A Historical and Archival Guide to Székesfehérvár (Székesfehérvár, 2003)

A SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF SZÉKESFEHÉRVÁR

Some offices were placed in the so called office blocks (the police, the court, the gendarmerie and military buildings). Town improvement was provided bv the Improvement Trust, raised in 1868 and led by the improvement committee that functioned as an official authority. In 1873 gas-lighting was installed, which was replaced at the turn of the century by electric-light, first in the streets on 1 January 1903. The telephone network was built between Budapest and Székesfehérvár in 1894. By the first decade of the 20

lh century plans of the waterworks and the water-supply system were ready, and were completed together with the street planning one year before the World War I in 1913. The World War, however, crossed other large-scale plans such as the tramway transport. The exhibitions and programmes that gained ground after the Compromise continued to be hosted in the town between the two World Wars. In 1922 the town celebrated the 7

th centenary of the issuing of the Golden Bull with national celebration. A monument was also erected to mark the place of the issuing of the Bull on Csúcsos hill. (The monument was demolished in World War II) Following some smaller county fairs in the early 20

lh century, the National Industrial, Commercial and Agricultural Exhibition and Fair was held from 13 to 18 August 1927. The town budget after World War I needed economic rehabilitation; town improvements between 1920 and 1930 were predominantly financed by foreign loans. The biggest radio station of the countrv, which is still in operation, was built in 1926. The first general town development plan was also made in this decade. The greatest product of civil spirit of Székesfehérvár, however, was King Saint Stephen's year of 1938. The preparations for the celebration started in 1932. At the time several works of art were erected in public places; they still characterise the town centre and the atmosphere of the squares. New squares were made in the historic centre during these years. The monument and art program carried out in this period successfully combined the local assets and potentialities with the exceptionally rich historic past of the town. After nearly a half century's planning the new Town Hall was built and completed one year before the festive vear. On this occasion the parliamentary session was held in the town again. This was the 48

th national assembly of Székes-