Description
Antanas Poderys (1864–1941) – a member of the Aušrininkai movement from Suvalkija, a teacher, and the author of a Lithuanian grammar textbook; he served as the principal of the Salakas School from 1906 to 1932. After the ban on the Lithuanian press was lifted, he arrived in Salakas in 1906 to take up his post and found the school to be entirely Russian-oriented. He immediately began to reform it, started teaching the Lithuanian language and folk songs, and read Lithuanian publications with his students after class. In 1907–1908, he organized a Lithuanian choir in Salakas and staged the first Lithuanian play, *Genovaitė*; he also contributed to the construction of the Salakas church and the establishment of a temperance society. After Lithuania regained its independence, A. Poderys was one of the initiators in establishing the Salakas Parish Municipality. In recognition of his contributions to the nation-building effort, he was awarded the “10th Anniversary of Lithuanian Independence” medal in 1928. The educator died in 1941 and was buried in Salakas; today, a support fund bearing his name is active. Salakas honors its luminary. The Antanas Poderys Memorial Museum is located on Antanas Poderys Street. Next to the house is a commemorative plaque bearing the words: “To Antanas Poderis, teacher of Salakas, member of the Aušra movement, researcher of the Lithuanian language, and author of a grammar book, and to his wife Petronėlė. From the descendants.” In 2013–2014, A. Poderis’s house was reconstructed, renovated, and adapted for museum use; outbuildings were restored, and the grounds of the homestead were landscaped.
