Utility houses in Līgatne
There were seven utility houses in Līgatne, with the eighth one, constructed by the factory, located in Augšlīgatne close to the railway station.
The local resident Valija Pastuhova, who after World War II operated the notebook machine at the paper mill, warmly recalls her childhood days when laundry was ironed. Her parents would stand at each end of the laundry roller and let the children ride on it, which was a delightful amusement for children.
Across the road from this utility house, a historical paper mill worker’s apartment has been recreated in one of the apartments in the second building at Brīvības iela. The authentically restored interior is accompanied by a video narrative illustrating the daily life of a factory worker’s home after World War II, as recalled by a witness.
Out of 23 wooden residential houses built for paper mill workers in Līgatne in the late 19th century and early the 20th century, 22 have survived to this day. Along with other infrastructure elements of the paper mill, such as the culture centre, pharmacy, hospital, maternity hospital, guardhouse, and other objects, the historic centre of Līgatne has been listed as a State-protected cultural monument, recognised as an urban monument of national significance.
