????????? ??????? ???? ?????????? ??????????? ?????????? ????? ?? ????????? ????? ?? ??????? ????????? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ??? ??????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ????????? ??????????

Pryguny in Baja California, Mexico

Pryguny (Saltadores Santos) en Baja California, México
Click for sattelite image Updated : 7 July 2011.

Since 1905, "Los Rusos," Russian sectarian Pryguny, and a few Molokane and Cossacks begin living in 4 farming colonies near Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico:
  • Valle de Guadalupe — "Colonia Rusa," the main Russian colony, ~20+ square miles negotiated in 1905, is now the town of Francisco Zarco, Guadalupe Valley, 50 miles south of San Diego, California, and 15 miles north-east of Ensenada.
  • San Antonio, about half-way between Guadalupe and Ensenada.
  • Mision del Orno, west of Guadalupe, along the coast.
  • Punta Banda, south of Ensenada, on the coast..
They were Russian sectarians, not-Orthodox. Most were Pryguny by faith, who were presented by Captain de Blumenthal as "bebedores de leche" (milk-drinkers), their former faith instead of "saltadores santos" (holy jumpers) their actual faith. Their contract with the government labels them as colonos rusos (Russian settlers).

Their contract, Executive Order 118, was registered 15 March 1906 between C. Andrés Aldasoro, Deputy Manager of the Office of the Ministry of Development, on behalf of the Federal Executive, and Mr. Ivan Samarin and Mr. C.P. de Blumenthal, for Pryguny settlers in the Territory of Baja California to establish an Agricultural- Industrial Colony. The 10-year contract was secured with a deposit of $1500, required an organization within 1 year, and within 2 years at least "100 families of Russian settlers, not less than 350 people." Though freedom of religion is guaranteed under Mexican law, the Russians included it in their contract, along with exception from military service.

Families disatisfied with the colony organization moved to the U.S. or Russia, or rented up to 50 square miles from about 10 nearby ranches. The total peak acreage farmed was about 70 square miles, mostly dry farming (not irrigated). Additional land was used for cattle grazing. Work brigades camped at the satellite farms during the work week. Often local Indians were hired. On weekends, most Russians returned to the main colony for three prayer services — Saturday evening, Sunday morning and evening.

In 2009, more than 100 descendants of these Russians could be found in local phone books, and probably a 1000 desendants live in Mexico. Nearly all have intermarried. Many original buildings remain.

Baja Russians were in economic decline then became an economic growth sector for the valley after anthropologist Therese Adams Muranaka completed her 1980s research and PhD dissertation. She led groups of university student volunteers to excavate old outhouse (sral'nik) pits for evidence of changes from Russian to Mexican culture, and interviewed early residents. Her work was featured in a museum exhibit shown in San Diego (1988-1989). Dukh-i-zhiniki from the Los Angeles area attended the opening and sang a few songs. Afterward the Baja California state government became interested in preserving their history and promoting the local economy. Muranaka assisted the growth of tourism with advice and by guiding tours of Americans to the area.

Today three "Russian" museums and a restaurant in the Guadalupe Valley compete for tourists. One museum is government owned. Two museums are privately owned by Samarins (with restaurant) and Bibayoffs (with winery). The prayer house is closed, last used for a funeral in 1992, but tours are provided by caretaker Gabe Kachirisky when he is available. On the west end of town, two museums and the restaurant are together, 1/4 mile east of the prayer house. Bibayoff's is 6 miles west of town.

Many books, papers, articles, web sites, a film and 2 doctoral theses have documented the colonies. The most illustrative book was written and self published by former resident George Mohoff: The Russian colony of Guadalupe: [Pryguny] Molokans in Mexico (read online). Some sources have errors which are corrected here when found. A major error is few, if any, Molokane lived in Mexico. Most "Rusos" in near Ensenada were by faith Dukhhovnye khristiane-pryguny (Spiritual Christian Jumpers, Духовные христиане-прыгуны; Spanish: Saltadores), mislabled as Molokane to hide their actual charismatic religion from the govenment.

On this page is a collection of online information in English (comments and corrections in red), in Spanish and in Russian (with machine translations), a book list and web sites with photos and videos, with one photo gallery in Russian. Most of the references to "Molokan" refer to a diverse Russian ethnic group. After 1928, the religion they somewhat practiced was Dukh-i-zhiznik.
English
  1. [Pryguny] Molokans in America: Chapter 2: The First Years, by John K. Berokoff, Los Angeles California, 1969.
  2. Detailed maps: Ruta del Vino (Wine Route), Google Earth, Wikimapia.
  3. The Baja Beat: The Russians of Guadalupe Valley, by Greg Niemann, The San Clement Journal.
  4. Ens-Guad Trip May 4, 2002 — Lynn & Bev's Tour in Baja
  5. State Museum: Russian Community Museum of Guadalupe Valley
  6. Rancho Guadalupe [Prygun] Molokan Cemetery, Baja, Lower Calif., Mexico — Posted by George "Ghrishka" Bolderoff, with Comments.
  7. Mexico's Russian Colony  /  La Comunidad Rusa en Mexico — Posted in 1996 on "History of Mexican Peoples" by Dr. David Rojas.
  8. Trying to Recapture Russian Emigres' Life in Mexico, Living Among Ghosts Brings a Strange Peace — By Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, December 1, 2002.
  9. Contract to Maintain Mexico Church, with G. A. Kashirisky — June 1, 1992.
  10. Pacifist Community Perserves, By Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Daily News.
  11. Transplanted Sakhaliner: Cheurniy Kleb [Black Bread] in Baja, Mexico, The Sakhalin Times — Oct 9, 2004, Updated Aug 24, 2005.
  12. Mexico [Prygun] Molokan Historic Monument Planned, by George Mohoff.
  13. USC's Russian Club: Russians in Mexico, Web site of the Department of Slavic Languages and Literature and Russian Club, University of California, Los Angeles.
  14. Chapter 2: The Russians of Guadalupe del Norte, by Marion  Smothers. Vintage Baja: Adventures of a Gringa in Lower California, 1993.
  15. Morris Photo Art — 4 photos of Mexican-Molokan grave markers.
  16. Ivan Guryevich Samarin (1857-1948) — the "Great Molokan Communicator", The Molokan Review, 1949.
  17. Photo of [Prygun] Molokan girls, in Gale Multicultural America Encyclopedia: Russian Americans
  18. Mexico: A destination specialist course. (PDF), by The Travel Institute, 2004.
  19. The Russians of Guadalupe Valley: [Holy Jumpers] Milk Drinkers in Wine Country, in Baja Legends: The Historic Characters, Events and Locations That Put Baja California on the Map, by Greg Niemann, 2002.
  20. Bodega Bibayoff, jAzZblOg, March 27, 2006.
  21. The Russian Colony of Guadalupe [Pryguny] Molokans in Mexico, book by George W. Mohoff, 226 pages, 1995. Read online.
  22. Books and theses about Pryguny in Mexico at public libraries, listed at WorldCat
  23. 3 Videos in English, Spanish, Russian, English — YouTube.com
  24. Bitter Blow to [Pryguny] Molokane: Wife Dies While He’s Far Away Seeking Fortune, Los Angeles Times, Nov 24, 1905, pg. II6.
  25. Russian Colonists Going to Mexico: [Pryguny] Molokanes on the Move, Los Angeles Times, August 23, 1907, page II3
  26. Electricity Spells Triumph for Russ Colony in Mexico, Los Angeles Times, dated May 30, 1949, page 2, with 6 photos.
  27. Angel of Guadalupe, by Ed Ainsworth, Los Angeles Times, Jan 29, 1954, page A5.
  28. Tractor Crossing: Federal Court Convicts 'Angel of Guadalupe', Los Angeles Times, Oct 13, 1955, page A8.
  29. Russian Cuisine in the Guadalupe Valley, Gastronomic Route, Baja California State Tourism
  30. [Prygun] Molokan Descendants in Mexico, Compatriots "United Russia", February 12, 2007
  31. Baja Wine - Bibayoff: From Russia with Love, Spirit and Wine, Baja Times, Volume I, Number 96 January 1-15, 2009.
  32. The Russian Colony — Moon Travel Guides [Mexico], January 9, 2009. Google Books, 2007.
  33. From Kars to Mexico: Russian [Pryguny] Molokans at the other end of the world, RIA News, July 3, 2009.
  34. Bibayoff, Russian tradition settled in México (photos), Gina Naya, Food & Wine web site.
  35. Was this Russian art rug woven by Pryguny or Cossacks in Mexico? Question by Cheron Frazier.
  36. Mexico's valley of wine, Sacramento Bee, January 6, 2010.
  37. Cemetery Names of Pryguny in Mexico, "Appendix E", The Russian Colony of Guadalupe [Pryguny] Molokans in Mexico, by George W. Mohoff, 1995, pages 223-226.
  38. Russian Vintners Win Gold at Baja California Wine Event, Vino-Tourism by Steve Dryden  August 31, 2009.
  39. Fire, Blast Wreck Mill, Berkeley Daily Gazette, page 5, September 11, 1937 — "… the only market for wheat raised at a nearby Russian colony."
  40. Baja, Russian Colony Lives in Serene Past, The Sunday Morning Star, Wilmington Delaware, page 3, July 28, 1940.
  41. Colonia Rusa: Vestiges of Russia fade in Baja village, The San Diego Union, July 7, 1988.
  42. History: Will Jews Follow Russians To Exile In Lower Calif.? The Oakland Tribune, November 22, 1938, page 8D.
  43. Guadalupe Valley's Alternative Wine Route, Mexico Living, Food and Wine Edition, page 21. 
  44. A Little Russia in Mexico; Colonists Came in 1904 to Lower California Peninsula and , Far Off Tourists' Path, Kept Up the Old Traditions, The Milwaukee Journal, December 14, 1932, page 6. — Interview with John Samarin, age 22. 
  45. Mexico, Agriculture & Colonization. [Letter to Editor], The Louisiana Planter And Sugar Manufacturer, Vol.39, August 17, 1907, page 105. — Sugar industry promotes agricultural land for a Russian colony, H. C. Archer formerly Mexican Central Railway, 100,000+ acres in Tamaulipas.
  46. Squatters Get Russian Land, New Era (Kentucky), July 7, 1958, page 37. — 3000 squatters take 4500 acres from 95 White Russians.
Руский — Russian
  1. Потомки молокан в Мексике, Соотчесвенники "Русь Единая", 2007-02-12
  2. От Карса до Мексики: русские молокане на другом конце светаx, РИА Новости, 03.07.2009
Español — Spanish. [Machine translated from Spanish to English online.]
  1. Los orígenes de la migración rusa a Baja California  José Luis González López, Bertha Paredes Acevedo, Calafia: Revista de la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Tijuana. Nueva época, vol.  I, núms. 1-8, enero 2001-diciembre 2004.
    Universidad Autonóma de Baja California, Instituto de Invetigaciónes Históricas, Tijuana
    [Machine translated: The origins of the Russian migration to Baja California. By José Luis Gonzalez Lopez, Bertha Paredes Acevedo. Calafia: Magazine of the Independent University of Baja California, Tijuana. New time, vol. I, nos. 1-8, January 2001-December 2004. University of Baja California, Department of Investigative History, Tijuana.]
  2. [Saltadores] Molokanes y el Vino Ruso en Guadalupe. Nota publicada el 13 de agosto de 2005. Por Elizabeth Vargas
    [Machine translated: Pryguny and Russian Wine in Guadalupe. Published August 13, 2005, by Elizabeth Vargas]
  3. Mexican Vistas: La Comunidad Rusa en Mexico, By James Clifford Safley, Editor, San Diego Union. 1952
    [Translated by Dr Rojas from the original English article: Mexico's Russian Colony]
  4. El Museo Comunitario del Valle de Guadalupe, Ejemplo de la Diversidad Cultural de Baja California, Gabriela Olivares. Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes, Un proyecto del PACMyC.
    [Machine translated: The Community Museum of Guadalupe Valley, An Example of the Cultural Diversity of Baja California, by Gabriela Olivares. National Counsel for Culture and Arts, a project of PACMyC.]
  5. Se extinguen los rusos de la Sierra de Juarez. México amargo, By Manuel Mejido 1980. Pages 19-22
    [The Russians of the Juarez mountain range are extinguished", in Bitter Mexico]
  6. "Capítulo XX: El Valle de Guadalupe". Historia de Baja California: De Cueva Pintada a la Modernidad, 2 edición.
    Antonio Ponce Aguilar. 2002.
    ["Chapter XX: Guadalupe Valley". History of Baja California: A Modern Painted Cave, 2 edition. By Antonio Ponce Aguilar, 2002.]
  7. Hacia un Plan de Manejo del Agua en Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California. A. Baddan, et.al., p. 45-64. II Seminario Internacional de Vitivinicultura, 3 y 4 Agosto de 2005, Ensenada, B.C. Mexico. Ciencia. Revista de la Academia Mexicana de Ciencias. 2005.
    ["Designing a plan for handling water in Guadalupe Valley, Baja California". By A. Baddan, et.al. (and others). Pages 45-64. 2005 II Seminar of the International Vitivinicultura,  August 3-4, 2005, Ensenada, B.C. Mexico. Science. Magazine of the Mexican Academy of Sciences.]
  8. “El último refugio. Los rusos molokanos del valle de Guadalupe, Baja California”. Gómez Estrada, José Alfredo.  México, en: Boletín del Archivo General de la Nación, 6ª época, agosto-octubre de 2003, no. 1, p. 137-152.
    ["The last refuge. The Russian Molokans of Guadalupe Valley, Baja California". Gomez Estrada, Jose Alfredo. Mexico, in: Bulletin of the General archives of the Nation, 6th edition, August-October of 2003, no. 1, pages 137-152.]
  9. YouTube Video: Mexican indigenous Russians rusos русскиe (6:37 min) English text, Spanish conversation.
  10. Los [Saltadores] Molokanes el el Valle de Gaudalupe, Grupo Enologico Mexicano, Excelsior 2002
    [Machine translated: [Pryguny] Molokans in Guadalupe Valley, Mexican Ethnic Groups, Excelsior 2002]
  11. 23/08: Altos impuestos sacan del mercado al vino mexicano, COPARMEX
    Aug. 23, 2008: Higher taxes put them out of the Mexican wine market
  12. 30 Fotos de bibayoff, (30 photos of David Bibyoff ranch) Panoramio (6 photos are nearby locations)
  13. Los descendientes [Saltadores] Molokans en México, Compatriotas "Русь Único", El 12 de febrero de 2007
  14. Inmigración rusa en México, Spanish Wikipedia.org  [Machine translated: Rusian immigration in Mexico]
  15. El Reportaje, La Ventana de Ensenada 2009 [Feature, Window to Ensenada, 2009]
  16. "Rusia en México," Baja California, tierra incógnita, by Fernando Jordán, 2001, pages 51-56.
  17. Viaje al corazon del vino mexikano, Vinisfera, Num.2, 2000. Pages 22-23.
  18. Los rostros del vino: Bibayoff, Vinisfera, Num.3, 2000. Pages 26-27. Large photo
  19. Los [Saltadores] Molokanes : Rompiendo las ataduras de la Iglesia Ortodoxa, El Trigo Ahogado, 13 de agosto de 2010
Photo and video websites
  1. Irina's Gallery (Russian), Baja California, Mexico,  Feb 24, 2007 — 138 photos (offline)
    Photos 24-31: Guadalupe restaurant, museum — Photos 48-50: Bibayoff and Dalgoff house
  2. Ens-Guad Trip May 4, 2002 — Lynn & Bev's Tour in Baja
  3. Rancho Guadalupe [Prygun] Molokan Cemetery, Baja, Lower Calif., Mexico — Posted by George "Ghrishka" Bolderoff, with Comments.
  4. Russians in Mexico, Website of the Department of Slavic Languages and Literature and Russian Club, University of California, Los Angeles
  5. Morris Photo Art — 4 photos of Mexican-Molokan grave markers
  6. Photo of [Prygun] Molokan girls, in Gale Multicultural America Encyclopedia: Russian Americans
  7. 3 Videos in English, Spanish, Russian, English — YouTube.com
  8. Rancho Torros Pintos (Bibayoff), ~50 photos of Bibayoiff ranch and area, Panoramio.com
  9. Bibayoff, Russian tradition settled in México (photos), Gina Naya, Food & Wine web site
  10. Photo Bucket.com/Darwalk/Mexico Wineries/, 2 images of entrance and courtyard
  11. [Pryguny] Molokans in Mexico: Valle de Guadalupe, Baja Mexico — 79 photos Babishoffs, Nov 10, 2009, Picasaweb. 
  12. Ghriska's Fotki Photo Albums, by George Bolderoff who started with his family tree and grew — 3 sections about Mexico.
  13. [Pryguny] Molokans in Mexico: Valle de Guadalupe, Baja Mexico, Nov 10, 2009 — 79 photos by Aliscia Niles (Babishoff)
Links to some of many websites that mention Molokans and Jumpers in Mexico
  1. Grass Roots Guerrilla of South Twin Lake, by Carl J. Nelson. 1980. Pages 320-324
  2. Two tales of a city: People building roots, San Diego Union-Tribune, March 9, 1995.
  3. Baja's travel outfitters: a tour through the ranks, The San Diego Union-Tribune. April 13, 1995. Page 62.
  4. Fertile valley helps Mexican wines grow in quality, sales, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar 19, 2000. Page 20A.
  5. The 90 Day Yacht Club Guide to Ensenada (Internet newsletters)
  6. A taste of Mexico days of wine and chocolate, The Gazette (Montreal, Canada.com), November 12, 2005.
  7. Ensenada, Baja California. Wikipedia.org
  8. Ensenada. Visitor Information: Day Three
  9. Ensenada Road To Tecate, Towards Guadalupe Valley: Monte Xanic
  10. Backgrounders: Wine, Mexican Tourism Board, Press Room. Copied at: The Wines of Baja Norte
  11. A taste of Napa in Baja: The Guadalupe Valley is home to wineries and a historic Russian community, The San Diego Union-Tribune, May 16, 2004  Page: 31. ERROR:  Molokans DID NOT come to America through Alaska.
  12. A taste of Mexico days of wine and chocolate, by Julian Armstrong, The Gazette (Montreal, Canada), November 12, 2005.
    Copied at: BajaNomad » Baja Travel Articles » A taste of Mexico days of wine and chocolate
  13. Baja California Wine Country: Guadalupe Valley, by Steve Dryden
  14. Mexican wines and wineries: Getting to Know Mexican Wine and Russian History, “Vino-Tourism” by Steve Dryden
  15. Baja's wine surprise: A short drive from Ensenada, vineyards and tasting rooms are flourishing, San Francisco Chronicle, April 10, 2005.
  16. The Samarin's of Francisco Zarco: Within the Valley of Guadalupe - A garden paradise by Malecon, Francisco Zarco Pages, update: Jun 20, 2006. Photo: "Norma Samarin at her panderia".
  17. Environmental Assessment of Impacts from a Liquefied Natural Gas Facility in Baja California, Mexico. University of Wyoming, School of Environment and Natural Resources. ENR 4900/5900 Class Project, Spring 2007. Pages 91-93
  18. Case Study: Baja Bottled, by Toby Cecchini. The New York Times Magazine: Travel. March 25, 2007
  19. The Talk: Case Study; Baja Bottled, New York Times, March 25, 2007.
  20. Wine, Music and Food Festivals in Baja California, Mexico, Vino-Tourism by Steve Dryden, June 9, 2008.
  21. Wine Country News in Mexico, by Steve Dryden. Mexico Living, January 1, 2009.
  22. The Joy of Living in Mexico’s Finest Wine Country, Vino-Tourism by Steve Dryden, October 26, 2009.
  23. White Mexican, Wikipedia.org
1. [Pryguny] Molokans in America by John K. Berokoff, Los Angeles California, 1969
In chapter 2, Berokoff presents a good summary of the history of the Mexico Molokan and Jumper colonies:

Click for sattelite image ... agents for a large tract of land in Lower California, Mexico, learning of the [Prygun] Molokan desire to establish a farming community, contacted them early in 1906 with a proposition to sell them the tract which was called Rancho Guadalupe and on terms within reach of people who were still impoverished from their emigration from Russia.

This tract of land consisting of 13,000 acres [20.3 square miles] was located 60 miles south of the United States-Mexico border, in a pretty valley [Spanish: Valle de Guadalupe] through which flowed a small stream but which turned into a torrent after a rain storm. The land was capable of producing a good crop of wheat in a rainy year but was also subjected to cycles of dry years ....

... 50 families were attracted to the proposition to purchase the tract. Led by Vasili Gavrilitch Pivovaroff and Ivan G. Samarin the land was bought for the sum of $40,000 and a site was selected for a village in the style of their native Russia, except that, for lack of logs, the houses were built of adobe in the style of Mexico.
  1. The title to the whole tract of land was vested in the names of three trustees.
  2. No grant deeds or other evidence of ownership were issued to the individual owners. The names of individual owners were simply recorded in a community book, which was entrusted to a person elected for that purpose.
  3. A government surveyor never officially surveyed the land nor was the subdivision recorded in government archives. Apparently, to save the cost of a qualified surveyor, they chose the method that was used by their fathers and forefathers in Russia. Measuring off a length of rope and using natural and artificial markers, such as large imbedded rocks or trees, they did the job in their own crude manner and proceeded to allot the land to the individual owners.
... the whole colony of 50 families were divided into 10 family units of five families to a unit. The whole tract of land was then divided into several sections, each section suitable for a certain crop. Thus there was a section of river bottom land; another section at higher level and suitable for raising grain, a hill-side section for raising hay and a section of untillable mountainous land which was left undivided for community use as cattle pasture. Each section of tillable land was then subdivided into ten parcels for which the ten family units proceeded to draw lots for their share of each category. The family units then drew lots for ownership of their individual parcels according to the need of each family.

.... in 1952 squatters from the city of Mexicali, discovering that no deeds were recorded to some of the colonist's land, forcibly settled upon the land and despite the intervention of Federal, troops, at times successfully claimed ownership thereto through squatters rights. ... After these raids of squatters ... all but a very few families emigrated to the United States, and the colony as such ceased to exist. [Now the town is named Fransico Zarco, and 3 museums have been created to provide employment and attract tourists. A list of names from Mohoff (1995) is posted.]
2. Detailed Maps

Ruta del Vino (Wine Route) with landmarks. Shows highway #3 route in red from Pacific Coast Highway (1), just north of Ensenada, to the north edge of the former Russian town of Francisco Zarco. Turn left through town, until the road bends, about 2 miles. Find 2 museums and Samarin Family Restaurant across the street from each other just past the prayer house. About 5 miles farther southwest find the Bibayoff winery (#15) with a 3rd museum. Or, go northeast to the hot springs (#46). Click maps to enlarge.
Click to ENLARGE
 Click to ENLARGE

3. The Baja Beat: The Russians of Guadalupe Valley, by Greg Niemann, The San Clement Journal

      

4. Ens-Guad Trip May 4, 2002 — Lynn & Bev's Tour in Baja
Photos 9 thru 51 were taken in Guadalupe showing the town, museums, church and cemetery. Posted by George "Ghrishka" Bolderoff

             
5. State Museum: Russian Community Museum of Guadalupe Valley
Secretaría de Turismo del Estado de Baja California:
Ruta del Vino: Miseos y Sitios Historicos :

Museo Comunitario Ruso del Valle de Guadalupe
Ubicado en un inmueble de la antigua colonia Rusa, cuenta con una pequeña exposición de memorabilia rusa y objetos indígenas. Recorridos guiados al sitio misional, aguas termales, pinturas rupestres y comunidades indígenas, previa cita. De la carretera #3 tomar el camino principal pasando frente al Centro de Salud IMSS hasta llegar al museo, ubicado a la izquierda del camino, casi frente al Museo Comunitario del Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH).

Av. Principal # 276
Valle de Guadalupe, B.C.
Tel. (646) 155-2030

alex_museoruso@hotmail.com
museoruso_samarin@hotmail.com		 Secretary of Tourism, State of Baja California:
Wine Route: Historical Museums and Sites

Russian Community Museum of Guadalupe Valley 
There is a small Russian exhibition of memorabilia and indigenous objects located in a building of the old Russian colony. Routes guided the misional site, thermal waters, cave paintings and indigenous communities, previous appointment needed. From highway #3, take the main road passing in front of the Center of Health IMSS until arriving at the museum, located to the left of the road, almost in front of the Communitarian Museum of the National Institute of Anthropology and Historia (INAH).

Main Ave. # 276
Guadalupe Valley, B.C.
Tel. (646) 155-2030

alex_museoruso@hotmail.com
museoruso_samarin@hotmail.com
Museo Comunitario Ruso
del Valle de Guadalupe

Estado:: Baja California

Ubicado en un inmueble de la antigua colonia Rusa, en el Valle de Guadalupe, en Baja California.
Russian Community Museum
of Guadalupe Valley

State: Baja California

Located in a building of the former Russian colony in Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California.
En 1905 llegaron los primeros colonos rusos pertenecientes al grupo [Saltadores] Malakhanys (Molokan) “molocanes” que quiere decir “bebedores de leche”, venían de Rusia encabezados por Basilio Pivavaroff, Basilio Tolmasoff y Simeón Babichoff quienes se encargaron de la colonización del Valle de Guadalupe en Ensenada.

En el inicio se establecieron 60 familias, que se dedicaron principalmente a la crianza de gansos, patos, a la agricultura y siembra de uva y trigo.

Actualmente, se puede visitar a algunas familias como Martha y Gabriel Kachirisky que siguen con esta tradición, hacen el pan con la receta original rusa y comidas típicas rusas para grupos pequeños.

Este museo, cuenta con una pequeña exposición de memorabilia rusa y objetos indígenas. ofrece platillos rusos, así como la venta de queso, pan y vino artesanal.

También Podrás dar un recorrido guiado al sitio misional, aguas termales, pinturas rupestres y comunidades indígenas.

Como llegar::

Por aire, al Aeropuerto Internacional General Abelardo L. Rodríguez, en la carretera Internacional s/n, en el municipio de Tijuana, arriban diariamente un promedio de 120 vuelos, procedentes de distintas ciudades de México y los Estados Unidos.

 In 1905 the first settlers arrived from the Russian group [Pryguny] Malakhanys (Molokans) "molocanes", which means "milk drinkers". They came from Russia headed by Basil (Vasili) Pivavaroff , Basil Tolmasoff, and Simeón Babichoff who were responsible for the colonization of the Guadalupe Valley in Ensenada.

At the start there were 60 families who were devoted primarily to raising geese, ducks, agriculture and planting grapes and wheat.

Currently, you can visit some families such as Martha and Gabriel Kachirisky who continue with this tradition. They make bread made with the original Russian recipe and Russian food for small groups.

This museum has a small exhibition of objects and memorabilia from the Russian natives. They serve Russian dishes, sele cheese, bread and fine wine.

You can also take a guided tour to the mission site, hot springs, cave paintings and indigenous communities.

Getting there: 

By air, at the International Airport General Abelardo L. Rodriguez, the International Road s / n, in the municipality of Tijuana, arriving an average of 120 daily flights from various cities in Mexico and the United States.

— Radio MIL, NRM Communications
6. Rancho Guadalupe Molokan Cemetery, Baja, Lower Calif., Mexico
21 photos posted by George "Ghrishka" Bolderoff. Find more info on his Comments page. 
Also see: Cemetery Names of Pryguny in Mexico
Click to ENLARGE



Also see cemetery from satellite
7. Original Spanish: La Comunidad Rusa en Mexico  /  Machine translated:  Mexico's Russian Colony 
Posted in 1996 on "History of Mexican Peoples" by Dr. David Rojas, Instituto Cultural "Raices Mexicanas" and Assoc. Professor Ethnomusicology, University of California, Santa Barbara. Translated from Mexican Vistas, by James Clifford Safley. 1952. — In 1996 Dr. Rojas created a website — Folklorico.com — mainly about Mexican dance. He is also interested in culture and included this article. This excerpt was the first significant information about Pryguny on the Internet, appearing nearly a year before the Molokan [and Prygun] Home Page in 1997. Soon this article was found by a Prygun in Russia, Vitaly (Samudorov?) who e-mailed asking about relatives not contacted since 1920. Vitaly's request fascinated Dr. Rojas who took a trip to find these Russians in Mexcio and tells how he happened upon the Russian museum — Museo Comunitario de El Valle De Guadalupe — at the end of his first issue of "El Mitote", November 1996. He briefly tells about  meeting Andrés and Sonya Samudoroff and giving them a letter from Russia. Later Dr Rojas tried to help the new museum by donating a computer and looking for someone to help create an inventory of artifacts in the village. See Correspondence with Dr. Rojas in 1997.
8. Trying to Recapture Russian Emigres' Life in Mexico
Living Among Ghosts Brings a Strange Peace
By Jessica Garrison — Los Angeles Times  —  December 1, 2002

The few descendants of a religious sect that fled czar's empire 100 years ago now put faith in trading on heritage to keep their ancestry alive.
9. Contract to Maintain Mexico Church, with G. A. Kashirisky
Colonia Rus de Guadalupe, Baja California, Mexico;  Los Angeles, CA — June 1, 1992
10. Pacifist Community Perserves
By Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Daily News
The Arizona Republic, March 19, 1995, Travel Section, Page T6
11. Transplanted Sakhaliner: Cheurniy Kleb [Black Bread] in Baja, Mexico
The Sakhalin Times — Oct 9, 2004, Updated Aug 24, 2005
Good history with news that recent Russian immigrants want to live there. Excerpts:

Losha was one of the first Russian students to study in Anchorage, Alaska. He left Sakhalin in the early 90s and has never come back. He prolonged his studies in Alaska and got a job in San Diego, where he lived till 2000. Like most Russians abroad, he felt homesick, but didn’t “want to go back to the hardships.” His life changed for the better when he came to know about the [Pryguny] Molokhans .. a Russian community settled in the Guadalupe valley in Baja California, Mexico ... “They are honest, hard-working, frugal, peaceful, God-fearing people, who have been through numerous hardships and who do not expect rewards except those that come from toil. Simplicity is the keynote of their lives,” says Losha. “This place is like a Russian version of the movie ‘The Village’”. The people freely offer information on the history of the colony and the ideals for which they strive, and invited the visitors to return. ... In spite of the fact the colony was founded almost one hundred years ago, the traditions are well preserved. “I feel like I am the future of this place,” adds Losha. Losha has invited many old friends from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to come and settle in the colony, which he feels is the only piece of the “good old Russia” on earth.
Click to ENLARGE12. Mexico Prygun Historic Monument Planned

The proposed monument will be in front of the church along the street fence, on a fenced courtyard slab about 8 feet on each side. There will be 2 entry ways from the street. The monument will be 5 ft. high — a 3-foot high tablet sitting on a 2-foot high base which is 30-inch square.
Click to ENLARGE13. USC's Russian Club: Russians in Mexico
Website of the Department of Slavic Languages and Literature and Russian Club, University of California, Los Angeles. — 6 photos. (There were 9 museum photos taken about 2001). The sign says: "Russian Community Museum and Restaurant, Russian Kitchen / Local artwork and samples from 10 vineyards / Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Sunday / Guadalupe Valley since 1991, Telephone: 016-155-2030" [click on sign photo to enlarge] [All Russian Club photos.]
            
14. Chapter 2: The Russians of Guadalupe del Norte
In Vintage Baja: Adventures of a Gringa in Lower California, by Marion  Smothers — The travels of late archaeologist and Peabody Institute Fellow Marion Smothers were published in 1993 by Bueno Books. Currently out-of-print, excerpts from this book have been made available to Ensenada Baja News-Gazette. "Editors Notes" at bottom show this photo and tells about the museum, where to : "Sample authentic Russian dishes prepared by the friendly Samarin family in the tiny restaurant". — Abbreviated text below with comments in red: 

The [Pryguny] Malakans (also spelled "Molokans"), a Russian farming religious sect, purchased the valley, now known as Guadalupe, from the Mexican government in 1905. How they made their way from Czarist Russia to Canada*, through the United States to an obscure spot in the mesa land of Lower California, appears to be lost in the mists of history. The price is said to have been more than $50,000 [$40,000]. A village site was laid out: building lots, a wide street, the church of their native Russia, a windmill, irrigation ditches and communal fields. [* Only a few Molokan scouts stopped in Canada to visit Doukhobors but were told that Los Angeles has more jobs and better climate. Most inhabitants in Mexico never got to the US due to visa problems. For details online, see John K Berokoff's [Pryguny] Molokans in America, Chapter 2 — The First Years.]

As we explored the neat village, we marveled at being transported back into an exotic peasant community. Red-bearded men greeted us with grave courtesy; their womenfolk, starched aprons over long skirts, shyly smiled from the doorways of peak-roofed houses. Window boxes overflowed with bright flowers. A sauna-type bath house shared space with each kitchen garden. Sleek dairy herds (Malakan translated as Milk Drinker) were sheltered in sturdy barns when not browsing the lush pastures. We kept our distance from flocks of aggressive geese and colonies of bee hives.

However, one encroachment of the modern world charmed us. Half-naked Indian lads were playing soccer with their Russian friends. Even more surprising, the Indians were shouting in Russian during the heat of the game. ...  Indian genes have mixed with Russian and Mexican to evolve into the mestizo. ... The Malakans have left their graves among what is now an ejido [Indian] cemetery — and the legacy of a few red-headed Mexicans. [This is the first documentation taboo racial mixing of white Molokans in the New World.]
15. Morris Photo Art — 4 photos of Mexican-Molokan grave markers

          
16. Ivan Guryevich Samarin (1857-1948) — the "Great [Prygun] Molokan Communicator"
Reproduced from the pages of the [Prygun] Molokan Review, 1949, by Jon Kalmakoff on the Doukhobor Genealogy Website.
... Samarin and Pivovaroff found and bought for the Brotherhood a plot of land in Guadalupe, Lower California, Mexico, where Pivovaroff made his home. ...  the entire task of helping the migrants was left in Samarin's hands. ... In March 1906, Samarin, on behalf of his fellow [Pryguny] Molokans, travelled to Mexico City and personally received the guaranties of religious freedom and suspension of customs duties for the [Prygun] Molokan colony at Guadalupe. Then he carried protracted negotiations regarding land grants in Lower California, at Rosario with Taras P. Tolmasoff and other [Prygun] Molokan representatives, and at Santa Rosa with P.M. Shubin, Ivan K. Mechikoff and many others. ...
17. Gale Multicultural America Encyclopedia: Russian Americans
Most notable is the photo published in the book in the 1990s of Prygun girls taken in Mexico, probably at a wedding.

Click to ENLARGE
Taken in 1947, this photograph demonstrates the influence of American fashion on traditional Russian dress.
The lace shawls of these women are called kascinkas; their high-heeled shoes are American. [On November
21, 2008, Elena posted this photo on her The Happy Wonderer blog, with comments about leg crossing, modern shoes
and showing leg. Some may be from California attending a wedding. No one has yet identified them.]

The text includes some general statements with errors:

Nearly 5,000 [2500] members of a Russian Christian religious sect known as the [Pryguny] Molokans settled in California during the first decade of the twentieth century. They formed the nucleus of what has become a 20,000-member Russian Molokan community that is concentrated today in San Francisco and Los Angeles. ... The Old Believers and [Pryguny] Molokans have been most fervent in retaining a sense of Russian identity through an active use of the Russian language in their religious services and in their daily lives.
18. Mexico: A destination specialist course. (PDF)
By The Travel Institute, 2004. Produced in partnership with the Mexico Tourism Board. Winner of the 2005 PATA Gold Award.
Chapter 1:  Baja California — Beyond Ensenada: Attractions, page 14
The Museo Comunitario del Valle de Guadalupe, in a Russian-style house, tells the story of the wine-making valley and of the [Pryguny] Molokans, non-Orthodox Russian peasants who were granted permission to resellte and to worship inthe Valle de Guadalupe by the Mexican Government in 1905. The [Pryguny] Molokans repaired wine-making equipments left from previous ventures and prospered in the valley.
19. The Russians of Guadalupe Valley : Milk Drinkers in Wine Country, in Baja Legends: The Historic Characters, Events and Locations That Put Baja California on the Map, by Greg Niemann, 2002, pages 108-110.
"The [Pryguny] Molokans worked hard and prayed hard. They dressed simply; ... They became splendid citizens of Mexico, and while they spoke Russian in church, they were ever loyal to their adopted country."
Click to ENLARGE   Click to ENLARGE   Click to ENLARGE 
20. Bodega Bibayoff,  jAzZblOg,  March 27, 2006
                
... one winery owned by Russian descendants, the Bodega de Bibayoff.  ... This was David Bibayoff, patriarch of this family operation. [Shown in the photo above with son Abel.] He graciously welcomed me and invited me to join him back in the warehouse where a group of distant relatives were waiting for him to do a barrel tasting. ... Bibayoff is descended from a group of Russian refugees, the [Pryguny] Molokans, who, with the intervention and assistance of Leo Tolstoy(1), gained permission from Tsar Nicholas(2) to emigrate to the new world where they hoped to practice their own brand of Christianity unmolested. After a false start(3) in LA, they group settled into the Guadalupe Valle and took to doing what they did best: farming. The Valle flourished.

[3 mistakes here:
  1. Tolstoy did not directly help Pryguny and Molokane emigrate.Tolstoy directly aided Doukhobors by giving money to Quakers in London to help Doukhobors leave after they were persecuted for burning guns in 1895. Already divided, one-third of all Doukhobors moved to Canada, but less than 1% of all Pryguny and Molokane moved on their own. Pryguny and Molokane requested money from Tolstoy which was refused. Because Doukhboors divided again in Canada when denied their own communal land, Tolstoy indirectly via assistants, provided advice and guidance for Pryguny and Molokane to go to America instead of Canada. Land agents gave a few scouts a free sales tour. Tolstoy probably did not know the difference between Molokane and Pryguny, and seemd to lump them as one group in his diary. Land agents who were trying to get the Doukhobors for cheap white labor and settlers directed the Pryguny Mexico, to Guadalupe Valley, La Paz, Tampico and Semiola. They chose Guadalupe probably because it was closest to Los Angeles.
  2. Tolstoy petitioned the Tsar Nickolas II to permit freedom for all religious dissenters and allow them to emigrate which was denied all but Doukhobors. In 1903-04 Tsar Nicholas II proclaimed tolerance of non-Orthodox citizens, which formally freed Russia's religious minorities from state restriction and persecution, but ended in 1917 with his assassination and overthrow of the government. During this time, Molokane built 2-story centers in Astrakhanka, Ukraine; and Tbilisi, Georgia. 1% of Pryguny and Molokane managed to flee for economics after their tax and low rent settler priveledges ended, some left to avoid military service. Most of those with no passport ended up in Mexico.
  3. The "false start in LA" may refer to the failed large communal farm in the Territory of Hawaii, while Texas was rejected. More significant is that many of the residents did not have visas to enter the US. The Mexico Russian colonies lasted up to the 1960s when the presbyter Samarin died and no one replaced him. The prayer house is financially maintained by members in the US.]
.... Now, there are a few families left and Bibayoff holds forth with his son, Abel, running their vineyard. What makes Bibayoff special ... selling grapes to other wineries.  The wine that is produced here is strictly for family, guests, festivals and occasional restaurants.... a dozen folks from suburban LA waiting for us. ... nieces and cousins of Bibayoff who had never met him before. They'd discovered him and the vineyard through some Internet work and, after an email contact, decided to come have a look. They'd been tasting with Abel for some time when we arrived and were especially warm and friendly in their afternoon buzz. ... his daughter was pleading with him to bottle it all exclusively for her.  ... 'this wine is not for sale.' ...

Bibayoff Vineyard and Winery, Baja Wine Country Guide, gives an update of the story above.
  •     Location: Valle de Guadalupe
  •     Tel: (646) 176-1008
  •     Email: bibayoff@prodigy.net.mx
  •     Directions: Off highway # 3 at "El Tigre", follow the dirt road to Rancho Bibayoff.
[Note the mis-use of Russian Orthodox Church imagery in the Bibayoff Vinos logos. Molokans are neither Russian Orthodox nor wine makers. Though a samovar would be a better fit, business rules. The average consumer — a Mexcian Catholic — is more likely to associate "onion domes" than a samovar with Russia(n). Unfortunately these logos project a false impression that Pryguny are Orthodox in faith and offically support alcohol consumption.]

 More
 
 
 

21. The Russian Colony of Guadalupe Molokans in Mexico.
Read online. A book by George W. Mohoff, 226 pages, 1995. 199 photos / illustrations, plus a cross-indexed map of each home in the colony by head of household name. Though missing many details, this is the first comprehensive book to document the history of Pryguny in Mexico — from V.G. Moloff fleeing the Tsar's army while doing guard duty in St. Petersburg, to land ownership, swimming in the river, cowboys and Indians, farm animals, church services, why they left, and more. $25 from the UMCA Heritage Room, Hacienda Heights CA; or from Mrs. George Mohoff, 2221 Via Camille, Montebello CA 90640; phone: 323-721-8610 — Also check out this book at your local library via interlibrary loan from at least 6 libraries in California. See Appendix (names lists).
22. Books about Pryguny Mexico at public libraries, listed at WorldCat
  • 1928 — The Russian colony of Guadalupe Valley, Lower Californian Studies 2, by Oskar Schmieder, University of California Press, Berkeley, 1928
  • 1960 — Spiritual Christians in Mexico : profile of a Russian village by Sydney Rochelle Story, Ph.D. dissertation, University of Southern California, 1960
  • 1963 — A Sojourn in Baja California, 1915 by Ulysses S. Grant IV , Historical Society of Southern California, 1963. Reprint from Southern California Quarterly, Vol. XLV, No. 2, June 1963, pages 128-168.
  • 1966 — The Russian Colony of Guadalupe Valley, California State College at Los Angeles (1966) by John Dewey. [Now: California State University, Los Angeles.]
  • 1968 — The Russian colony of Guadalupe Valley : a research paper by Richard Cota and Richard W Day, 1968
  • 1988 — Spirit Jumpers : the Russian Molokans of Baja California by Therese Adams Muranaka, San Diego Museum of Man, 1988
  • 1992 — The Russian Molokan Colony at Guadalupe, Baja California : continuity and change in a sectarian community, by Therese Adams Muranaka, PhD dissertation University of Arizona, 1992
  • 1995 — The Russian Colony of Guadalupe : Molokans in Mexico, with map, by George W Mohoff, 1995.
  • 2001 — "Rusia en Mexico," Baja California, tierra incógnita, by Fernando Jordán, 2001, pages 51-56.
  • 2003 — "Russians, Wineries, and the Real Baja: Inland route from Ensenada to Tecate". Weekend driver: San Diego, by Jack Brandais, 2003, pages 135-144.
23.  Videos — YouTube.com
Top ^
Molokane, Pryguny and Dukh-i-zhiniki Around the World