Memorial cross in the place where the Vsegradsky Obydenny church used to stand and the nearby children’s attractions.
But if the above examples expose official disagreement about what and how historical events should be commemorated in Vologda, the alternative functions of such sites as meeting places, drinking venues, and romantic settings reveal another level of signification which is often more immediately relevant to local residents than their official designation. The monument to the victims of the Civil War, located on the far side of Revolution Square in front of a neo-classical building nicknamed ‘the Hermitage’ for its vague resemblance to the Petersburg museum, is a good example of this phenomenon. Humorously christened ‘the tooth’ by locals, this massive, jagged white memorial to the victims of the Civil War has gained a cult status among Vologda’s youth as the hippest site to hang out and drink beer, once the hoarfrost has thawed.
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