Community Hall and Co-operative Shop, Györgyfalva

“GYÖRGYFALVA. — The inauguration ceremony of the Györgyfalva cultural center was a beautiful meeting of rural agricultural workers and urban industrial laborers. It took place at Pentecost, and it can truly be said that the Pentecostal spirit permeated both the joyful villagers and the urban delegates who attended the celebration. Speakers of different languages—Hungarians and Romanians alike—understood one another, as they addressed each other in the shared language of solidarity and constructive action.

Preparations lasted for a full year. One year earlier, industrial workers from Kolozsvár had decided that on Sundays—sacrificing their day of rest—they would travel to villages to provide practical assistance to their farming brothers. Thus it happened that the trade union of clothing and textile workers from Kolozsvár visited Györgyfalva one Sunday and declared that from then on they would regard Györgyfalva as their own village. Since the community lacked a cultural center, they promised the villagers that together they would build one.

From that point on, events progressed rapidly. Károly Kós prepared a beautiful design for the Cultural House of Györgyfalva; the villagers provided materials and labor, while the clothing and textile workers of Kolozsvár raised funds. The foundation was laid, and by Pentecost of this year the community cultural building had reached roof level. It is true that, for the time being, only one large hall has been fully completed and the remaining parts of the building still require work, but the completed hall is already capable of contributing to the financing of further construction.

The dedication ceremony took place on Pentecost. The textile workers of Kolozsvár, led by István Rácz, sent a large delegation to Györgyfalva. Owing to the significance of the event, the county was represented by Dr. Gyula Tunyogi-Csapo, deputy lord lieutenant, and the Hungarian People’s Alliance was also present, represented by Sándor Szepesi, a member of its central executive committee.

In the morning, the villagers attended church services, strengthening their spirits in the manner of the apostles of old. The celebration itself began in the afternoon.

First, the Reformed pastor of Györgyfalva addressed the assembled crowd and consecrated the Cultural House. His words conveyed a spirit of peace toward those of other nationalities. The same spirit permeated the speech of the Romanian Orthodox priest of Györgyfalva, emphasizing that the Cultural House was the result of joint labor by workers and farmers, Romanians and Hungarians alike.

‘This Cultural House,’ said the Orthodox priest, ‘must become the house of our unity.’

Dr. Gyula Tunyogi-Csapo likewise warned participants not to be misled by those who, after so much suffering, would still seek to set these two peoples against one another.

Sándor Szepesi, the central delegate of the Hungarian People’s Alliance, held up Györgyfalva and its people as an example for villages across the country. Beyond symbolizing cooperation between agricultural workers and industrial laborers, he emphasized, this Cultural House also represents reconstruction rising from the ruins of war. It shows that people did not merely lament and despair, but, understanding the demands of the times, farmers and workers, Romanians and Hungarians, joined forces to build a home for themselves—a home that would foster cultural development and serve both peoples with the warmth of solidarity.

István Rácz, representative of the textile workers, spoke of the joyful satisfaction derived from completed work as an example to all working people.

The happy people of Györgyfalva warmly welcomed the visiting townspeople. They too affirmed their belief in the inseparable unity of farmers and workers, Romanians and Hungarians. As Lajos Orosz, mayor of Györgyfalva—who played a decisive role in the construction of the Cultural House—stated, they would do everything possible in the future to continue to lead by example.

We believe him, and since then we have looked toward Györgyfalva with even greater pride and confidence.”

(D. Gy.: “The Cultural House of Györgyfalva was inaugurated in an intimate ceremony.” Világosság*, 17 June 1946, p. 6.)*

The assembly hall was located in the rear portion of a second wing. The other wing contained a small shop, an office, and a one-room dwelling. Each separate function was provided with its own entrance opening onto the street-facing garden, while the large windows of the hall face toward the rear, opposite the street. The importance of the hall was emphasized by the dominant roof form, which also appears in the interior as a central spatial feature of the ceiling.