The sculpture, created by Alexander Ivanovich Suvorov, was installed in 2019.

Among the Black Sea governors who made a significant contribution to the history of our city, General-Lieutenant Evgeny Nikolayevich Volkov stands out. He grew up in an aristocratic environment and was close to the imperial family, yet he showed genuine concern for the quiet provincial Novorossiysk, demonstrating his attachment to the city and its residents from the very first days. Both the Orthodox philosopher Evgeny Trubetskoy and the Novorossiysk Bolshevik Sergey Bodyansky spoke positively of Volkov, which attests to his outstanding personality.

Evgeny Volkov was born on June 16, 1864, into a noble family. His lineage, one of the oldest and most numerous, traces back to the Lithuanian Grigory Volk, who arrived in Russia in the early 12th century. For centuries, the Volkovs served as chamberlains, voivodes, and ambassadors.

Evgeny received a first-class military education: he first graduated from the Nikolaev Cadet Corps, which accepted children of hereditary nobles, and then, in 1882, entered the prestigious Nikolaev Cavalry School. Graduates of this school often made brilliant military and court careers. Volkov completed his studies with honors and was assigned to serve in the His Majesty's Life Guards Hussar Regiment, which was part of the imperial guard.

In this regiment, rich in traditions, young Lermontov and Rostislav Dolgorukov once served. In 1896, Evgeny Nikolayevich became a colonel and soon an assistant commander of the Life Guards Hussar Regiment. His career was nearly complete, and he was preparing for independent service in various military positions. However, in April 1900, by imperial decree, Colonel Volkov was assigned a peaceful task, appointing him as the Black Sea governor.

Volkov headed the provincial administration and numerous various institutions, overseeing the life of the population and police activities, as well as monitoring tax revenues to the city treasury. On April 6, 1903, he was promoted to Major General.

Volkov settled in the house of his predecessor, a spacious single-story building on Velyaminovskaya Street (now Revolution Street of 1905), opposite the city garden. This house was built in the late 1860s under General Pilenko and hosted all the distinguished guests visiting Novorossiysk. Now, a college of construction and economics stands on this site.

In his new position, Volkov proved that Novorossiysk, remote from the center of Russia, could develop and prosper. One of his first initiatives was the establishment of the first daily newspaper "Black Sea Coast" in the Black Sea province, with Leontovich as its editor. Understanding the influence of the newspaper, Volkov became its censor. The newspaper published government messages, Russian and foreign news, as well as stories about the economic and cultural life of the region. Thanks to the editor and energetic staff, the newspaper gained popularity among the residents.

A significant contribution of Volkov to the development of the city's culture was the construction of the People's House. In 1900, a committee for the guardianship of public sobriety began operating in Novorossiysk, which opened a tea house and reading room in the Pochakov house on Nikolaevskaya Street. This was the "People's Auditorium," where people gathered after work to read books of spiritual and moral content, and performances and concerts were organized. At that time, a hospital was being built in the city, which consumed all the city funds, as well as schools and other important facilities.

The appearance of the city is its business card and measure of well-being. The Black Sea governor made efforts to improve Novorossiysk. By the end of 1902, the embankment stretching from the western pier to Romanovskaya Street was completed. It consisted of concrete masses and was surrounded by a wide sidewalk. In several places, there were iron stairs and stone steps for access to the water.

The name of Volkov is associated with the arrangement of a new boulevard on Raevskaya Street (now Novorossiysk Republic Street). The drainage was directed into a collector made of concrete slabs and covered with earth. The alley was planted with poplars, acacias, and shrubs, fenced, and acquired an elegant appearance.

The problem of drinking water has always been relevant for Novorossiysk. Volkov appealed to Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich with a request to solve the water supply problem. Soon, on October 11, 1907, the city received 50,000 rubles for the exploration of water sources and the design of a water supply system from the Tsemesskaya Valley.

Thanks to Volkov's efforts, Novorossiysk began to take on the appearance of an administrative center. Under Volkov, fairs were restored, and their significance grew. In 1903, the Pokrovskaya fair was established, held annually from September 25 to October 1.

To develop trade and production in Novorossiysk, a municipal public bank began operating in 1902, providing loans to industrialists and merchants. By 1905, seven banks and agencies were operating in the city. City revenues increased to 200,000 rubles in 1904, compared to 94,000 in 1894.

Volkov, passionate about viticulture, took care to spread this culture in the region. In November 1900, he participated in the second congress of grape growers and winemakers of the Black Sea province. In 1902, at the Caucasian exhibition in Tiflis, his wine received a small silver medal.

Volkov tried to understand the daily life of the local population by visiting other settlements in the Black Sea province. In 1903, he introduced a mounted police force to protect the population in Sochi and Tuapse.

In 1904, Volkov initiated the publication of a directory on the Black Sea province, prompted by interest in the region. It was printed at the Novorossiysk printing house "Trud" and remains the most complete directory of the pre-Soviet era.

Evgeny Nikolayevich actively participated in the public life of the city, heading the provincial guardianship prison committee, the Black Sea branch of the Society for the Rescue of Drowning People, and the Imperial Society of Horticulture. He was also an honorary justice of the peace of the District Court.

Volkov's wife, Vera Andreevna, was involved in charity work, heading the "Black Sea Society for the Education and Protection of Children" and the society for assisting students. In 1903, an orphanage "Yasli" for children up to 7 years old opened in Novorossiysk, which helped mothers work, knowing their children were being cared for.

In 1904, Vera Andreevna headed the Black Sea Red Cross committee, which sent parcels with materials and food to the army. For her activities, she received gratitude from the residents of Novorossiysk, and the city Duma established a scholarship in her name.

Volkov had a dacha near the cement plant "Tsep'", with a garden, vegetable garden, and vineyards. It was located by the sea and used for social entertainment. A stage was set up on the shore for dances and performances by artists. The newspaper "Kavkaz" wrote about Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich's visit to the Volkovs.

The capable administrator was noticed in the capital and appointed the first mayor of Moscow. The Novorossiysk City Duma highly appreciated his care for the city, establishing scholarships in his name and placing his portrait in the meeting hall. Volkov was awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen of Novorossiysk."

However, his service in Moscow did not last long. The assassination of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich and unrest led to his resignation. For some time, Volkov was the governor of the Taurida province, but revolutionary events in Crimea affected his health, and he resigned.

After recovering from illness, Volkov returned to service, was enrolled in the Suite of Nicholas II, and performed the duties of deputy chairman of the "Society for the Protection of Monuments of Art and Antiquity." In 1909, he headed the Cabinet of His Imperial Majesty, and in 1913 he became a lieutenant general.

The Cabinet managed the tsar's estates, including the Nerchinsk and Altai mines. Volkov remained in this position until the February Revolution of 1917, after which he resigned.

With the arrival of the Bolsheviks, the Volkovs left Petrograd and settled near Novorossiysk. In 1919, Evgeny Nikolayevich again became the Black Sea governor. He faced wartime problems, but his second term was short-lived. In March 1919, he was replaced by General Cherepov.

After his resignation, the Volkovs permanently left Russia and settled in Nice, where Evgeny Nikolayevich died in 1933. He left a good memory as a successful administrator and patriot of Novorossiysk, of which we have the right to be proud.