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German Roots Trip 2003 - Contents

SEEKING OUR GERMAN ROOTS

Chapter II    

Schoenberg-Appendix

I. Introduction to the book we bought at the Schoenberg museum:

Schönberg in Holstein, Book of Former Days, printed 1990 & 1991, Publ. By Geiger-Verlag, 7240 Horb am Neckar

Page 6--Historical Overview of the community of Schonberg. (Translated by Karen)

In 1226 the northern section of the Plön district was given by the then-sovereign of the region, Count Adolf IV to the Benedictine convent in Preetz.

Because the Vorstehers (who ran the convent) were designated "Propst" the surrounding region was called "Klosterlich Preetzer Probstei" --an area run by the Probst and later it was simply called the "Probstei" and the people who lived there were known as the "Probsteier." Probst might be related to "provost."

The village of Schonberg was probably founded in 1245-1250 by Propst Friedrich. The oldest writing to mention the name "Sconeberg (Schönberg) is a document from the year 1259 that is in the archive of the Bishopric of Luebeck. Before settlement by German colonists, it was probably already a Slavic settlement, because Slavic settlements reached up to the Kiel outer bay. The place name "Sconeberg or Sconeberch is however of German origin. Schön means "pretty" and "berg" means mountain. It was named after a hill on which the town lies. The hill falls away abruptly from a meadow above. Oak and beech trees on the site of the town gave it the designation of being "beautiful." At the time Schonberg was purely a farming village. Due to belonging to the Preetz cloister, the Probsteiers had an excellent situation, in contrast to the rest of the east Holsteiners. They were not serfs, but free farmers, with inheritance rights, and limited obligations to give money to the church and service to the cloister in Schonberg. They were absolutely free, personally. The first farmsteads were on the Dorfanger and bounded by today’s streets: Markt, Perserau, Knüll, under Bahnhofstrasse, Niederstrasse and back to Markt.

The settlers created this area by clearing the forest and developing fields. There was an outer wall for protection. There were two entrances and exits which were protected by gates. There was a tower on the southern side, in the direction of Preetz The first church in the Probstei, the St. George Chapel, stood on the "chapel mountain" west toward Fernwisch. It was built in 1220 and was supposed to have been destroyed by a "storm wind." With the settlement of Schonberg, another church was built on the spot, right on the highest point of the "Beautiful mountain." The nobility of Barsbek had their seat in today’s village of Barsbek. In their coat of arms there are three red perch. It is assumed that the von Barsbek lords had an influence in the building of the church in Schonberg, because like the present church tower, the earlier church had a fish as its weathervane. In the Thirteenth Century Schoenberg had only eight full "hofs" (farmhouses?) and 16 cottages which lay around the Dorfanger (goes around the village. ?) About 1600 the population supposedly reached 350-400 inhabitants. Nothing is set down in writing about storm floods up until the year 1500. On Feb. 10, 1625 flood waters from a great storm broke through the wall at Schonberg Beach and streamed into Schonberg itself--reaching all the way to the church and flooding the streets going toward Fiefbergen.

On Aug. 2 and 3 in 1779 Schonberg was afflicted with a massive fire and only a few buildings were spared. Even the church was prey for the flames. Considering the circumstances, the homes were rebuilt quite quickly and on Sept. 22, 1782 the new church was consecrated. At the end of the 19th century, Schonberg lost its character as a purely farming village and developed into a center for trade. The nearby bathing-beach resort business developed and transportation was improved to bring the tourists to the beach.

After the "Danish War" of 1864, Schleswig-Holstein, including the Probstei, was no longer under Danish control. Schleswig-Holstein became a province of Prussia. Schonberg then became a "judge district" for the district office. Also the administrative power of the Preetz cloister increased. The Probstei, and with it Schonberg, then belonged to the District of Plön.

In 1880 to 1882 a strong dike was constructed as a bulwark against the continual flooding of the Baltic Sea. The great flood of 1872 had once again flooded up to Schonberg causing a lot of damage. After the protective dikes were built, they were continually improved so that the people and the land were protected from the northeast storms.

Today Schonberg includes not only the central part of the town, but also the beaches of Schonberg Beach, Holm, California and Brasil. The inhabitants number about 5000. Tourism has increased considerably. Schonberg offers a wide range of vacation housing: apartments, hostels, bed and breakfast homes, and vacation homes.

Many people also come to the unique "brine spa" at Holm--now called the "Baltic Cure Clinic.

Schonberg is centrally located within the140 square kilometer Probstei with it approximately 13,000 inhabitants. Schonberg was originally considered the center of the Probstei but in 1985 it was superseded by another town.

The central function of Schonberg includes not only the private economic sector but also public facilities such as: schools, youth homes, senior housing and care centers, sport facilities, the Heimat and children’s museums, windpower facilities--all of which provide benefits not only for Schonberg but also to the surrounding Probstei.

II. FROM A WEBSITE describing Schoenberg’s beach

http://www.eco-tour.org/regions/rir_32_en.html

Description:

"Between meadows, fields, quickset hedges and the protected salt marshes lies the family-friendly resort Schönberg on the Baltic Sea with its neighbourhoods translating as "California", "Brazil", "Schönberg Beach" and "New Schönberg" as well as with the brine spa of Holm, which is unique on the Baltic Sea.

Six kilometres of guarded sandy beach with stretches reserved for nude swimming, for visitors with dogs, providing berths for sailing boats or water sports instruction make for a wide range of pastimes and fun on the beach. One of the longest boardwalks in the accessible parts of the Baltic Sea offers an opportunity for long walks or bicycle rides.

A large number of events is as much a matter of course as are excellent restaurants and inns. The local heritage museum is an interesting spot to visit. Numerous shops as well as various sports, games and fitness facilities cater to visitors' needs. Accommodations range from rooms, bed-and-breakfasts and apartments to holiday houses.

Schönberg is situated about 20 kilometres east of Kiel and can be reached within 30 minutes by car. You might also want to travel to the beaches of Schönberg by taking a 50 minute ride on the blue buses of the public transport board."

III. COMMENTS ON ANNA GOETTSCH
& TRANSCRIPTION FROM TAPE AT MEETING WITH BOECKELS

Anna was known as a "cottager" because of the little house she lived in.

The reason for the fish on top of the church (a barsch--lake perch):

A nobleman had it placed there to let the people know he was still the "top man" in the town.

One docent’s father left Schoenberg in the 1930’s, going to Idaho where he worked for a farmer and as a school bus driver--learning English from the children. Ten years later, he was called back to Schoenberg to take over a farm he inherited. He didn’t like the Nazis, but wasn’t allowed to return to the US. Instead, he was taken into the German army in 1939, and was captured by the Russians. He survived and came back to Schoenberg in 1946, but his daughter said he always felt "in between" Germany and the U.S. It was very interesting to get a picture of what life was like in Germany during World War II.

Quote from an Internet source on the history of Schleswig-Holstein:

"With respect to the history of Schleswig-Holstein, Lord Palmerston once proclaimed it to be so complicated that only three men had ever fully understood it—one being Prince Albert, who was dead; the second, a professor, who had become insane; the third, Palmerston himself, who had forgotten it."

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