Preobrazhensky plant

An ancient industrial building of the 18th-20th centuries, which is a metallurgical enterprise in the Southern Urals for copper smelting. The Preobrazhensky Copper Smelter is also called the Zilairsky Plant. The copper smelting enterprise was founded by the merchant I.B. Tverdyshev, who later took his son-in-law, I.S., into the share. Myasnikov. Currently, the Preobrazhensky copper smelter is abandoned and partially destroyed.

History of the plant

The Preobrazhensky plant, which began operations in 1750, has become a significant enterprise in the production of copper in Russia. I.B. took part in its founding. Tverdyshev, and in the first 10 years of operation of the plant, more than 43 thousand pounds of copper (about 44 tons) were produced. This indicates the high efficiency and importance of the enterprise for the Russian economy.

The plant had significant infrastructure installed, including 6 blast furnaces and 2 ore grinders. In 1762, the plant was equipped to cast pure copper, which allowed it to become even more autonomous in the production of copper products. The plant's products, including copper, were in demand throughout the country.

Part of the copper ore for the Preobrazhensky plant was supplied from the Kargalinsky mines, located 200 kilometers southwest of the village of Zilair, where the plant was located. The Kargaly mines also belonged to I.B. Tverdyshev and his heirs, which ensured the continuity of supplies of raw materials for production.

The Zilair settlement began to form around the copper smelter, providing housing for workers and their families. This indicates the important role of the Preobrazhensky Plant not only in the economic but also in the social development of the region.

Pugachev uprising

During the uprising led by Emelyan Pugachev in 1773, the Preobrazhensky plant was captured by rebels, however, unlike the Voskresensky plant, this enterprise failed to organize the production of artillery guns and shells. In 1774, the plant was destroyed by a fire that resulted from the Bashkir uprising. However, just two years later, in 1776, production at the plant was restarted after the complete restoration of the equipment and renovation of the building.

In 1782, Tatyana Yakovlevna Tverdysheva, the daughter of the founding merchant, became the owner of the Preobrazhensky plant. However, seven years later she sold the plant to Moscow merchant Pyotr Mikhailovich Gusyatnikov.

After the death of Pyotr Mikhailovich Gusyatnikov, the plant came into the possession of his heirs, who in 1838 sold the enterprise to Mikhail Vasilyevich Pashkov, owner of the Voskresensky copper smelter. Pashkov expanded production, acquired new equipment, which allowed to increase the volume of copper smelting. By 1850, the plant employed about 2,400 people.

In 1852, Mikhail Vasilyevich Pashkov took out a loan with an obligation to repay it within 15 years, but due to unrest caused by the abolition of serfdom, production was disrupted and his plans were thwarted. Heirs of M.V. Pashkov could not repay the debt, and the plant was transferred to the ownership of Konstantin Evgenievich Beloselsky-Belozersky.

Over the next few years, until 1908, the Preobrazhensky Copper Smelter repeatedly changed hands. Copper production there either stopped or started up again. The growing crisis in heavy industry, increased wages for peasants, depletion of mines and, as a consequence, increased transport costs - all this contributed to the cessation of production. In 1908, copper production at the Preobrazhensky Metallurgical Plant was finally stopped, the plant was closed, and the peasants were disbanded. Over the entire period of its existence, the Preobrazhensky Plant has produced more than 16 thousand tons of copper.

In the city of Beloretsk, a monument was erected to the founder of the Preobrazhensky Copper Smelter, Ivan Borisovich Tverdyshev.