A wealthy merchant, N. V. Igumnov, the owner of not only the Yaroslavl manufactory, but also the Siberian gold mines, decided to build a house in Moscow. He chose a strange area, far from the center. Only dilapidated houses stood near the proposed construction site. However, the merchant claimed that he was born and raised here. But perhaps he just wanted to build a house away from prying eyes.
Being a very wealthy man, the merchant spared no money. First of all, he invited the Yaroslavl architect N. Pozdeev. He was young, recently turned 33 years old. But in Yaroslavl he already had a name, as he was the author of several interesting projects.
Igumnov's order was not easy, the merchant wanted to conquer Moscow. Therefore, he demanded to build a house - not a house, but not a palace, but that it should not be inferior in luxury to the imperial palace. The merchant did not skimp on expenses. It was decided to use Dutch brick for the construction. The tiles were ordered at the Kuznetsk plant. Carrara marble, considered the most expensive, was delivered. An architect, keen on Old Russian architecture, builds a tower.
Architect's curse
But, instead of admiration, the house was showered with ridicule. Perhaps the fact that both the merchant and the architect were “strangers” in Moscow played a role, and, perhaps, the usual dependence affected. But only the building was declared vulgar and tasteless. And not only merchants but also architects agreed in this opinion.
Igumnov was angry. He shouted at the architect for a long time, insulting him. And then he announced that since Pozdeev was responsible not only for the project, but also for the construction estimate, he would not receive a penny of the money promised to him, moreover, he had to return the merchant two hundred and fifty thousand.
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Pozdeev, who put his whole soul into the project, shot himself out of desperation, unable to withstand the persecution and shame. But before he died, he cursed the house. They say that they saw the ghost of an architect wandering near his brainchild on Yakimanka. The spirit approached late passers-by and demanded to answer whether the tower he had built was good.
Igumnov did not begin to live in the ill-fated house. I was only on short visits, arranging binges. And then he settled there a young mistress, visiting her from time to time. As a rule, he warned about his arrival in advance. But one day he came suddenly and found a young officer with his kept woman. The merchant was furious. He simply threw out the young man. But since then, no one has seen the girl. There were persistent rumors that she was walled up in the wall. Some said that they were alive, others that they were dead. They told scary stories, as if they heard pleas for help from the wall, but after a week, the crying and screams subsided.
Some time later, Igumnov decides to amaze the Moscow public. He rolls up the ball, and the floor in the dance hall is lined with gold pieces. The tsar was informed the next day that the guests were dancing on the image of the sovereign, trampling it with their feet. Nicholas II, being angry, sends Igumnov to Sukhumi.
The further fate of the merchant house
The merchant decided to sell the ill-fated mansion. But, apparently, the ghost of the girl he had immured already considered him his property. Customers heard heavy sighs and crying in the walls, someone saw a ghost flying through the rooms. It was not possible to get rid of the house.
After the revolution of 1917, the Goznak club was located in the house. One evening the workers stayed in the building to celebrate the holiday. It was fun, the accordion played, there was laughter. But suddenly the sounds of music died down. Everyone saw how the ghost of a young girl appeared from one of the walls, lingered in the middle of the hall, sighed sorrowfully and disappeared into the other wall. The room was empty in an instant.
Whether it really was so is difficult to say now. But too many have seen these ghosts to be considered just rumors.