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Founder of the First Lithuanian Bookstore in Panevėžys
The founder of the first Lithuanian bookstore in Panevėžys, book smuggler Juozas Masiulis, was born on March 6, 1864, in the village of Prastavoniai, Šeduva parish, Panevėžys county. He was baptized the day after his birth. Many published articles mention March 7 as his birth date, but in fact, that is the date of his baptism, not his birth.
Juozas Masiulis’s parents, Izidorius and Veronika Masiulis, were royal peasants. The family had seven children, with Juozas being the youngest. From an early age, he worked on the family farm alongside his relatives. After his father’s death, the farm was inherited by the eldest son, Baltramiejus. Juozas, choosing to live independently, moved to Panevėžys. There, he found work at the Jokubaitis sisters’ trading company. After gaining experience, he decided to go into business with his uncle Vincas Kuzma. At first, they traded food products. Juozas Masiulis had a great love for books and wanted to dedicate himself to the book trade.
J. Masiulis belonged to the Garšviai Book Smugglers’ Society – he distributed banned Lithuanian books and maintained close ties with priest Jonas Karbauskas. On May 7, 1904, after the lifting of the press ban, J. Masiulis had the opportunity to open a bookstore legally. To do this, he had to obtain a permit from the Tsarist authorities. By 1905, newspapers were already reporting that J. Masiulis’s bookstore was operating in Panevėžys. It was located on what was then Bajorai Street, later renamed Respublikos Street. This was the first Lithuanian bookstore in the city of Panevėžys. Initially, the bookstore operated in rented premises, which J. Masiulis and his wife later purchased. People eagerly bought books, prayer books, and various consumer goods. The business was quite successful.
In 1908, Juozas Masiulis married Juozapota Kuzmaitė from Pumpėnai parish in Panevėžys county. In 1909, their daughter Onutė was born, followed by their son Jonas in 1911. Both spouses worked in the bookstore, while a nanny looked after the children. In addition to running the bookstore, they also engaged in various agricultural activities. Juozas Masiulis maintained connections with the most prominent Lithuanian bookstores, including those of J. and M. Šlapelis, J. Zavadskis, S. Banaitis, and others. The bookstore also sold candles and various other goods. Many of the items were supplied by the Šlapelis bookstore in Vilnius. Next to the bookstore operated a shop selling writing supplies.
During World War I, Juozas Masiulis and his family retreated to Smolensk. After the declaration of Lithuania’s independence, they returned to Panevėžys. In January 1919, the Red Army invaded Panevėžys. In an attempt to raise money, they took prominent residents hostage and demanded ransom. Among those taken was Juozas Masiulis. He also spent some time in Panevėžys prison, but was released on bail.
At that time, the independent Lithuanian state was being established, and political life was very active. Juozapota Masiulienė participated in the elections for the Panevėžys City Council and was elected. She served on the first Panevėžys City Council from September 8, 1919, to June 30, 1921.
Juozas and Juozapota Masiulis resumed their bookstore business. They established connections with bookstores in Latvia, Germany, and France. The number of employees grew; at that time, the bookstore employed eight workers. They lived on the second floor of the bookstore and were fed at the owner’s expense. The bookstore operated without a lunch break. Employees received salaries of around 100 litas. Business was especially strong during holidays.
Starting in 1932, their daughter Ona Masiulytė, having completed her studies, also began working in the bookstore.Juozas Masiulis was known as a great patron of the arts and community. He contributed significantly to the construction of St. Stanislas Church, which was built as the Panevėžys Cathedral of Christ the King. The most well-known charitable organization in Panevėžys at the time was the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which cared for the elderly and orphaned children. Juozas Masiulis served on the board of this organization and supported its activities with his own funds.
He was also renowned for other philanthropic acts. In 1929, at his expense, a wooden cross was erected on the grave of priest Jonas Karbauskas, who had passed away that year, in the old Panevėžys cemetery. In 1938, Masiulis again funded the placement of a memorial stone and cross on the same priest’s grave.
At the end of 1924, a scout support society was established in Panevėžys, and Masiulis became a member. The society achieved much due to the involvement of many prominent Panevėžys residents.
In 1931, Juozas Masiulis was elected to the board of the Panevėžys Volunteer Firefighters' Association, an organization whose history dated back to 1906.
Masiulis also actively participated in the political life of Panevėžys. In the 1931 city council elections, he received 1,025 votes, ranking fifth in the number of votes received, and secured a seat on the city council, where he was an active participant. He was reelected in 1934 and worked diligently until his death.
He passed away on March 26, 1940, and was buried on March 29. With the onset of the Soviet occupation, his family was scattered and forced to flee to the West. His wife died in the United States in 1963, his daughter Ona also passed away in the U.S. in 2000, and his son Jonas died in Switzerland in 1995.
Juozas Masiulis’s bookstore in Panevėžys continues to operate to this day.
Donatas Pilkauskas
Article from the project "Pages of Panevėžys History" by the Aukštaitija Internet News Agency (AINA).
The project is supported by the Press, Radio and Television Support Fund.