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Srnetica today is a city that exists
only in the hearts and minds of those who once lived there
and who had to abandon this city when the narrow gauge train
service was terminated. |
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To
be exact in 1975 this picturesque and then very prosperous
city lost its Ćiro (popularly called steam train) and with
it its purpose for existence. The city that once was a very
important junction lost its importance basically overnight
with the introduction of a new standard gauge line. The
removal of Ćiro and closure of the narrow gauge line meant
sure “death” for Srnetica. But how quickly this thriving
city disappeared from the map had been a great disappointment
not only for Srnetica’s residents, but also for all those
that liked this place. Srnetica’s residents, due to lack
of employment, had to move out. They went to other places
where they thought they could find jobs and very quickly
Srnetica became a “Ghost Town”. Today, the old multistory
buildings with their very modern apartments, the cinema,
shops and schools do not exist anymore. Instead there are
a few ruins that remind us there once was a thriving city
full of children’s laughter. |
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SEE
THE EXHIBITION!!! |
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Šipad, a forest company, established Srnetica
for its workers just after WW I. This small city was established
solely as a workers colony, but through time it grew and prospered.
The narrow gauge line that ran through this city and connected
Srnetica with the rest of the world was the main reason for
the growth and the quality of the life. Back then Srnetica was
a very important junction through which many trains passed daily.
Here one line led to Prijedor, second to Strumica and third
to Jajce. So whether you wanted to go to Zagreb, Belgrade or
Sarajevo you could. Every half an hour a train would run through
Srnetica. To live and work in Srnetica back then was very, very
interesting.
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In Srnetica we had a primary school, a bank,
a post office, a cinema, many multi-story buildings, restaurants,
pubs, a chemist etc. Basically everything our 2500 residents
needed was available in Srnetica. If something was missing it
was not hard to jump on the train and go to a nearby city to
buy it there.
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Unfortunately, Srnetica stagnated during WWII
and many of its residents lost their lives, but after the war
life in Srnetica improved once again. Again life here was blossoming.
But unfortunately Srnetica “lived” only until late ‘70 of the
last century. It disappeared rather quickly from the map. Today
Srnetica does not exist, it lives only in minds of those who
loved this small city and who can not accept that Srnetica does
not exist anymore.
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Today in Srnetica nobody lives; there is no train,
there are no buildings there is nothing. But there are more
and more of those who would like to see Srnetica again full
of kids laughter, music and happiness. About 30 young men mostly
descendants of ex-residents established Ecological Association
“ Srnetica” with the main purpose to rebuild and protect Srnetica.
They know there is a long and hard work in front of them but
they are eager to try.
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Members of Association “Srnetica” are: president
Branko Runjić, vicepresidents Mato Brlek, Mile Tučić and Todor
Marčeta. Other members are: Mile R. Marčeta, Mile Tučić, Branko
Runjić, Ratko Macanović, Mišo Kecman, Rajka Simidžija, Mirko
Rokvić, Milanko Brkljač, Jovo Kuridža, Ljilja Mitrović and Slaviša
Sabljić. At the end lets just say that although today there
is nothing in Srnetica and that in front of us is a very long
journey we strongly believe that Srnetica will exist once more.
If you want to become a member of this association or perhaps
help these hardworking people to reach their dream please do
not hesitate to contact them on: 0038765203577 and/or vesnik@teol.net.
Any help would be gladly appreciated. Thank you for taking time
to read about our city.
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REMEMBERS: |
One of the former residents
who remember Srnetica as it was back then is Mr. Janko Radulovic.
He remembers Srnetica from better and happier times, from times
when children’s laughter was mixing with the cheerful noise of
old steam trains. His stories are very interesting not just for
the descendants of former Srnetica residents, but for all of us
who like that old bygone era. The time when people knew how to
live stress free and happy lives.In Srnetica, says Mr. Radulović,
lived many different people.. There was a Slovenian, Mr. Petric,
who was a very good dressmaker. He made such beautiful suits and
dresses. Many people from different cities would come to him to
make a dress, a blouse or something else. Nobody was as good as
he. He had 4 sons: Carl, Gustave, Tonchy and Frenk who established
the first orchestra in Srnetica. Also I remember our shoemaker
Mr. Jozo Lastva. Then there was Vaso, a railway manager who was
the only person who had a gramophone and who used to wind it up
and put it on the window of his room. We kids as well as adults
would listen to the music. Back then, all of us wished to have
that nice gramophone at our home, but we did not have money to
afford it.
To talk about Srnetica and not to mention Korzo – a promenade,
is not possible. Every night young men and women would walk up
and down. It was a place where young people would meet and talk.
The kids as well as older generations loved to sit and look at
these young and fashionable men and women. |
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