The chronicle of Eger Tobacco Factory

The factory-under construction

”In order to secure the commencement of construction works the Royal Hungarian Tobacco Excise Office has published an invitation for tenders (Budapest II, Iskola utcza 13). All tenders must be submitted in writing, must contain all prescribed documents and a deposit of 5%, and must be handed in to the registrar by 11 am on the day of the tender. The deadline for the termination of construction works must be 30 June 1896, however, the buildings must be erected during the course of this year.” The tender for the construction of the factory was awarded by the Excise Office to an Eger-based contractor, Staud and Sons. The factory was formally founded under the direction of Román Boltizár in early September 1895. It was, then, undoubtedly going to be built, and so everyone was happy. The local paper on 13 September reported that the “earthwork in the construction of Eger Tobacco Factory has been accomplished. At the large site by the market-place 120 men are working busily erecting the immense walls of the building, and if the weather remains favourable the long-time desired factory will be erected within 7 or 8 months, and finally completed by the spring.” Following the speech Ágoston Paulik made at the topping-out ceremony the distinguished ladies and gentlemen were presented the following buildings: the Porter’s lodge which comprised the box and apartment of the porter, a guard room, a searching room for men and women. This building was constructed in the single-storey Swiss style. The Director’s headquarters was a two- storey building. The ground floor had the apartment of the warehouse administrator with three rooms, a hall, a kitchen, a maid’s room and a larder; as well as two committee rooms and an office section comprising four rooms, a hall and an archive room. The first storey housed the five- room apartment of the director and the four- room apartment of the vice-director. Half of the area of the building had a basement which included a utility room and wood store.