My Great grandfather, Johann Lentzkow owned a brush making business in Riga.  Around 1924 he opened a store which had a small flat attached at 3 Artillerin Strasse near Freiheitstrasse.  He had it until the middle to late 1930’s.  The photo I tried to attach is of a relative standing outside the old premises.  I do not know the date of the photograph.  His name was spelt J Lenckov in the Latvian form.

Does anyone know where this building may be?  Ido not know the Latvian names for these streets now but any help would be appreciated.  I hope to visit Riga in September/October next year and would like to see this building.

The site won’t allow me to attach anything right now but I am happy to email it to anyone

Cheers from Australia!

Michelle

The address would be 3 Artilērijas iela on the corner of Brīvības iela.
I have a friend who lives at the opposite side of Artilērijas iela (numbers 2/4), but since I have not been there for two years I do not recall what 3 Artilērijas ielas building looks like. Hope this helps you a little bit.
Lauris

Thank you much.  Yes it does.  I would love to know if the old building is still there.

Many thanks

Michelle

Try:
http://www.1188.lv/karte360/

Dear member a.b

I thank you!!!!  I typed in the address and found the building.  It matches the building in my old photograph - I am so grateful!

michelle

Michelle—I’m happy you found “your” old building!  My grandmother, who lived in the corner building just past the parking lot you see in the street view, may well have bought some brushes from your great-grandfather (she was always cleaning).

Some modern history—When the Latvian government began the de-nationalization of private homes in the early ‘90s, I met the woman who was the owner of the building, as I was going through the same process for my family property.  Sadly, No. 3 had been neglected (and abused) over the decades of soviet occupation and quickly became a major burden for the elderly lady, rather than a valuable asset. 

I approached her with an offer to buy the building (I think it’s the most beautiful building on that block, with its pastel, Dutch-like facade).  But a closer inspection made it clear that this would have required a major investment in rebuilding the interior, far beyond the purchase price.  Ultimately, a Western company bought in and wound up having to gut the entire interior and rebuild from scratch.  But I am so happy they spent the money to restore the original facade to its former glory, since I see it whenever I’m in Riga. 

ak

CORRECTION

Sorry, Michelle.  I saw the street foto and focused on my favorite building.  But I realized later that it couldn’t be No. 3 since that’s the even side of the street.  My story is about No. 2, alas.

No. 3 is still standing, obviously.  But I don’t know anything about its history or ownership.

ak

That’s OK,  I appreciate the interest you take.  The building certainly looks much better now than in the small photo I have.  In my country it probably would have been torn down without a second thought.  I hope to visit this street when I come to Riga in Sept/Oct 2011.

Thanks again.

By the way, I would like to look at the Petri church in Riga because that’s where my family were baptised, married and buried.  What would I type into the search field? 

Regards
Michelle

Hi Michelle!

You could start with Saint Peter’s Church, or Sveta Petera baznica. The latter link is all in Latvian, but the pictures are lovely. You’ll find plenty of other links if you google those two topics.

It’s a lovely church!
Happy web hunting!
Pierre

If one has to use
http://www.1188.lv/karte360/
to look for St. Peter’s church, try riga, 15 peterbaznicas iela
However, in this particular case, from the default landing page of peldu iela, one could just as well drag the mannikin a short distance east to one of the blue dots surrounding the map location of Sveta Petera Baznica.
Another site, with 360 degree panoramas:
http://www.vecriga.info/excursion/new/?lang=en#/sv._petera_baznica
As for Google Street View, it would appear that the bureaucrats are holding off the invasion, and it is said that it is unlikely that anything might be accomplished before snow and darkness descends upon Riga.

To all you wonderful, helpful people, thank you so much.  The church is truly beautiful and I can’t wait to show my mother.  It was her family that lived lived in Riga. 

Cheers!

Michelle