Technikatörténeti örökség Magyargyerőmonostoron
Elements of Heritage in the Field of Technical History at Mănăstireni

Author(s): Enikő Bitay, László Márton, János Talpas
Contributor(s): Enikő Bitay (Editor)
Subject(s): History, Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Architecture, Essay|Book Review |Scientific Life, Local History / Microhistory, Scientific Life
ISSN: 2068-3103
Published by: Erdélyi Múzeum-Egyesület
Keywords: technical history; local history; Transylvania; bells; horologe; church; popular architecture;
Summary/Abstract: In the history of a settlement the aspects linked to technical history are of major importance, as they are part of the course of culture and civilization. Research work, the insertion of findings in the context of historical sciences is up-to-date in the present historiography.This book contains the results of a research in the field of technical history, done at Mănăstireni-Călata. The settlement was recorded by the documents in the XIII-th century, more exactly in the year 1291, with the name of villa Monostor, then in 1446 it is known under the name of Gyerewmonostor, in 1572 as Gerőmonostor and in 1586 as Magyar Gerő Monostor.In the year 1291 the settlement was among the ones that were paying taxes to the bishop of Oradea.The name of the settlement is most likely linked to the name of the noble Gyerőffy family, owner of lands.From the point view of the settlement’s history the XVI-th and XVII-th centuries brought about great changes. Reformation, the invasion of Tartars, the multiple fires – all had benefic consequences. The devastated church was rebuilt and a fortress was erected around it. The church tower was built and used as a watchtower as well, in the fortified defense system of the settlement.Situated in a beautiful location, through the balance of its proportions and the harmony of its tower, the church can be considered one of the most beautiful places for workmanship belonging to the Reformed Episcopacy of Transylvania. This is the oldest church in the Călata region.From the print of view of the general architectural current the church belongs to the Gothic style, although it also has a series of elements of the Roman style.From the point of view of technical history the counter-fortress walls of the church are made of adzed rectangular stones, this being a real demonstration of the skill the carvers of the time had. Mortar with lime was used as a binding element and this gave the building enough resistance. The church is entirely covered with single.This refers to the church tower and also to the four small towers with cellular ceilings painted by the renowned carpenter and church ceiling painter Lőrinc Umling. This adds to the present architecture value of the church.The church tower hosts two liturgical bells. The big one was cast at Târgu Mureş, in 1988 as an exact copy of the old bell, which cracked in 1987. The old bell was cast by the famous bell caster János Andrásofszki from Cluj, in 1778. The smaller bell is the work of Emil Anca from Cluj, and it was cast in 1923.Accompanying the bells is the horologe, built at the special order of the parish in the year 1834, 5 years before the horologe of Văleni was built (Văleni is a village neighbouring Mănăstireni). The name of the builder is unknown, but the place where it was built is Oradea. The horologe is made up of three functional modules.One of the modules is the one that makes the horologe work and it rules the other two. The second module is responsible for the strokes of the quarters, while the third module marks the hours. The horologe worked till the mid-seventies of the last century. At the moment, the horologe is disassembled and it can be found in the church vestibule.A chapter of the book deals with the presentation of folk architecture’s development in the settlement. The evolution of the wooden constructions specific to the region is shown: the system of scaffolding and covering, the ornamentation of the facades.The development of the living space is dealt with in a sub-chapter of the book. Here we can come across examples ranging from the simplest living spaces with one room to the more sophisticated ones, organized in an order, specific not only at Mănăstireni, but also to in the entire region of Călata.Among the specific aspects of regional folk architecture one can put into evidence the widespread use of carved or un-carved spruce masonry, daubed either on one or on both sides. The structure of scaffoldings is detailed and so is the shingle covering that replaced, in a relatively short time, the prevalent straw covering of Călata.Due to its position, in the vicinity of the forest, the settlement was known as a center for the folk handicraft of shingle fabrication. Shingle was traded outside the settlement, too.Another occupation with a technical character and specific in the region was the pottery and the fabrication of glazed tiles for heating stoves. Master Debreczeni Márton becomes famous in this trade in the XIX-th century, with his beautifully decorated glazed tiles.The ironmongers and wheelwrights of the place were famous all over the Călata region and they were active until the 70.-s of the last century.Due to the favourable natural resources for building and using watermills (there are fast brooks passing through the settlement, with a constant flow all year round) many mills, saw mills, reeds and pivas have been built that were both necessary and useful in everyday life. The book describes the structure and operation of watermills which have disappeared perhaps forever.The findings presented in this book are the result of field investigation and document registry study. They demonstrate the fact that although a certain region has been exhaustively studied so far, new research and investigation can reveal other characteristic aspects of that region, unnoticed so far. The book has the value of pioneering and is a model to be followed for those who wish to study a settlement from the point of view of technical and technological history.

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