The Shenwize colony was located in the suburbs of Oleksandrivsk along the left bank of the Mokra Moskovka River. It was founded in 1797 by Mennonite families who had migrated from Prussia.
At the end of the 18th century, the imperial government wanted to quickly populate the lands of the south and began inviting foreign settlers. In 1762-1763, Empress Catherine II issued decrees allowing foreign colonists to enter and settle in the territory of southern Russia.
The colony was built according to the traditional German village model: a church, administrative building, and school in the center. A significant part of the buildings from the Mennonite colony of Shenwize has survived to this day, including The Mill of Nibur, Abraham Koop Mansion, the building of the Frisian church, revenue house of K. Gyubert with Tavonius pharmacy, and the mansions of Ya. Dik and Y. Lepp.
Residential buildings, revenue houses, and houses for factory workers were located along the red lines of the streets. Production facilities were located deep inside the quarters with access to the railway tracks. Production facilities related to the processing of construction timber were concentrated along the Mokra Moskovka River.
In 1901, a metal bridge with sidewalks on both sides and a metal fence with granite pillars was built over the river (it has been reconstructed).
The territory of the former Shenwize colony is a monument of architecture and urban planning.
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