"Evangelistria" Rolling mills of Messenia

"[...] Our city only got to know the large rolling mills of "Evangelistria" in 1926. At first, there were flour mills in the current square of Taxiarches and Nedon behind the Fortress...". (P. Tzortzis, "The flour industry of our city", THARROS Newspaper, 11-14/01/1940, 16-16/01/1940)

The "Evangelistria" Rolling Mills of Messenia is one of the most characteristic buildings of Kalamata, classified as a cultural heritage monument. In the past, it was one of the most essential industrial units of the city with a great history. The abandoned building complex (total area 3,750 m2) dominates the port on Psaron Street. It consists of single and multi-storey buildings that include mills, engine rooms, warehouses, a machine shop, a blacksmith shop, a carpentry shop, silos and offices.

The "Evangelistria SA" group was built on five plots of land bought and joined by G. Sp. Papadopoulos in 1925, west of the harbour tank. The property was transferred, almost immediately, to the "Stasinopoulos-Papadopoulos & SIA" company, while a month later (February 1925), two more plots were purchased, west of the original ones. The industrial unit started operating in 1926, and by 1930, the company had bought the remaining plots of land in the building block. The company's last purchase of land for expansion occurred in 1950, while the existing data show that the main building (the rolling mill) had been constructed since December 1925. Also, in 1951, after the end of the war, it was considered necessary to build a supplementary granary, which began in 1952 and was gradually completed.

During the Occupation (1941-1944), the "Evangelistria" Rolling Mills of Messenia was occupied by the Italians and suffered significant damage. Decisive for the future of the building complex was the devastating earthquake of 1986, thus initiating the final cessation of its operation.

One of the most characteristic moments in the course of the Greek labour movement took place in the area of the rolling mills. Specifically, on May 9th, 1934, dock workers were killed by the bullets of soldiers and police officers, while several were wounded.

Today, converting the abandoned building complex into a five-star hotel with 49 rooms and 100 beds is being studied, an investment reaching 5.5 million euros.