Today, the Russian market is saturated with a variety of Chinese goods, including plywood, although our country has enough of its own forests. However, this was not always the case. In the early 20th century, the best plywood in the Far East was produced in Russia, at the factory of merchant Leonty Semyonovich Skidelsky. He purchased equipment from Germany and England for his enterprise, inviting foreign engineers to share their expertise with Russian specialists. The production was organized efficiently, and the factory produced almost 20,000 feet of plywood daily, without compromising quality. The products were in demand not only in Russia but also in China, Japan, Austria, and Great Britain.

Skidelsky cared for his workers: he built a small village around the factory, paid for the education of employees' children in gymnasiums, and provided financial assistance in difficult situations. This continued until 1917, when political crises and the Civil War began to reduce the factory's profits. Nevertheless, the factory remained prosperous and, during the harsh winter of 1918, began distributing coal to the poorest residents of the city. Workers were found apartments with heating and electricity, and in a special store, essential goods could be purchased.

However, after the defeats of the White Army, dark clouds loomed over the factory. Skidelsky's heirs could not reach an agreement over money, and part of the facilities were moved to Harbin. In 1923, the factory was nationalized. In Harbin, things were going better: coal mines and lumber mills continued to operate. Everything ended in August 1945 with the arrival of Soviet troops, and the industrial empire of the Skidelskys collapsed. One of the heirs was arrested and died in a special hospital. Another was convicted, and in 1950 he died in prison.