Vatra Dornei Casino

Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, instituted a series of policies between 1765–1790 now known as Josephinism, which acted to decentralize church institutions.[6] In essence, this policy prohibited local churches from speaking directly to the Curia in Rome or other centralized bodies as with Orthodox churches. Practicing Jews of Bukovina were also targeted by the occupying Monarchs.[7] The consequence of the policy was the bankruptcy and shuttering of over 800 monasteries and local churches and the forfeiture of their funds and vast properties to the government. It also resulted in the centralization of active church property. The newly acquired funds and properties were turned into public, secular church-fund bureaucracies (in German: Religionsfonds[8]) resulting in the creation of 1,700 new welfare institutions and parishes.[8][9]

After the annexation of Bukovina by the Habsburg monarch from the Principality of Moldavia in 1775 (which later became part of the Austrian Empire in 1804 and Austria-Hungary in 1867), the monarch appointed Baron Erzenberg as governor over the new military administration of the region. At the time, churches and monasteries owned two-thirds of all wealth and land in Bukovina.[10][11]

Under the June 19, 1783, imperial decree of Joseph II, the Baron was ordered to begin the centralization of church-owned lands and wealth.[12][13] The local Eastern Orthodox Eparchy of Bukovina, seated in Chernivtsi, was placed under spiritual jurisdiction of Metropolitanate of Karlovci.[14]

Translated from Romanian, the decree ordered, in part:

fără amânare să se reducă numărul mănăstirilor, iar pământurile şi fondurile să treacă sub povăţuirea stăpânirii împărăteşti şi crăieştii Mării. Averea preoţilor care nu trăiesc în Bucovina să se confişte, iar din întreg fondul care se va forma pe această cale să se întreţină clerul ortodox şi să se creeze cel puţin o şcoală, fie la Cernăuţi, fie la Suceava, iar restul să se întrebuinţeze pentru scopuri folositoare.[15][16]

Without delay, by order there will be a reduction of the number of monasteries, and the lands and funds will pass under the wisdom and responsibility of the dominion of the Kingdom and in the care of the Monarch. The wealth of priests who do not live in Bucovina are hereby confiscated, and from the entire confiscated church-fund will support the Orthodox clergy but will also create at least one school, either in Chernivtsi or in Suceava, and the rest to remaining church-fund shall be allocated for useful purposes.

The order additionally required the confiscation of wealth from priests who lived outside of Bukovina to establish a school in the territory, either in Chernivtsi or in Suceava. In 1786, the Church-Fund of Bukovina was created from the possessions of the Orthodox churches in the territory, and like similar funds, it was to be a secular institution whose wealth was to be used for public benefit and public reinvestment.[16]

The communal land upon which the Casino resides was old church land managed by the local church-fund bureaucracy known as Fondul Bisericesc al Bucovinei (Church-Fund of Bukovina).[16] A portion of confiscated church money, which was secularized, was used to fund the casino.[17]

In 1805 after a scientific analysis and study of the natural and mineral springs in Vatra Dornei by chemist Hacquette de Nurnberg, Dr. Ignatius Plusch advocated authorities for the construction of public therapeutic baths in Poiana Negrii.[18] In 1810, he proceeded to lobby in Vienna for the Vatra Dornei baths. The land on which the communal therapeutic baths were located was purchased by the secularized church-fund in 1870. For those with extreme illnesses, a 20-cabin property was erected where, later, Hotel Nr. 1 would be built.

Construction of Vatra Dorna Bath Complex (1. Spa Establishment Building) (2. Vatra Dornei City Hall) (3. Hotel Carol Building) (4. Casino) (5. Spring baths Building)

The casino's existence can be credited to then-mayor Vasile Diac of Vatra Dorna, who initiated and lobbied for the project but later committed suicide by shooting himself over allegations of fraud and theft of city funds.[19] The mayor pitched the project to Emperor Franz Joseph, who approved the works. The casino was to be constructed near the therapeutic baths and built on communal forested land, confiscated from the church. The land required to be deforested. A portion of the money needed to build the casino was appropriated from the Church-fund of Bukovina, raised through fundraisers and community donations, to which Emperor Franz Joseph had also contributed. The remaining portion was borrowed from a bank in Vienna.

Construction of the building began in 1896 by Austrian architect Peter Paul Brang. The building was designed in an eclectic style, with hints of German Renaissance Revival. In 1898, a partial inauguration took place. The official inauguration occurred July 10, 1899 and hosted Emperor Franz Joseph and Arch Duke Ferdinand.

The building opened to serve Viennese tourists, with local authorities using gambling taxes to repay the debt and finance local services. The casino comprised a theatre hall, a library, a restaurant, a confectionery, and public utility spaces. Three large Murano Crystal chandeliers adorned the ceilings, initially being lit by candlelight followed by electrification and lightbulbs. To accommodate the tourists, a train line opened nearby, and wealthy tourists were transported from the train station by coach to the therapeutic baths and to the casino complex.

Local urban myth has it that a secret tunnel was built under the casino to offer an escape route for winners of large sums as a way to avoid robbery and harassment.

1935 Picture Postcard of Vatra Dornei Casino

After the Great Unification of Romania, where Romania gained possession, amongst other things, of Bukovina, the Austrians were required to pay War Reparations to Romania for World War I. As part of their payment, the Austrians handed over the Church-Fund of Bukovina.[20] The land was reconstituted back to the Metropolis of Moldavia and Bukovina, with administrative rights changing hands several times between the Minister of Agriculture and the church leadership.

The Casino was then known as Central Pavilion of the Therapeutic Baths (Pavilionul Central al Băilor). Since 1936, a number of functional changes of the building have occurred. Due to the functional changes, the artistic imagery in the casino's performance hall was altered. In the back of the casino, a terrace overlooking the Spa Park was completed in 1937.[21]

During World War II, the building was utilized by Nazi armies for military purposes. On the morning of September 29, 1944, during the withdrawal of German military units from Vatra Dornei, the casino building, and especially the inner spaces, suffered significant damage. In the spring of 1945, a number of repairs were initiated.[21][22]

After the communists came to power in Romania, the casino property was nationalized and turned into a workers club, which combined propaganda, educational, and community center functions (similar to the Melnikov Clubs such as Rusakov Workers Club). Party meetings would be held in the club, local syndicate meetings, local communist committee functions, but also host the National Chess Championship of Communist Romania.

In the early part of 1986, extensive restoration and renovation work of the surrounding perimeter had started; the street from the Dorna River was transformed into a boulevard. According to the statements of Ioan Corneţchi, former mayor of Vatra Dornei between 1986–1989, Dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu approved the remake of the Casino in 1987. The work had to be completed within three years, and host the Ceaușescu's 1990 New Year Celebration, which never occurred due to the Romanian Revolution.[1][3]

After the country fell into economic paralysis due to the 1989 Revolution, the interior of the casino was pillaged. According to local records, after the first three months of the fall of communism, all chandeliers were stolen, copper tubs and plumbing was taken, the interior was stripped of metal, the Carrara marblework was taken, all decorative crystal glasses, windows, and kitchenware was taken. Work ceased on the Casino.

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  "August 23" Spring at the Therapeutic Bath Complex of Vatra Dornei
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  Central Pavilion of the Therapeutic Baths (Pavilionul Central al Băilor)
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  Vatra Dornei Baths- Train Line
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  Vatra Dornei Casino
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  Interbellum Casino of Vatra Dornei