If today's Athenian could go back a century and a half and face his working environment 1857, the year that the light gas factory was founded in today's Technopolis of the Municipality of Athens, he would discover conditions that perhaps reminded him of concentration camps. In one of the first industries of the capital, the kerosene plant created to meet the needs for public lighting, the work exceeds eight hours – which will be established in Greece as soon as 1919. Employees work without protective masks and work uniforms (factory safeguards were established around the decade 1930).
From the medical records of the factory it appears that the workers have respiratory problems and also the disease of cancer, with the most difficult conditions prevailing in the ovens, where the flue gas is cleaned of tar, the ammonia, naphthalene and hydrogen sulfide, materials unhealthy for the human body. The penal code also states that a day's wages will be deducted from anyone who does not pour the required amount of coal into the mouth of the furnace.
"The factory belongs to the category of heavy industry, but… it's still 19th century. The trade union movement took shape in the interwar period (1920-1930), so the claims for workers' rights started to become more intense. No one was forcing them to work under these conditions, but only the financial need" notes the historian Mr. Yannis Stogiannidis, who consulted historical records and collected testimonies in collaboration with the scientific team that supported the creation of the Industrial Gas Museum, which opened its doors last Sunday in Technopolis. The visitor has the opportunity to tour the factory facilities, to follow the gas production line and discover a now forgotten chapter of Athenian history.
"Light gas as the 1890 it is mainly used for lighting the streets and maybe for the shops and some shop windows" says Mr. Stogiannidis. "Homes until then were lit by candles or oil lamps and people were warmed by wood stoves. The upheaval it brings 1890 the kerosene is that it enters the house, gives basic uses, such as heating, the lighting, the operation of the kitchen and water heater".
The light gas factory is founded by the Frenchman Francis Theofilos Feraldis and when he takes over, the 1887, the Italian mineralogist Giovanni Battista Serpieri is not long in reaching his prime. The use of kerosene enters many homes. “The 1880 the factory numbers from 800 as 1.000 workers, number maintained until the 1930s".
The factory is male-dominated. In contrast to the same type of factories in other countries, here women work only in administrative services, in secretarial support or cleaning. The workers come from low social strata, mainly from areas neighboring Athens, but also several from insular and mainland Greece, while there are no immigrants.
"The great population change in Gazochori (the surrounding densely populated district where workers had begun to settle from the 1860) just brings it 1970 and 1980 the arrival of the Pomaks" says Mr. Stogiannidis. “The living conditions from the 1890 until the 1930 in Gazochori they were degraded. There was crime and outbreaks of epidemic diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria. Residents have been complaining about living conditions since the beginning of the 20th century. The factory created problems in their daily lives, first and foremost the exhaust gas that covered their houses and clothes".
The onslaught of electricity
Their hope of closure begins to loom as a prospect when the 1950 the Public Electricity Company is established (PPC), which provides electricity to homes – whereas until then electricity was mainly used in industries and street lighting. "It was natural that the use of gas lighting would decline. Electricity was much safer for home use, prof’ that nitrous oxide caused several ailments, such as suffocation and poisoning, when someone forgot to open the supply. This affects the workers who are reduced the most 50% in his decade 1950. When a new energy wins the consumer public of the city and the country and makes leaps in its decades 1950 and his 1960, το φωταέριο παρακμάζει. The 1938 foreign businessmen leave. And the 1952 the Athens Municipal Gas Company is established".
Fri.’ all problems the condition of the workers improves. From the 1950 the staff begins to decrease, but the rights and benefits to the employees are increasing, their wages improve while the internal organization of the factory increases drastically, which takes on a more corporate profile. Kerosene is still used, mainly from some Athenian detached houses, from hospitals and from few but large industries, such as EVGA, OSRAM et al. It costs approx 1/5 less than electricity, but eventually the season will overtake it: the 1984 the factory closes permanently.
"Fortunately in his decade 1980 the project was saved as an industrial monument and was declared preserved" says Mr. Κωστής Μπιτζάνης, CEO of Technopolis. «Στη δεκαετία του 1990 equipment and buildings were restored. All that was left was to become a museum and tell its story, something that happened on the initiative of the current municipal authority and with an impressively low budget".
According to Mr. Bitjani, given that a Museums Department of the Municipality was created and the fees of those who collaborated for the Light Gas Museum were covered by Technopolis, its cost did not exceed the 300.000 euro. The 50% covered by natural gas companies ("who considered themselves the continuers of history"), the rest from Technopolis' income.
"The Karagiozis gasman"
"Arts meet industry" is the title of the tribute hosted by 27 January at the Fotaeri Industrial Museum. Includes the exhibition of twelve visuals entitled "Byproducts", curated by Alexandros Psychoulis, the exhibition "Workers" edited by Platon Rivellis, a photographic exhibition dedicated to the industrial themed museums of the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation, screenings of industry-themed motion pictures, curated by Soti Triantafillou, as well as shadow theater performances by Sotiris Charidimos entitled "O Karagiozis gasieris".
In its first weekend of operation more than 2.000 Athenians visited the Fotaeri Industrial Museum – a first vindication of those in charge of Technopolis, who seek to have its funding covered by the visits (1 ευρώ η είσοδος) και το πωλητήριο. It should be noted that in the special sales area all items, from jewelry to notebooks and caskets, are connected with the history and aesthetics of this very recognizable toponym of Athens.
