1
One evening in November 1934, a young man named George Heidham hurried to the Payne Apartment (now the Peiwen Apartment on Middle Huaihai Road) where he was to attend a small party. In this famous shanghai-based expatriate apartment, such a small gathering of expatriates was a common occurrence, but this time it was unusual because of the arrival of a Chinese guest, and even completely affected the trajectory of George Heiden's life.
Located at 449-479 Middle Huaihai Road, the Peiwen Apartment was built in the first half of the 20th century, like the much-publicized Wukang Building, which was invested and built by China Construction Real Estate Company, a subsidiary of the French Merchants International Savings Association. The Wukang building was originally named normandy apartments, while the Pervin apartments were formerly known as the Payne apartments, both of which are taken from French place names.
The designer of The Peiwen Apartment was a well-known French architectural firm in modern Shanghai. Founded in 1922, Zhao'an Foreign Firm enjoyed a high reputation in the field of modern architecture and high-rise apartment design in Shanghai at that time. Built in 1930, the Pine Apartments was the beginning of the firm's complete departure from the Retroist style and a complete turn to Art Deco, and since then, more Art Deco and modernist elements have begun to appear frequently in the architectural works of The Company. Among them, the representative ones are Huaihai Apartment on Middle Huaihai Road, Fenan Apartment on Jianguo West Road, Maggie Apartment on Fuxing West Road, and Gaoan Apartment on Gao'an Road. Today, these buildings have entered the list of "Excellent Historical Buildings in Shanghai".
Perhaps because of the penn's apartment, the architects of The Company of Gan were in love with the Payne Apartment, and about a year after its completion, they moved their own building into the building, where it operated until 1942. The three French architects known as the "Three Masters of Zhao'an", Vesier and Kruze, forged a deep friendship here and designed many classic works. Through their own struggles, they continued to realize their dreams in the field of architectural design in Shanghai at that time.
Interior of the Pevin Apartments
2
At that time, while busy working, the "Three Jies of Zhao'an" would certainly not have noticed that in this same building, there was another group of foreigners who were tirelessly struggling for another, grander dream.
A warm red current flows through this Pine apartment:
Agnes Smedley is a well-known author and journalist. She came to China in the late 1920s and soon became acquainted with Soong Ching-ling, and has been inextricably linked to China ever since. Smedley lived in Shanghai in many places, such as 85 Luban Road (now Chongqing South Road) and Xiwang Community on Fengxian Road, and the Penn Apartment was where she lived in the mid-1930s.
In November 1934, Smedley, who lived in Penn's apartment, invited Soong Toh To her residence for a party commemorating the October Revolution. Also attending the gathering were international friends Louis Eli and others. Dr. George Heidham, who is only 24 years old, was also invited.
At that time, Dr. George Heidham had just arrived in Shanghai for more than a year. With a doctorate in medicine, he originally came to Shanghai only to investigate the tropical diseases that were prevalent in the East at that time. But in just over a year, he was so impressed by the devastating old China that he began to consider whether to stay in China and continue to provide help to those who were poor and sick. What ultimately prompted him to make up his mind to stay in China was the small gathering in Payne's apartment.
3
At the party, Song Qingling said to George Heiden: "I know that you are a very progressive doctor, and you can do more for China's progress!" ”
In conversation with Soong Ching-ling, George Heidham vaguely felt that a new mission was calling to him. Motivated by the life-saving conscience of a health worker and deep sympathy for Chinese, George Heidham finally decided to stay. In a letter to his classmates, he wrote: "At this moment, I will do my best to do what I can to help the people here." ”
Soon after, under the care of Song Qingling, International friends such as Smedley, Louis Eli, george Heidelmund also formed a Marxist study group and carried out study activities in Pine's apartment. George Heidelm's private clinic on Jiujiang Road also became a secret point of contact for the underground party of the Communist Party to carry out underground work. ("The Imprint of Song Qingling in Shanghai", published in the "Shanghai Song Qingling Former Residence Memorial Hall" public number)
In the summer of 1936, George Heidelm embarked on a westward journey with the famous journalist Edgar Snow on a westward journey to northern Shaanxi on the recommendation of Song Qingling. Here, Edgar Snow wrote about his trip to northern Shaanxi and his visit to Mao Zedong, which caused great repercussions and gave the world hope for China's future, while George Heidham chose to stay in northern Shaanxi and continue to work towards his dream. In 1937, George Heidham honorably joined the Chinese Communist Party and soon changed his name to a more resounding Chinese name, Ma Haide.
It was this Ma Haide who took the lead in joining the Chinese nationality after the founding of New China and made great contributions to the eradication of leprosy. In 2019, in the list of "most beautiful strivers" released to solemnly celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of New China, Ma Haide, the first foreigner to join the Chinese nationality and an outstanding member of the Communist Party of China, was on the list.
4
George Heidham, who briefly visited Pine's apartment, changed the trajectory of his life. At The Penn Apartments, the story of the "Strivers" continues.
Located on the ground floor of the apartment, the "Renchang Rong Thread Number" carries many memories of the arts and crafts artist Huang Peiying and the skill of velvet weaving. Huang Peiying has loved velvet knitting since childhood, and has shown a high talent for velvet knitting in childhood. In 1928, after completing her studies, she founded the Peiying Weaving and Teaching Institute and participated in the Exhibition of Chinese Domestic Goods. At this exhibition, his works won the first prize, the first prize, and the gold and silver medals. Since then, Huang Peiying's knitting skills have become famous in Shanghai.
Innovation is Huang Peiying's constant goal in his knitting career. In the mid-1930s, her original peach, plum, plum, rose and other flower-shaped cut-out sweaters became popular as soon as they were introduced, becoming the fashionable coats of the women at that time. In 1933, the book "Peiying Silk Wool Knitting Method" written by Huang Peiying had a circulation of 300,000 copies, breaking the record at that time. As a result, Huang Peiying became an expert in the field of velvet knitting, and together with Feng Qiuping and Bao Guofang, he was called "the three masters of velvet knitting design".
In the mid-1940s, the "Renchang Velvet Thread" on the ground floor of the Penn Apartment, in order to further expand its influence, offered to cooperate with Huang Peiying and present books and periodicals such as "Peiying Silk Wool Knotting Method" to customers who came to the store to cultivate public interest in velvet weaving. Huang Peiying sometimes goes to the "Renchang Velvet Cord" to teach the skills to the velvet knotting enthusiasts in person.
Huang Peiying's association with The Pine Apartment is related to the Yongye Building where she lives next to the Pine Apartment. Yongye Building is located in the southwest corner of Huaihai Middle Road and Yandang Road, built slightly later than Pein Apartment, formerly known as Yang's Apartment. According to a message in the "Declaration" on March 9, 1944, "Yongye Real Estate Co., Ltd. changed the name of Yang's Apartment to Yongye Building".
Yongye Building
Yongye Real Estate Company, which was the owner of Yongye Building, was founded in 1942 by Guo Shun of Shanghai Yongan Group, Liu Nianyi of GreatEr China Match Factory and Xu Shihao, a lawyer, with Guo Shun as chairman and Xu Shihao as general manager, the main business at that time covered real estate sales, rent collection and agency leasing, etc., and was once regarded as one of the most powerful Chinese real estate enterprises. In the mid-1950s, Wing Ye Real Estate Company ceased operations, and the word "Wing Ye" has survived with the building to this day.
In 1956, the "Shanghai Women's Products Store", which carries the warm memories of countless Shanghainese, opened on the ground floor of The Peiwen Apartment. Huang Peiying continued to travel back and forth between the two buildings of Peiwen and Yongye, making his own contribution to the inheritance of the art of velvet weaving.
In 2021, a TV series "Ideal City" with the theme of showing workplace struggles landed on the TV screen. Attentive viewers may have discovered that the rooftop where the heroine su Xiao often climbs and performs "inspirational" scenes is filmed on the top floor of Peiwen's apartment. On the side, the iconic arc-shaped corner roof of the Yongye Building also appeared frequently in the play. Once again, these two old buildings tell a story of ideals and struggles to the public in such a special way.
(Reference to "Shanghai Modern Architectural Style", Zheng Shiling; "Shanghainese from France: The Legend of the Architect Zhao An", Wu Feipeng)
Column Editor-in-Chief: Shen Yilun Text Editor: Shen Yilun
Source: Author: Qiu Lili