Športno kulturno društvo

JAVORJE

MUNICIPALITY OF HRPELJE-KOZINA

Through time

MAKING A LIVING IN THE PAST AND TODAY

60 YEARS AGO AND MORE
In the past, families used to be large and life was often about hard work and empty bellies. The villagers engaged in cattle breeding, farming and fruit growing. The families used to eat what they produced in their fields, whereas food of higher quality was sold in Trieste to where villagers transported it or carried it on their backs, particularly meat, eggs, fruit and also firewood and mushrooms. After World War II, the produce was also sold in Rijeka in Croatia. The villagers distilled homemade plum brandy, which is highly valued even today. The Javorje villagers are very proud of it, and so are other Brkinians. Javorje boasted some highly-developed crafts such as stonemasonry, blacksmithing, carpentry, shoemaking and tailoring, as well as milling in the Jezerina valley. Additional money was earned from sales of charcoal – the locals built charcoal piles and also produced lime in lime kilns. The charcoal was sold in Trieste, whereas the lime was produced mainly for the villagers’ needs.

The former brickworks in the Jezerina valley
The former brickworks in the Jezerina valley

After World War II, the villagers found employment in different factories. The brickworks named Opekarna Obrov operated in the Jezerina valley until the 1970s when it was closed because it was no longer profitable. The building is in decay now.
The villagers could earn a good living by working for the companies Plama in Podgrad, Droga in Portorož – with a subsidiary in Gradišče, Lesograd in Kozina, Steklarna in Hrpelje and others.

TODAY
Over the last few years, the Javorje villagers, except for some individuals, have been engaging in agriculture merely to cater to their own needs. There is almost no cattle breeding, except for three or four houses with a small head of cattle. The locals commute to work to close and distant places in Slovenia (Podgrad, Gradišče, Kozina, Koper) and also in neighbouring Italy.

 

EMIGRATION

Already before World War I and later between the two wars, the Javorje villagers emigrated to North, Central and South America.
After World War II, they also emigrated illegally to the USA, Australia, Canada, France and Belgium (working in mines). In that period, more than 40 people left the village. Many of them were captured during their illegal crossing of the border, while three villagers lost their lives.

Many moved to towns to make a living and raise a family. The highest number of villagers left Javorje, hoping for a better life, and moved to towns along the coast, especially Izola which is now jestingly named the ‘capital town of Brkini’. Even later, after 1960, some Javorje villagers moved to ‘greener pastures’ in Germany and Switzerland. Some of them returned home later.

SCHOOL, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL LIFE IN THE VILLAGE

IN TIMES PAST
In the times of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and also for a time under Italy, children went to school in Hrušica.
After 1930, the school was located in Javorje, in the house of the Kusovi family. Italian teachers travelled every day from Trieste to Obrov by bus and then walked to Javorje.
Following the war, the school remained in the village for several years, in the house of the Lakačevi family. The teacher was Ms. Vida Lisjak from Ajdovščina.
Then the first four grades were transferred to the school in Obrov and another in Podgrad and, later, in the 1960s, higher grades started going to school in Hrpelje.

A visit from Father Christmas in 2014
A visit from Father Christmas in 2014

TODAY 
After the subsidiary primary school in Obrov was closed (the first four grades), pupils started going to school in Hrpelje or other schools that are more convenient for parents.
The Javorje Sport and Cultural Society was established in 2005 and is still active.