Toma N. Socolescu
Legacy
Legacy
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Until 1944, many of 's most beautiful streets, and the city's landmark monuments of his design did profoundly marked the face of the city, for which  had brought the neo\-classical touch of French and Italian inspiration. Added to this is the neo\-Romanian style, including a large production by his son [Toma T. Socolescu](/wiki/Toma_T._Socolescu "Toma T. Socolescu"), also a great builder in  and all over the Judet, as well as [art deco](/wiki/Art_deco "Art deco") and even [Bauhaus](/wiki/Bauhaus "Bauhaus") style constructions. The [American bombing raids of 1944](/wiki/Bombing_of_Romania_in_World_War_II "Bombing of Romania in World War II") brought down one\-eighth of the buildings and permanently affected the city's harmony and architectural eclecticism.Video of American bombing raids in April 1944:  And contemporary photos of the resulting destructions: 

The [1940 earthquake](/wiki/1940_Vrancea_earthquake "1940 Vrancea earthquake") and [1977](/wiki/1977_Vrancea_earthquake "1977 Vrancea earthquake") also took their toll on Prahova's buildings, several of them designed by . However, the most significant destruction was carried out by the communists, who would complete the disfiguration of the city between 1960 and 1989, through two waves of "[Systematization](/wiki/Systematization_%28Romania%29 "Systematization (Romania)")". The most massive was decided by [Nicolae Ceaușescu](/wiki/Nicolae_Ceau%C8%99escu "Nicolae Ceaușescu"), the last Communist dictator. These "clean sweep" operations often pretexted the weakening of buildings Seee [Conséquenses du tremblement de terre de 1977](/wiki/S%C3%A9ismes_de_1977_de_Vrancea%23Cons%C3%A9quences "Séismes de 1977 de Vrancea#Conséquences") article. by the [1977 earthquake](/wiki/1977_Vrancea_earthquake "1977 Vrancea earthquake") to make them disappear, and with them the face of an era all too reminiscent of a triumphant educated bourgeoisie,p. 18\. and the insolent expression of a period that the new regime absolutely wanted to forget. There are still, however, several of the architect's churches and public buildings, as well as some fine residences. Most are listed as historical monuments. The works of  remain the expression of neoclassicism in architecture.

Well\-known in the city of , the name of this builder\-architect is linked to the history of a trade and oil rich city , whose future seemed radiant at the time. A high school bears his name, street, at n°328 \- [Liceul Tehnologic "Toma Socolescu" Ploiești](https://tnsoc.ro/istoric/). as well as a street: **.

| [thumb\|upright\=2\.2\|center\|alt\=The Palace of the communal baths.\|The Palace of the communal baths.](/wiki/File:1930-TomaNSocolescu-PalatulBailorComunala-Ploiesti.jpg "1930-TomaNSocolescu-PalatulBailorComunala-Ploiesti.jpg") | [thumb\|upright\=1\.85\|center\|alt\=The  barracks, circa 1930\.\|The  barracks, circa 1930\.](/wiki/File:1930-TomaNSocolescu-CazarmaCuzaVoda-Bucuresti.jpg "1930-TomaNSocolescu-CazarmaCuzaVoda-Bucuresti.jpg") |

| Baths of  and the  barracks. |


Is there a connection between the architect's style and the city's reputation as a trade and oil-rich city?