The timeline starts with ancient engravings…One of the most incredible stories which were told by Serhii Sobchuk, a member of National Union of Ethnographers in Ukraine, specifically for Zhytomyr.Travel.

In 2012 my old fellow purchased an old house in the city center. As intended, he did a modern repairing and there gathered a lot of unnecessary things after different owners and times. Before throwing them away, he called me with an offer to see “the treasure” over. Among yellow, half-decayed newspapers we came across two old ornamented engravings. Its artistic value is not very big, but our attention was drawn to the note at reverse page: “For honored Nikolai Eduardovych Krusenstern from colleagues. Revel”
Over the course of my school years almost all students knew: Ivan Fedorovych Krusenstern is the first Russian sailor, who made an overseas expedition. Nowadays it is known that Adam Johann Krusenstern is not Russian and not the first to make such travel, because the first person to do that was Ukrainian from Nizhyn – Yurii Lysianskii.
An idea has appeared: isn’t he a relative of a famous sailor-explorer? Further discoveries, meetings, work in chancery gave a lot of evidence which became an interesting story in Zhytomyr’s history.
It appeared that Mykola Eduardovych Krusenstern is a grand-nephew of famous sailor-explorer. He was born in St. Petersburg in 1853, studied in prestigious Karl Mai’s school. He got knowledge and the best marks, applied to Military Medical Academy. After graduating, a military doctor Krusenstern has quickly become a figure of authority among medical workers and popularity among variable patients; has become famous as an author of different books, articles, guides and manuals regarding practical medicine.
After getting a rank of a court counselor Mykola Eduardovych was appointed as a head doctor due to “Order of public assistance” in Raaveli (former name of Tallin – capital of Estonia). Hospitals of civic supervisions where patients were not very rich people, countrymen or even homeless, were practicing in principal towns of province. There was the same in Zhytomyr.
After 12 years of working in Raaveli in 1901, Krusentern together with wife moved to Zhytomyr. Mykola Eduardovych has got a position of a head doctor due to “Order of public assistance” wherein he was a guardian of ordinary people’s health.
Photo of Raisa Krusenstern
His wife Raisa Semenivna Krusenstern (maiden name Lapina), doctor-dentist by occupation, has started working in Adam Ivanovych Dorn’s private clinics, who was an owner of a huge profitable house on Chudnivska Street.
The Krusensterns have adapted to a new life, were respected by Zhytomyr citizens and worked for charitable causes. They were warmly welcomed in a strong-knit fraternity of Zhytomyr Germans, they started having good relationship with the Zifermans, the Arndts, the Schneits and the Schedels.
The Krusensterns had a small house in Mylovska Street in Zhytomyr, where now there is Liatoshynskoho Street.
The house is preserved but wonderful architectural jewelry has almost been destroyed in the days of soviet times.
It turned out well to set in an interesting part of Krusenstern’s biography: he had sibling connection with Mykola Ivanovych Pyrohov – famous surgeon, discoverer and educator. Mykola Krusenstern’s sister, Oleksandra Antonivna, was doctor’s wife. The Pyrohovs lived in Vyshni village Vinnytsia region, which is not so far from Zhytomyr, so it’s possible to admit that they were visiting their relatives or on the way to Kyiv put up at their house.
The Krusensterns have lived in Zhytomyr for about 20 years. During World War I patronized injured soldiers in military hospital, which was located in buildings of former expurgatory warehouses (now Zhytomyr liquor and spirits plant) and was kept by Ivan Maksymilianovych Chaudoir.

Photo of military hospital during World War I. Now – liquor and spirits factory
Mykola Eduardovych with his wife have overcome harsh times of wars and revolutions, have reached venerable age and on an orbit of a life journey in 1920 tragically died Raisa Krusenstern in her house.
Times were sad and uneasy. There were a lot of gossips around the town and bush telegraph claimed that a housekeeper of the Krusensterns, a young lady, fell in love in a very handsome man, invited him to come, when a host was absent. The man saw prosperity in rooms and lost his mind of avidity: killed two women, undesirable witnesses and depredated a house. New soviet government hasn’t put a lot of effort to find and punish a criminal – those times “class-specific element” hasn’t deserved a sympathy and protection by law. Dejected by wife’s death, 70-year-old doctor Krusenstern soon moved from Zhytomyr to Mariupol, where he worked as unnoticeable doctor and after his footsteps will be lost forever.
A few years ago it turned out well to find a publication of one journalist, Anatolii Zharov, where he cites found back file document: “In the list of medical staff of policlinics, which was under observation due to military registration but mismatched in age in 15.XI.1924 is specified Krusenstern N.E, 71 y.o, doctor”. Journalist asks a question: “How did the destiny throw a famous doctor in our region? One can only guess.”
Now we have an answer…
Serhii Sobchuk, a member of National Union of Ethnographers in Ukraine
Photos from personal record of S.Sobchyk were used in article

Translated by Aliona Matushevich