4. POGLAVJE: Na klancu

Video section: 02:53 - CHAPTER 4: »On the slope«

“On the slope” is at the crossroads of Murova and Kosova streets, and it was once the centre of the settlement. The Old mining route ran past it; and there was always something happening by the trough, and the young people used to gather at the Mlinar barn.

The owner of the homestead located at today’s Murova 12 was Miha Šranc, who used to grind grain in a mill by the Jesenica stream, while white rock for making plaster was ground there by the generations before him. This is why the house name was “Pr’ Mlinar” (at the miller) and this name was later also used for the trough. The trough was demolished after the Second World War and an underground fire-fighting water tank was built in its place.

Anton Ravnikar, “Mlinar’s”, remembers life as it once was:

»Because there was no running water in the house, we used to get it from the trough using a jug and a ladle. Once water was installed in the kitchen, this meant a lot to my mother. But an outside trough had many advantages—there was always something going on around it: the water was potable, livestock drank and laundry was washed next to it, and there was even a place for playing games. Once, a child fell into the trough, so planks of wood were placed over it. The trough was never shut as there was enough water and it came from a spring only 150 m higher up. When celebrating Saint Nicholas Day, many girls experienced its cold waters.«

Gatherings at Murova were always full of laughter and talking, accompanied by music and singing. On events at the Matijovc House “On the slope”, Ana Matijevc says:

»One step led through low doors into a small kitchen where the unmarried young boys and girls would gather in the evenings. Grandfather was a hunter and so he would tell them hunting tales and other stories about unexplained events and sightings ...«

Ana continues:

» … There was lots of singing, playing and dancing in this kitchen. Uncle Tonček played the guitar, tamburitza and mandolin. Our neighbour Rado Rupnik also played the guitar, and Jaka Beden (Rodar’s) pulled on the accordion. Everyone played several instruments. During the church holidays, they even knew how to strike the bell of the nearby church in the right pattern. Since there was no radio yet, Slavc Smolej, who was a radio amateur, set up a sound system in the attic of the house so that the music and singing resounded all around. Franci Koren, who was later the singer of the Avsenik band from Begunje, sometimes sang along with the musicians who formed a band.«

Young people from Murova used to hang out together, and play sport and games since there was no television yet. In the winter, they sledged or set up ski runs with various degrees of difficulty from Pejce above Murova and all the way to the houses. They poured water over the slope area and flattened it using hot cloths so that they made an ice skating and ice hockey rink.

On the grass area above the settlement, volunteers helped arrange a spacious area for athletics training. In the same year, they organised the “Murova games”, a competition in athletics disciplines: high jump, pole vault and long jump. Franci Šranc remembers::

»Many Murova residents came to see the competition. Us young ones were very pleased and proud that it was such a success.«

The most popular sport in Murova has always been table tennis. It was played in the backyards, barns, at Markeš and here, on the slope, in the area above the fire-fighting water tank. They even installed electricity, and the old and the young swung their paddles until nightfall. Since the neighbours did not appreciate the late-evening noise, they started wondering where a more suitable place would be. They chose the area where the Murova games were held a few years earlier.

The main initiator of the construction of Mini Hall was Franc Ravnikar. Franci Šranc, later a coach for the younger generations, remembers what happened there:

»Eventually, there were many young people from Murova and Plavž who came to the Mini Hall to train, and so it became too small for all the activities of the Murova section. In the hall where there was room for one table, we put up two. It kind of worked for training purposes. We put the third table in the changing room. Through goodwill, we overcame the overcrowding and the work with the young people soon started to reap rewards.«

Competitive sports took place here until 1993. Since then, this place has been used only for recreational purposes.

Before a wedding, the wedding guests came to look for the bride at her home, and asked repeatedly for the door to be opened. At first, they were “given” dressed-up women and only the third person who came to the door was the right one. On the way to the church, the wedding procession was stopped by a “šranga” (barrier). After negotiations, the wedding witnesses had to pay up, a toast was made and the “šranga” was finally opened. Before entering the church, the bride threw a few coins at the wedding guests, and then the wedding ceremony started. However, all kinds of mischief continued after the wedding...

Maintaining old customs connects people into a community. The close bond of the Murova residents can be seen in the photo of the “šranga” that was set up right here on the slope.

Sources:

1. »Kako so na Murovi včasih živeli?« (Jesenice Adult Education Centre, 2010),
2. »Ta stare Jesenice ali Murova in Plavž« (Zdenka Torkar Tahir, Upper Sava Valley Museum Jesenice, 2010),
3. Jesenice Municipal Library – estate of Ciril Praček
4. Oral testimonies by locals: family Čufer., Janez Pšenica, Avgust Mencinger, Jože Mencinger, Janez Višnar Jr., Anton Ravnikar, Dušan Hafner, Marija Markeš, Zvonka Petrovič

Imprint:

Project: The Memories of Old Jesenice Settlement
Financed by: Municipality of Jesenice
Realisation: Upper Gorenjska Development Agency, Gornjesavski muzej Jesenice
Proofreading and translation: TellUs, Maja Davis s.p.
Photo editing: Jamaja, Maja Rostohar s.p.
Jesenice, 2020