{34} In 1910, Divin’s population consisted of more than three thousand. The population was comprised of four nationalities: Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles, and Jews.

By the character of religion, residents were divided into Orthodox, Roman Catholics, and Jews.

For the performing of [Christian] religious rites and services, there were three churches in Divin.

According to popular legend, one church – Uspenskaya – had been converted from a Polish church. This church burned down in an arson attack during a war operation on August 27^th, 1915.

The entire population of Divin: Belarusians, Ukrainians and Poles – lived on all of the four streets of the town, interspersed with each other.

Jews even lived in the very heart of the town. Their homes were at the intersection of all four streets. Some of the houses were located on all of the streets, going deep down every street, up to 300 meters from the intersection. They had their own small homestead plots of land next to their houses.

Also in the center was a synagogue.

A large part of the Jewish population was engaged in different types of trade. Some of them had their own private little shops. Many of them were engaged in artisanal and craft work. Among them were good tailors, shoemakers, blacksmiths, carpenters, bakers, and other craftsmen. They were also engaged in trading large, horned cattle and horses.

The rest of Divin’s population was engaged mainly in farming.

Farmers sowed rye (seldom, wheat), oats, barley, millet, buckwheat and legumes: beans, peas, lentils.

Planted in the gardens were: turnip, onion, carrot, cabbage and most importantly – potatoes.

For home-made clothes, people sowed flax and hemp. Farmers raised livestock: cows, bulls, sheep and pigs. Bulls were used for fieldwork and transport of different heavy loads for long periods of time. Later horses began to be used for all of the heavy farm chores. Domesticated poultry was bred: chickens, geese and ducks. But most importantly, each owner kept from 3 to 17 large, horned cattle, 5 – 30 sheep, pigs for meat, as well as a horse or bull for fieldwork. Livestock were kept in large numbers because the soil of our land is sandy. Such land requires a lot of manure for fertilizer. As well, cattle were one of the main sources of income for the peasant. Cattle were sold and from this sale peasants were able to pay taxes and spend the money on their household needs.

{35} However, keeping the animals was not easy for some owners. During the summertime, they had to prepare enough feed for the entire winter. Not all farmers had their own grassland for hay. Many farmers bought these lands for cutting the grass from the landowner. They did this every year. If not this, the other option was that the peasants could mow the grass on the landlord’s lands, giving the landlord half of the mowed grass, in other words, they received a 50% share.

Until 1915 there were 4 large annual market fairs in Divin, on the following dates: March 26, August 16, October 28 and December 27 (in the old style [calendar]).

The main trade at these fairs was large cattle. Cattle were gathered here in large numbers from all of Divin. Here, in those days, sales of large horned cattle and various other domesticated animals were made. In addition, there was an exchange of cattle between owners.

Also people bought and sold sheepskins, various homespun cloths, canvas, and other items necessary for peasant life.