Now a quiet street was not like this centuries ago. It started from a small garden (now it doesn’t exist) opposite St. Andrew’s Church and ended near the Pyatnitskaya River. A whole block on it was occupied by the barracks of the Siberian Linear Battalion (border guards, as they would now be called). Now it is a section on Budyonny from Dzerzhinsky to Sacco/Vanzetti on both banks of the Locksmith. Actually, the housing of the military here was strongly reflected in the urban toponymy: Kazach’ya (Budyonny), Soldier (Dzerzhinsky), Rotnaya (Gagarin), Vtoraya Rotnaya (Dal'naya), Soldier Lane (the very top of Slesarnaya Street). A real military town, where the 19th school is now, private houses, vacant lots and a man-made Locksmith canal. A very lively place on the outskirts of the city with its own special rhythm.
With the disbandment of fortified lines along the borders at the end of the XIX century, the battalions themselves became unnecessary and were either disbanded or transformed. The military, who had hitherto had a headquarters here, went south to Turkestan. And the Kazac’ya Street became what it is to this day — a quiet street with not always a hard surface. And a number of interesting colorful carved houses. Ceremonial, elegant. Corresponding to the spirit of the place.
