Exhibition of Historical Evidence of "Limbažu Filcs"

Natural material – wool – was one of the trade goods that local merchants dealt with in the Middle Ages. The greatest boom in wool processing in Limbaži is associated with the factory “Limbažu Filcs,” the only major industrial enterprise in the town’s history. The factory began operations in the second half of the 19th century, during the rapid rise of the textile industry in Northern Vidzeme. In the early 20th century, “Limbažu Filcs” was one of the largest enterprises in Latvia, employing 500 workers. The daily life of the small town followed the factory whistle, which continued to operate even during the Soviet era. Work was carried out in shifts lasting 11 hours.

Initially, the machinery was powered by steam, but at the end of the 19th century, the factory installed a power station from the “Lenz” company, using peat extracted from the Droģi bog at Lake Duņezers as fuel. The electricity produced was used not only for the factory’s needs but also for the post office, police buildings, residential houses, and street lighting. The factory produced men’s and women’s hats, felt, and felt boots. Later, during the Soviet era, hat production was discontinued, and only felt boots were made—up to half a million pairs per year. The workers had their own club, which housed one of the first televisions in Limbaži.

The story of felt boots in Limbaži ended in 1992, when the factory ceased operations due to non-payment for its orders. In May 1996, representatives of the Husman family heirs repurchased the factory from the Privatization Agency for one Latvian lat. Today, part of the factory premises houses the Lifelong Learning and Health Promotion Center “Filcītis,” while the empty production buildings await new ideas and substantial investments.