Kurortny Prospekt (Resort Avenue)

13 points1 km1 hour

Route author

Susanin Team

Things to do

📜 Learn the city's history
🏛️🕰️ Compare the eras

Route points (13)

Jewish Guesthouse in Zelenogradsk

Point on route “Kurortny Prospekt (Resort Avenue)”

Point 13

Jewish Guesthouse

🏟️ Architectural landmark • 📜 Historic site

Historical Background

The upper floors of the building at 35 Königsberger Strasse (now 8 Kurortny Prospekt) housed Hanna Masie's guesthouse. A guide to Baltic coast resorts published in 1904–1905 lists the sanatoriums of Cranz, four of which were marked “jüdisch” (Jewish). This meant they served kosher food for guests who kept religious traditions on vacation. These included the sanatoriums of Masie, Seidler, and Otto and Mathilde Lewinski.

Story

Hanna Masie's story is much like that of many Jewish families who came to Königsberg in the late 19th century in search of a better life. Before setting out for Königsberg, Hanna and her husband Hirsch Masie had to move from Mir to the Belarusian town of Novogrudok. Only after some of the restrictions on the Jewish population were lifted were they able to leave and settle in Königsberg. But in East Prussia, too, they could not feel safe. In the summer of 1935, Jews were banned from cafés and restaurants, and signs reading “Jews not allowed” appeared in parks, theaters and swimming pools. Resort areas were closed to them as well. There is no exact information on when the guesthouse closed. It is known, however, that a new institution, the “German House,” later opened in the building.