Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer authentic old estates in Russia. Some are collapsing on their own, while others are destroyed by fire. Such was the fate of the estate of merchant Vasily Lavrovich Zhernakov in Tyumen. In the late 19th century, he was a prosperous entrepreneur actively engaged in charity work. There is a beautiful legend that in 1881, while still a peasant, he walked with a trading caravan from his native Vyatka (now Kirov) to his brother in Tyumen, where he settled.

At first, Zhernakov traded small batches of grain, gradually increasing sales volumes. He invested the earned money into building sawmills, steamship companies, and opening his own stores. By the end of the 19th century, his capital amounted to 3 million rubles. In 1909, being a wealthy man, Vasily Lavrovich decided to build a spacious estate for himself. The building was designed in the neo-Russian style, featuring large dimensions and a complex composition. The entrance was adorned with a decorative dome reminiscent of the roofs of Russian chambers from the 17th century.

In these luxurious halls, the Zhernakov family lived the last 10 years of their happy life. In 1919, the Bolsheviks arrested the merchant but released him for a large ransom. Not wanting to take risks, the family emigrated to Harbin. Later, the house was occupied by Chekists, and there were rumors that condemned prisoners were shot near the stable, with their bodies secretly dumped into the Tura River, which flows 100 meters below. The estate then housed various schools.

In 2017, the architectural monument was closed for restoration, planning to open a restaurant and a museum of merchant life there. However, a few weeks later, the estate unexpectedly caught fire. The blaze was so intense that smoke was visible from other districts of the city. The fire completely destroyed all wooden decorative elements. According to preliminary reports, the cause of the fire was a short circuit in the wiring. The building is planned to be restored.