Community Center Probuda 1907

Our History

The community center in the village of Tetovo was founded in 1907 by the following enlightened villagers, teachers, and intellectuals:

Dimitar P. Ryahovliev, Georgi Enchev, Lazar Monev Kostov; teachers – Petko Minkov, Stefan Trifonov, Kitsa Lefterova Krivoshieva, Mariyka Tserova, Georgi Stoyanov Zartov – medical feldsher, Nikola Georgiev Radoslavov – secretary and tax collector, Ivan pop Savov, and others.

The first document mentioning the founding year is the "Statute of the Community Center," adopted at a regular general assembly on November 6, 1927, and preserved in the District State Archive of the city of Razgrad. Article 71 of the section “General Provisions” states that the statute “repeals the old one and enters into force after its approval.” This fact clearly indicates that there was another, earlier statute, but no archival papers or documents prior to 1927 have survived.

The first community center seal had an elliptical shape with the inscription “Village Community Center – Tetovo” around the edge of the ellipse and “Probuda – 1907” in the center.

The community center did not have its own building. Evening activities were held in the old school (in the churchyard). In 1912, the activities of the community center were suspended due to the wars. After 1920, the community center resumed its activities. Young teachers joined in: Nikola Lazarov Monev, Georgi Georgiev Zartov, Todor Drumev Kaysoev, Ivanka Popova, Elena Georgieva Zartova, Rayna Pencheva Myankova, Mara Todorova, Tsareva Dipchikova, Lyuba Angelova, as well as local intellectuals and progressive residents of the village: Simeon Nestorov – mayor, Kiril Iv. Nestorov, Dimitar Petrov Dragnev, Boris Iv. Stoev, and others. The annual general meetings were held at the “Hristo Botev” school, built in 1914/15.

The income was generated from membership fees, theatrical performances, donations, a significant part from Christmas caroling, and from the community center’s field of 50 decares. The land allocation took place in 1928. By 1930, around 200,000 leva had been collected in this way.

The local party organization proposed that the money be allocated to a fund called “Construction of a Community Center – Monument in Honor of Those Fallen in the Wars.” Another proposal was made to build only a monument, but it was not accepted and was later completely dropped. Later, another 800,000 leva were collected.

Due to the lack of a building during this period, premises belonging to Sava Stoyanov, Bogoslav Genov, Anton Iv. Nestorov, and others were rented for community center activities.

One of the first community center chairmen was Grozdan G. Enchev. Lasting contributions as chairman were made by Simeon Iv. Nestorov. Todor Drumev was elected chairman multiple times. Nikola Lazarov also served as librarian; Georgi Zartov – a devoted member and chairman of both the community center and the musical society “Rodna Pesen”; Kiril Iv. Nestorov – librarian; Grozdan Petrakiev Varbanov – chairman, and others.