Ceremonial Unveiling of Ogre’s Historic Fence Concrete Post

At the Ogre History and Art Museum, an exhibition ‘Ogre’s Dawn’ was on display, dedicated to one of the less exhibited but significant elements of the city’s cultural and historical environment — historical fence posts.

The exhibition highlighted the development of Ogre as a resort town from the second half of the 19th century, when the construction of summer houses became a significant factor in shaping the urban environment. During the Soviet period, Ogre was transformed into an industrial center, altering its historical structure and architecture. However, regardless of the changes, historical fence posts have been preserved in many parts of the city — serving as a testament to both ancient property boundaries and the skills of local craftsmen and the taste of the owners.

In 2018, the Ogre Development Society identified historical Ogre summer houses and created several informative walking routes. While studying the urban environment, fences caught attention — a form of small architecture that marks the boundary between public and private space. These fences reveal decorative elements on the facades of concrete posts — ornaments, symbols, and patterns that conceal both an aesthetic and historical message. Often, a stylized sun is depicted on the fence posts. What could be the origin of this motif? Are the decorations merely aesthetic or do they hold a deeper meaning?

The exhibition offered a look at the origins of Ogre city and the Latvian state — a time when the urban environment was still developing. Perhaps it is precisely in these small forms, where the practical and the symbolic from the past merge, that answers can be found to the question of whether the romanticism born more than a hundred years ago is still relevant today.

The exhibition featured original concrete fence posts found in the Ogre territory, analogue photographs of them in the urban environment, and thematic displays about their types and manufacturing technology. The aim of the exhibition is to provide historical insight and encourage the idea of preserving and restoring the fences characteristic of the cultural and historical environment, thereby emphasizing the uniqueness of Ogre’s urban environment.

The exhibition ‘Ogre’s Dawn’ was on display from August 8 to October 10. On the opening day, admission was free, and visitors had the opportunity to create a unique concrete post print on a T-shirt.

Exhibition concept author and curator: Zigmārs Jauja

Project manager: Ilze Staģīte

Photographer: Zigmārs Jauja

Historical research and concrete post survey in the urban environment conducted by: Zigmārs Jauja and Uldis Apinis

Educational section artists: Signe Kraukle and Karīna Kēberga

Exhibition graphic publicity: Signe Kraukle, Zane Kalniņa

Drawings: Sarmīte Munde

Video story author: Pēteris Zilberts

Description of manufacturing technology: Laura Zunda-Poča

Concrete post measurements and drawings: Laura Zunda-Poča and Ilze Mekša

Newly manufactured concrete post by SIA “MT Sēta” production facility, Intars Sniedze

Ogre History and Art Museum working group: Jānis Ziņģītis, Elīna Cērpa, Laura Tuča, Māris Grosbahs, Nils Miķelsons and Guntars Andersons

The exhibition was created with the financial support of the Ogre Municipality and the State Culture Capital Foundation, as well as with the technical support of the Ogre History and Art Museum, SIA “SND”, SIA “Parrot Telpa” and SIA “MT Sēta”. Thanks to the Cinītis family, Jānis Balodis, Edīte Kalniņa, and all members of the Ogre Development Society and their involved family members for their support in creating the exhibition.