscow.”

Algirdas: “This villa belonged to Antanas Vaitkevičius, director of the Savings Bank. It was built in 1935. Since the building was nationalised in 1949, the villa was divided into apartments. On the ground floor, since 1951, there was home for Kazimieras Gurauskas, chief doctor of Tuberculosis Sanatorium. Next to the former sanatorium guest room for supervisors from Vilnius and Moscow.”

*Vincas:* “I grew up in the house of Lazaris Černas. There was the fourth division of Tuberculosis Sanatorium after the war. L. Černas had his medical business, and [my] father looked after his farm. He trusted [my father], asked to purchase building materials. Our entire family lived in the rooms installed in the basement. When I was a child, L. Černas once gave me money so I would buy him cigarettes called Sofo. I tried to remember that word, but when I came to the store, I bought the cheaper ones, Kir, the ones that my father used to smoke. Luckily, Černas was not angry. Unfortunately, he did not manage to run away, the Russians deported him after the war and he did not come back to Kulautuva.

Vincas: “I grew up in the house of Lazaris Černas. There was the fourth division of Tuberculosis Sanatorium after the war. L. Černas had his medical business, and [my] father looked after his farm. He trusted [my father], asked to purchase building materials. Our entire family lived in the rooms installed in the basement. When I was a child, L. Černas once gave me money so I would buy him cigarettes called Sofo. I tried to remember that word, but when I came to the store, I bought the cheaper ones, Kir, the ones that my father used to smoke. Luckily, Černas was not angry. Unfortunately, he did not manage to run away, the Russians deported him after the war and he did not come back to Kulautuva.

Danguolė (1934): “After the war, I worked in the Republican Tuberculosis Sanatorium for Adults. In winter, some wards were closed, because there were fewer patients then. We used to bring the bedding into truck and transport it to the fourth and fifth wards while singing. In spring, those wards were reopened again.  I worked in various wards. I remember that in the basement of the tenth one, a pool was installed. Now there is a cardiology clinic there. The treatment was very long, patients used to walk around the pine forest. The acacia trees were small back then and they were planted with very beautiful flowers around: nasturtiums were in bloom everywhere...”

*Albina (1936):* “My dad Kazimieras Sutkus (later Sutkevičius) moved to Kulautuva from Ručkūnai village. He served in the uhlan regiment, managed horses well and was a great singer. When he arrived, he bought a parcel of land and settled. In 1932, he built a house. He built more houses in Kulatuva, he had a business. He was a carpenter, but he liked very much and was successful in building wooden houses. One summer house has remained to this day. Its address is Lelijų Street 1. The Jews liked this place very much. A nice pine forest, on a hill. Constructions used to take place every year, because every summer, there were floods and we had to flow with boats here. Nemunas River would bring us surprises. We did not know whether water will come at night or during the day. Life used to stop for that time.” 

Albina (1936): “My dad Kazimieras Sutkus (later Sutkevičius) moved to Kulautuva from Ručkūnai village. He served in the uhlan regiment, managed horses well and was a great singer. When he arrived, he bought a parcel of land and settled. In 1932, he built a house. He built more houses in Kulatuva, he had a business. He was a carpenter, but he liked very much and was successful in building wooden houses. One summer house has remained to this day. Its address is Lelijų Street 1. The Jews liked this place very much. A nice pine forest, on a hill. Constructions used to take place every year, because every summer, there were floods and we had to flow with boats here. Nemunas River would bring us surprises. We did not know whether water will come at night or during the day. Life used to stop for that time.” 

Mykolas (1952): “According to the newspapers of those times, the length of streets in Kulautuva amounted to 12 kilometres. The main street in Kulautuva was called Akacijų Alėja (Acacia Avenue). Yet it got this name in 1945. The very first and oldest name of that street during the Interwar Period was A. Smetonos Alėja. The street got this name in 1933. This name was given to it on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Smetona. It was named in his honour.

A. Smetonos Avenue was planted with acacias. At that time the intention was to make this street look like Laisvės Alėja in Kaunas. 

During the Interwar Period, the greatest celebrations were organised here. Parades would march along this street. Akacijų Avenue was the main and most important street of the town and according to the residents of the town, one of the most beautiful streets in Lithuania.”

*Aldona:* At that time, Vila Vita was a luxurious place. One of the first asphalted streets, for kids it was a miracle. There was a court next to it. Holidaymakers used to play ball here. I remember we used to bring milk to the villa to sell it to Romanas Polovinskas. A lot of guests would gather at his place and he probably entertained them. Polovinskas allowed the guests to use his ice-house so the products would not get bad. Not for free, of course. This building still stands there. They used to dig deep holes in winter and carry blocks of ice from the pond that would not melt even in summer. Before the war, like many other richer Jews, he emigrated to America. My brother left at a similar time. They used to meet there and communicate.”

Aldona: At that time, Vila Vita was a luxurious place. One of the first asphalted streets, for kids it was a miracle. There was a court next to it. Holidaymakers used to play ball here. I remember we used to bring milk to the villa to sell it to Romanas Polovinskas. A lot of guests would gather at his place and he probably entertained them. Polovinskas allowed the guests to use his ice-house so the products would not get bad. Not for free, of course. This building still stands there. They used to dig deep holes in winter and carry blocks of ice from the pond that would not melt even in summer. Before the war, like many other richer Jews, he emigrated to America. My brother left at a similar time. They used to meet there and communicate.”

Mečislovas (b. 1923): “When I was young, there were a lot of fires here in Kulautuva. Those huts used to catch fire and you can see Jews already building a new summer house. No one can tell: maybe they would start those fires on purpose, so they can buy the land and build the summer houses.

Some had their own summer houses in Kulautuva, others used to rent them from Jews and others lived in that villa Vita. It is said that very rich people used to live there. Everyone knew Villa Vita. All summer houses used to stand at the centre of Kulautuva. There are a couple of them standing there as well. Some of them have been restored, others stand abandoned. Back then, they were very beautiful. The surroundings were managed and kept in order. They were majestic.”

Balys (b. 1920): “There was this Villa Vita. It was the most famous one. All sorts of gentlemen used to drive to it from Kaunas on weekends. There were full of them. You could see even thirty cars. Officers, government officials Crème de la crème, as they say it now.

Albina (b. 1936): “Officer orchestra used to play in Kulautva next to the majestic Villa Vita. It was the most beautiful for me. There was a fountain in front of the building and a tennis court. There was an enclosure in the territory with a tiny roe running in it.” 

Zigmas (b. 1923): “All sorts of officers and gentlemen used to come here. There were plenty of them at the beach, in the park, they used to go the buffet, and Kondrotienė's villa Vita.”

*Algirdas:*“It was one of the first modern hotels in the Baltic states, with 18 rooms, different styles of furniture and great ventilation. There was a library and a reading-room, rooms for gambling and other entertainment for little groups, two verandas, separate hairdressing salons for men and women, baths, showers, hot and cold water, courts for tennis and other games in the garden, fountain and many other activities. This summer house was adapted for living both in summer and winter, because there was a boiler room in the basement and a room for coal. The power was supplied by the resort's power plant.

Algirdas:“It was one of the first modern hotels in the Baltic states, with 18 rooms, different styles of furniture and great ventilation. There was a library and a reading-room, rooms for gambling and other entertainment for little groups, two verandas, separate hairdressing salons for men and women, baths, showers, hot and cold water, courts for tennis and other games in the garden, fountain and many other activities. This summer house was adapted for living both in summer and winter, because there was a boiler room in the basement and a room for coal. The power was supplied by the resort's power plant.

Before the war and afterwards, there was the rest-house of Kulautuva and from 1 June 1949, one of the wards of Tuberculosis Sanatorium. After the recovery of independence, the office of the eldership and library."

*Rozian Bagrianskytė-Zerner:*“I remember the care of Lidija Fugelevičiūtė that she spread so generously to all around her: be it a Jew, a deaf-and-dumb, Russian or German. She was full of love and dignity, she risked her life for others. She was a splendid woman who lived in unusual times, managed to overcome horror and create a space full of kindness and compassion. I used to listen to her playing the piano, learned to dance and I always knew that she would hug and kiss me. Our relationship was especially warm. Now I understand how much she risked and understand the power of her faith. I did not manage to understand it for a long time.”

Rozian Bagrianskytė-Zerner:“I remember the care of Lidija Fugelevičiūtė that she spread so generously to all around her: be it a Jew, a deaf-and-dumb, Russian or German. She was full of love and dignity, she risked her life for others. She was a splendid woman who lived in unusual times, managed to overcome horror and create a space full of kindness and compassion. I used to listen to her playing the piano, learned to dance and I always knew that she would hug and kiss me. Our relationship was especially warm. Now I understand how much she risked and understand the power of her faith. I did not manage to understand it for a long time.”

Fruma Vitkinaitė-Kučinskienė:“That summer, aunt Lida fed us all. There were steaming potatoes on the table sprinkled with dill and with fermented milk on the side. Aunt Lida had an electric centrifuge, made cheese, had some hens, and baked bread on cabbage leaves... There was everything: milk, cream, fresh honey, eggs...

The house was full of people, I could not even count them all right now: Rivka Šmuklerytė, Gerta Bagrianskienė with daughter Roziana, both Natashas (Natalija Fugalevičiūtė and Natalija Melioranskaja-Jegorova), Nadiežda Lukašova with daughters Ariadna and Elena, Nebyliukas (Vytautas Jagminas), Kolenka (Mošė Laferis), the old Elizavieta. In the yard, next to the barn, there lived Lepetiucha with hidden Alyoshenka and in another house, Shatunova with children and her mother. Throughout the summer, Lida fed 20 people. She hid Jews putting herself in great danger, because people in the neighbourhood were of various opinions...”

Leonardas Žostautas:“Lidija had several cows, hired girls and boys. She provided milk to the residents of her guest house. In Kulautuva, she had one guest house with the outdoor café on the west part of the resort next to the former rest-house of Jewish clerical students. The café was a bit further away from the guest house, in parallel with the Kranto Street. While the synagogue has not been built yet, Jews used to gather for prayers in the open café. Behind the guest house, on the side of Nemunas, there was a croquet court.

Algirdas: Fugalevičius Family was the last owner of Kulautuva estate. In 1886, they purchased this estate of 130 ha of land from Jonas Šarakauskas. Since 1875, Teodosijus worked as a surveyor of Kaunas Governorate, had a house in Kaunas, next to the current location of Saulės Gymnasium. Before World War 1, he had 21 summer houses in Kulautuva estate. They all were burned down, destroyed and torn down in other ways during the war. Only two of the summer houses remained more or last intact. When World War 1 started, they moved to live in their estate next to Minsk. Their five daughters moved with them: Liubovė, Lidija, Liudmila, Olga and Natalija. Six sons remained in Lithuania. Only one son was born in Kulautuva: Sergei. The rest of ten were born in Kaunas. Lidija Fugalevičiūtė-Stauskienė returned to Lithuania in 1921 and started life in one of the better remaining summer houses in Kranto Street, where she later opened a guest house. After the death of her parents, the manor, land cut down to 80 ha by the reform of 1920, was inherited by Lidija and Liudmila (called Tamara by family) and Sergei. The latter lived on Tamara hill in family's guest house until 1941 and worked as a surveyor. To avoid deportation, he moved to the West. Konstantinas was an intelligence officer of the Russian aviation. After returning to Lithuania, he became one of the creators of the aviation of the Independent state of Lithuania, the head of aviation school established in his parent's house in Kaunas, participated in fights with Bolsheviks, scouted and bombarded their positions froms the plane, was heavily wounded and discharged as unsuitable for military service. After a deep spiritual crisis, he committed suicide in 1919. After the war, other sons were scattered around Russia.

In 1932, Lidija started building a house and other constructions on the estate behind Klevinė River. During the WW2 in her homestead, she hid 15 Jews, mostly of them were children. Her sister Natalija who lived in Kaunas, her parent's house, also saved 14 Jews from death. However, it did not save Lidija and her sister Liudmila (Tamara) from deportation. They received Life Saving Crosses and the title of Righteous Among the Nations (posthumously). In 2014, Sergei's son Vytautas who lives in Germany, built a stogastulpis (roofed pillar) as a sign of remembrance and respect for his family and a gift and for the community of Kulautuva.”

*Albina (b. 1936): *“I remember the orchestra playing next to the sculpture of Mary, not far from the resort's pond. All the festivities were accompanied by music. In that place was my First Communion, we were a huge group of children.”

Albina (b. 1936): “I remember the orchestra playing next to the sculpture of Mary, not far from the resort's pond. All the festivities were accompanied by music. In that place was my First Communion, we were a huge group of children.”

Zigmas (b. 1923): “Everything was well-kept. Not to speak about the sculpture of Virgin Mary. It was so nice. Swans swimming around were so pretty.  And the villas of the rich were very interesting for the people.”

Mečislovas (b. 1923): “In Kulautuva, the central street was very famous, as it was the case everywhere. There was a sculpture of the Virgin Mary and a lot of people used to gather here. Because not far from there, there was a beautiful pond with swans swimming in it, the environment was beautiful, like a park.”

Mykolas (b. 1952):“One of the most interesting and eye-catching objects in Kulautuva is the Virgin Mary's sculpture at the centre of Kulautuva. This sculpture is next to the pond. It was created by a famous sculpture Stasys Stanišauskas in 1934, for the occasion of the 60^th anniversary of president Antanas Smetona. It was solemnly unveiled on 8 September 1934. There's a writing on the sculpture: “To commemorate the LX (60^th) anniversary of the Leader of the Nation 1874–1934”.

Sculptor Stasys Stanišauskas was born on 20 November 1899, in Semeliškės volost, Budžiuliai Village. He studied in Krakow Academy of Art. Basically not much is known about this sculptor. However, he created quite a few famous monuments, including: “Žuvome dėl tėvynės” (We Died for Our Homeland) in Cemetery of Kaunas Parish (locals still call itRamybės (Tranquillity) Park); monument for killed Lithuanian soldiers in Šančiai Military Cemetery and monument in Latvia for all soldiers who died outside the boarders of Lithuania.” He died in January of 1941. However, the author of this monument has not been known for a long time.

The uncovering of Virgin Mary's sculpture attracted a lot of people. According to the newspaper "Savivaldybė" (1934, No. 9): “3000 people came to Kulautuva, including holidaymakers, owners of summer houses and farmers.” This article provided a lot of data about the course of the celebration and the festivities. It was impossible to find people who participated in the opening of the sculpture. Only several people mentioned that the celebration was one of the largest in Kulautuva and that a lot of famous and influential people of that time attended it.

It is worth mentioning that during the Interwar Period, two swans were swimming in that pond. They were considered as an ornament and pride of the town. They used to gather a lot of curious passers-by who adored them. This was also mentioned in the edition No. 10 of the newspaper “Rytas” in 1934.

*Algirdas:*“At the beginning, the Hall of Tuberculosis Sanatorium was established in the former café of Elžbieta Polovinskienė's vila Vita. All the meetings, lectures, concerts and film screenings used to take place here. It witnessed the performances by the singers from Opera and Ballet Theatre, Elena Čiudakova and Jadvyga Petraškevičiūtė, baritone Romanas Marijošius, solo artist from Kaunas Musical Theatre Leonas Stanevičius, tenor Kazys Mikalauskas, baritones Vytautas Blažys and Vytautas Rimkevičius, accordion player Algirdas Ločeris. Local residents used this hall for many years as well. However, the small room could not contain all the patients the number of which was increasing. It was even forbidden for children to watch the cinema through the windows of the hall.

Algirdas:“At the beginning, the Hall of Tuberculosis Sanatorium was established in the former café of Elžbieta Polovinskienė's vila Vita. All the meetings, lectures, concerts and film screenings used to take place here. It witnessed the performances by the singers from Opera and Ballet Theatre, Elena Čiudakova and Jadvyga Petraškevičiūtė, baritone Romanas Marijošius, solo artist from Kaunas Musical Theatre Leonas Stanevičius, tenor Kazys Mikalauskas, baritones Vytautas Blažys and Vytautas Rimkevičius, accordion player Algirdas Ločeris. Local residents used this hall for many years as well. However, the small room could not contain all the patients the number of which was increasing. It was even forbidden for children to watch the cinema through the windows of the hall.

For the joy of everyone, a new, modern three-storey building was opened in 1960. It featured a library, reading-room, there was a canteen on the second floor, a large 250 seat hall on the third one, where films were screened. This is where one could see performances brought from Panevėžys, Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Kaunas Drama theatres, concerts by professional and amateur art collectives, dance and other events. Someone from the locals jokingly referred to this building as a “house-combine harvester”. The spirit of this building was the head of cultural mass labour and veteran of this work, Vaclovas Ramoška.”

Janina:“The patients used to go to have fun into the building of club-canteen and watched movies there as well. I remember swans swimming in the lake and me feeding them. [Patients] were having fun in the court next to the burned-down church. Dances used to take place there in the evening, open-air film screenings and I went to watch them as well.”

*Algirdas:*“There was no canteen in Kulautuva before 1951. There was only a buffet that did not work on a regular basis. Residents, sanatorium patients and employees used to criticize the work of the buffet, where even in summer it was impossible to get cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetables, nor refreshing beverages, juice and mineral water that patients needed so much. In a small store, the most necessary food products and kerosene were always missing. People had to go to Kaunas to buy bread, floor, pasta, grits, sugar, salt and grease. Only in the autumn of 1958, the first Tea House was opened in the former summer house of Icikas Judelevičius and Izrealis Pomusas, in Akacijų Alėja. This was the place of the store and a buffet.

Algirdas:“There was no canteen in Kulautuva before 1951. There was only a buffet that did not work on a regular basis. Residents, sanatorium patients and employees used to criticize the work of the buffet, where even in summer it was impossible to get cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetables, nor refreshing beverages, juice and mineral water that patients needed so much. In a small store, the most necessary food products and kerosene were always missing. People had to go to Kaunas to buy bread, floor, pasta, grits, sugar, salt and grease. Only in the autumn of 1958, the first Tea House was opened in the former summer house of Icikas Judelevičius and Izrealis Pomusas, in Akacijų Alėja. This was the place of the store and a buffet.

The Tea Room was renovated in 1958, new furniture was placed there, and local piping installed. It was already possible to purchase hot and cold snacks. However, soon it was possible to buy moulded cigarettes; beer, lemonade and sausage for snacks were usually impossible to buy. It was even forbidden to sell vodka. “Next autumn, tea room employees were criticised for the fact that there was the only soup in the menu: borscht. One had to eat the heated meal from yesterday or the day before yesterday. Constant visitors were fed up by eating borscht today, yesterday and the day after yesterday, and a cutlet today, yesterday, the day before yesterday and throughout the entire previous week. And the third meal was always, as a rule, kissel or compote.” as vividly described by the contemporary regional newspaper "Socialistiniu keliu”.

Finally, during the restoration of the tea house in 1965, an annex was built for the kitchen and buffet, a guest room installed, and the hall was expanded up to 60 seats, introducing Lithuanian-style furniture. At the beginning, it was intended to call the tea house “Lietuviška svetainė” (Lithuanian Parlour) but after the renovation, it was named simply as "Svetainė". The institution became very popular, because semi-manufactures and confectionery goods made here were supplied to region's institutions of public catering and stores. Such canteen was very necessary, because every two years, region's dancing and song celebrations took placer here, as well as many other regional and national events. Children used to camp here in summer and their parents from surrounding regions visited them here.”

*Albina (1936):*“Jews used to develop their trade here. In Kranto Street, there were only wooden Jewish shops. There was also Tamšė's bakery as well. Holidaymakers used to buy the fresh buns, and after lunch, when they where discounted, my mommy used to bring them to me in her apron. We soaked the buns in milk put them in the oven. They were so delicious to eat. 

Albina (1936):“Jews used to develop their trade here. In Kranto Street, there were only wooden Jewish shops. There was also Tamšė's bakery as well. Holidaymakers used to buy the fresh buns, and after lunch, when they where discounted, my mommy used to bring them to me in her apron. We soaked the buns in milk put them in the oven. They were so delicious to eat. 

There was a small ice cream kiosk in Kulautuva, at the edge of the park in Cvirkos Street. And a woman with a white robe used to sell it. The ice cream was magnificent, in a small waffle cup, bubbles of different flavours and colours. The kiosk was very beautiful, round with wooden plates. Children used to find some souvenir in their ice cream, like, for example, a tiny ring. I was very angry, even screamed, if after eating ice cream, I did not find a surprise. I thought that Jewish kids took them. They were very spoiled. I remember one Jewish girl named Zisala. She was a very lean and thin girl, she liked to spin the hula-hoop. For us children it seemed that she was dancing. It was very fun to spend time with Jewish children.”

Laima:“The flood washed away a lot of houses... Reached our home in Kranto Street as well. Buses were driving in it. I remember the flood of 1958 too. My mom left for the funereal and the water started to rise quickly. I removed my sick brother through the window. I was little and screaming that “Nemunas is running towards me.” I remember that we were carried in boats and slept in the laundry for three nights.”   

*Algirdas:* “The Children's Tuberculosis Sanatorium of the Lithuanian Railway Treatment and Sanitation Service was opened in Kulautuva, the autumn of 1949. In 1956, it was re-organised and became the Republican Children's Tuberculosis Sanatorium ‘Kregždutė’ (Swallow) in Kulautuva.  The sanatorium received two villas standing not far from one another, villa Vaidilutė, and two summer houses of villa Dora, two of Pranas Bulota and one two-storey summer house of Jokimas Šneideris.” 

Algirdas: “The Children's Tuberculosis Sanatorium of the Lithuanian Railway Treatment and Sanitation Service was opened in Kulautuva, the autumn of 1949. In 1956, it was re-organised and became the Republican Children's Tuberculosis Sanatorium ‘Kregždutė’ (Swallow) in Kulautuva.  The sanatorium received two villas standing not far from one another, villa Vaidilutė, and two summer houses of villa Dora, two of Pranas Bulota and one two-storey summer house of Jokimas Šneideris.” 

Janina: “I am from Suvalkija. Just like my mother, I was working as a seamstress in Kaunas, Dobilas (Clover) factory, even though I dreamed of being a teacher. I was a good student, used to be elected as class prefect all the time. Later, around 1950, I arrived to live in Kulautuva and started a family. For a short time, I worked as a nurse-manageress in the Tuberculosis Sanatorium 'Kregždutė' that was dedicated to treat children of railway employees. Later I worked at the laundry of the sanatorium and the x-ray's division. I remember that a lot of Jews used to arrive here in summer and rented 'datchas' (summer houses without heating) from farmers. Women wore very elegant clothes, with lips always painted bright red. My little daughter used to bring hens to the market to sell them. The Jewesses used to blow air under their tails, to see if they are fat and good, and then purchased them. They did not eat any other meat.

After the war, around 1960, no more Jews used to come. Kulatuva became a resort for patients of very heavy condition, suffering from open tuberculosis. Thankfully, I did not contract it myself.

Even though I did not work in the ward for a long time, but I remember that patients wanted to find some ladies, used to climb away through the windows. Handsome men and young women came here, took off their rings immediately and this is how families were created here. They were treated in this sanatorium for a very long time. They used to walk everywhere with pyjamas and carried spittoons and cups with lids, so they would not infect the others. People used to rent rooms for patients, if a wife or a husband arrived to visit them. I remember renting it myself, one rouble for a day. But I allowed it only if they were spouses. There were a lot of dramas here... It was a real resort, good weather and high-quality food. For their dinner, they got biscuits, good herring and other high-quality products.” 

Albina (b. 1936):“There were a lot of villas in Kulautuva, but a lot of them did not survive either. I remember villas Vaidilutė, Dora, Giedrė, Irena, Žibutė.

I remember very well Polish army officers interned here. They lived in two summer houses that used to belong to Bulota. They pleaded me to come and sing them in the evening. I used to go and recite them poems. After dinner, all of them used to gather, put me on the table or a chair and listen. They helped us a lot. When I was walking home, they, added various things into the pockets of my coat: chocolate, sugar lumps, salt, loaves of bread. My mother used to come and fetch me. It was difficult for me to carry all the goods. I remember when they were taken away, one officer hugged me and cried so much, it was hard for him to say goodbye. I guess he must have left his daughter somewhere.” 

Lina (b. 1948 m.):“After the war, Tuberculosis Sanatorium of Kulautuva consisted of several wings. One of them was dedicated for the treatment of adults. Other was Children's Tuberculosis Sanatorium 'Kregždutė', also a boarding-school where sick children used to live.

I worked in Kregždutė, children's sanatorium. I think there were seven grades. The children were divided into classes from one to five. Fifteen children in each class. Teachers taught them, and we took care of their treatment.

There was a lot of work. Children used to spend a lot of time in the sanatorium. We became friends with them. It was really fun to work with them.”  

Janina (b. 1949):“I worked in Children Tuberculosis Sanatorium in Kulautuva since 1975. If we speak about the Russian [Soviet] times, Tuberculosis Sanatorium of Kulautuva was considered a very good sanatorium. Patients with tuberculosis were treated here. Not only children, but adults were treated here as well. Only in another wing. Since I worked in children's wing all the time, I could tell more about the treatment of children.

Children brought here had already been treated in other hospitals. Most of them were from Romainiai Tuberculosis Hospital. The patients were not all from Kaunas and Kaunas District. Back then, we received patients from other cities and villages.

In our hospital, children received rehabilitating treatment. They continued taking medication prescribed to them. Since they spent several months in the sanatorium, there were also teachers in the sanatorium who taught children. There were normal lessons like at school. There were ten teachers working back then. Also, children had their mentors responsible for children. They checked if children did their homework, had rest, went to sleep and ate when they were supposed to. Since children were of various age, they had to be supervised. And this, as I have told, was done by the mentors.

Of course, children were children and various accidents happened. Children used to run away from the sanatorium. But, thank God, everything ended well.

I could tell that Kulautuva Sanatorium received a lot of attention from the government. It was taken care of. The funding was good. We had everything: medication, equipment, the salary was good as well. There was a lot of work too. We worked hard, there were a lot of patients. Maybe good funding was related to the fact that Kulautuva was in a good place. The patients were surrounded by a fresh pine wood air, with Nemunas River flowing nearby. Patients could have some rest here, breathe fresh air. Of course, such environment had good effect on the health of patients.”

*Albina (b. 1936):*“I had lived in this house since I was three. They were not my parents, but godparents, their name was Klimanskis. I lived with them, because my family was a large one, with nine children. I was born in Jučionys village, it is now the territory of Kulautuva.

Albina (b. 1936):“I had lived in this house since I was three. They were not my parents, but godparents, their name was Klimanskis. I lived with them, because my family was a large one, with nine children. I was born in Jučionys village, it is now the territory of Kulautuva.

In the house divided into flats next to it, the same four families used to stay all the time. It used to stand empty for the entire year. The owners of the house lived in the attic and climbed very tall ladder. Only a simple board table in veranda and two benches were left, so those who arrived in summer would have some place to lunch or hide from rain. 

There was a hammock in the garden, and ladies like to lie in them. They were served by one or two maids. Husband used to come only on weekends. All children were chubby. I still see in my memory the Jewish hand washing ritual. They continuously washed their hands with soap and then went to eat without touching anything.

I was also invited to the table. I was a country's girl, always hungry. I was an example for them, how one must eat, with appetite. They used to say: look, children, how this girl is eating. Be like her. I had not had such wonderful food like that before! I liked a sweet dish, fried in honey 'teigeliai' (Teiglach). My mother used to make them to me based on their recipe, I also remember matzos. They mostly ate chicken: stews, fried, cold snacks, rolls. I think Friday was the kosher day. Very important to them. They purchased products from the local farmers. It was very convenient for them [farmers]: cross Nemunas in boats and sell goods in the market in front of our house, in Žemaitės Street (latter called Antroji (Second) Street). Women used to sell everything from their large baskets: milk, eggs, chicken, vegetables, berries. Jewesses used to inspect all the products very carefully. [Farmers] used to bring chickens with feathers. [Jewesses] used to blow air and inspect, if the skin underneath is yellow. Fishermen from Brūžė used to bring smoked and fresh red fish. I was waiting for them keenly, asking my mother to buy it for me. The most delicious desert was kogel mogel, whipped egg with sugar. We used to walk in the yard with the Jewish children, all with cups and whisking an egg until it became white. We also whipped cream in bottles until it turned into butter.  

Jewish children were the altars of the family, they were never punished, they were never scolded in front of others and their personalities were cultivated since they were little. Mothers took care of their nutrition. My mother was surprised that parents used to wake up children at night, so they would eat. The ladies did not even take care of themselves that much. They looked after children and maids, so they would clean better and cook food. Women used to get dressed nicely only for Saturdays, when they husbands came from town. They made hairdos and wore nicer shoes. They usually used to walk around in satin robes. Maybe that's why when a Jew saw me working in the farm, he was surprised and told me that he would find me a good husband, a boot maker, so l would be able to walk around like a real lady.

I remember Kulautuva was very vibrant in summer, the life was so full, cheerful. The Jews used to arrive when the weather got warm. Sometimes even at the end of April. They used to pay deposit already in February. The locals used to live from rent all year around, and it was enough for everything. They would mostly come from Kaunas. After the war, Lithuanians started to come more often. Jews paid well, they were rich. They chose good places to rest, next to Nemunas, in nicer places around the forest. All spoke Lithuanian well, maybe with a slight accent.

They liked that there were many birds in Kulautuva. I remember one Jewish man asking why does a bird know his name? Because it continuously repeats it: hici hici hici. We were laughing so hard. 

Jewish holidaymakers spent most of their time next to their villas. A group of them used to come together, speaking loudly, all in good mood, playing cards, dominoes. They liked going to the beach. There were dressing cabins, we called them booths. My mother did not allow me to swim, but there were a lot of people there. In the evening, we used to go to do our laundry [in the river], the water was very clear. We gathered shells in Nemunas, boiled them and fed them to pigs. In all the farmsteads, people grew cattle, only it was impossible to herd them next to the outer woods, maybe because of the holidaymakers.”

*Elvyra:* The growing school occupied a two-storey wooden building. The last building at the end of Kulautuva. Later, the hall was installed in the board house located in the yard. This was where physical education lectures and other events used to take place. Students used to arrive from faraway villages and from beyond Nemunas, so next to the school there was a dormitory.

Elvyra: The growing school occupied a two-storey wooden building. The last building at the end of Kulautuva. Later, the hall was installed in the board house located in the yard. This was where physical education lectures and other events used to take place. Students used to arrive from faraway villages and from beyond Nemunas, so next to the school there was a dormitory.

During the spring floods, the school's building, just like the entire Kranto Street, was flooded by water. In 1958, a large flood poured over the school. We cared about our final-year exams. Therefore, we, 11-graders, used boats to reach the classroom window and enter inside through it every day. Students from other classes had vacation at that time. The residents from the surrounding houses used to find shelter on the second floor.

The school itself, while grey on the outside and cramped, was very active and lively. Right here, next to the bathing place, on the stage, regional Song festivals, other sports events (spartakiads) took place and we participated in them all. Not only we were active like participants, we took care of the environment, prepared the courts, decorated them waiting for guests and the festivities themselves. I remember them to this day as wonderful and inimitable.

At school, parties with a programme prepared by students themselves took place. Teachers on duty organised various activities. We dance waltz, foxtrot, tango and other dances, we also like polkas, especially "polka with horns". At school, there was a group of national dances and drama society. Those who did not like sports... No, there weren't people like that. The athletic field was the meadows of Nemunas. We played table tennis in the gym, and volleyball outside.” 

Albina (b. 1936):“After the war, concerts used to take place at school. One of my brothers was chubby, so even on the poster it was written that a fat man is going to participate in the party. We knew already that our Jurgelis is going to be there and host the evening. The head of resort's directorate liked the courage of the child so much that he even ordered him a costume. His son was of the same age as my brother, but unfortunately, he did not get to wear that costume. The building was built not like school, but like a Jewish children's summer colony. Concerts used to take place in a large hall on the second floor. I remember it, because I started attending school when I was six. Parents enrolled me earlier, because I was very tall.”

*Albina (b. 1936):*“In Kulautuva, there was a wooden bridge over Nerėpa River. Underneath it, there was a sacred well. It was small, smaller than the curb. People used to go there to fetch water, wash eyes, arms, legs and brought it home for treatment. I remember how we used to go to wash ourselves before lectures. We expected that it heals and brings happiness.”

Albina (b. 1936):“In Kulautuva, there was a wooden bridge over Nerėpa River. Underneath it, there was a sacred well. It was small, smaller than the curb. People used to go there to fetch water, wash eyes, arms, legs and brought it home for treatment. I remember how we used to go to wash ourselves before lectures. We expected that it heals and brings happiness.”