The Constructivist-style building of School No. 23 was built between 1924 and 1930 on the grounds of the former estate of the landowner Gabay (now Tiurinska Street, 40).

The “Hammer and Sickle” factory was a great help to the school in the 1930s: it equipped the metalworking and bicycle repair shops and the science lab, and carried out repairs. Gabay’s garden was not neglected; new trees were planted there, and greenhouses, hotbeds, and a fountain were built.

The school not only provided meals for the students but also generated a good income from selling vegetables and flowers; the fruit was sent to the “Oktyabr” factory for processing. Pigs were also raised there, and the school had a stable. Products from the school workshops—such as chairs and pottery—were also sold.

Of course, the school had drama, literature, and other clubs. In the first months of the WWII, the building was turned into a hospital. German troops turned the school into the headquarters of an SS unit, and during their retreat, the school was burned down. It took a long time to rebuild it, until 1949.

Fun fact: A group of young naturalists led by biology teacher A. Ruban was growing hybrid corn. In 1955, they were sent to the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition for this work, where they received a medal.