This evening John and I were invited to dinner at the home of our colleague, Ralf. He and his family live in Windecken (that means windy corners), about 30 minutes from where we live. Ralf enjoys introducing others to his village. We were excited to learn more about the history there.
This old town is now called Nidderau-Windecken, created as a city in 1288.
From my journal: It was a really interesting tour–the old mill and school, who lived where, stumbling blocks where Jewish families lived (who were murdered), an old Jewish cemetery that was desecrated by Swede-hired Serbs in the 30-year war. Only 3 stones remain–the rest were thrown into constructions piles and used by builders.
There were many 1700s homes, one belonged to the Grandfather of the Lindt chocolate inventor. Another belonged to the fellow who invented the sugar jars that people who drink coffee use (only dispenses one teaspoon at a time).
We wandered for an hour or more, up and down the little narrow streets, looking at the places people lived, hearing the stories. Ralf had photocopies of some of the people who lived in some of the houses–the Jewish family who owned the shop frequented by all of the village, until Hitler made being Jewish bad. They were deported to Auschwitz and killed. Ralf showed us pictures of their faces. Ralf’s family sponsored one of the brass stumbling stones–for their son, a handsome young man, born on the same day as one of Ralf’s kids, 80 years before. He attended the same school Ralf’s kids attended there in the village. He loved Fussball and sports. He was tall and very handsome. The father fought in WWI and was a distinguished soldier, awarded a special cross medal for bravery, which he hung in the shop window to show he was one of them, who fought for Germany. All to no avail. The family is no more. It’s real and it’s heartbreaking.
The Lindt Chocolate grandpa lived in this home upstairs:
There was a Jewish synagogue that was destroyed during Krystal Nacht. Ralf says they’re trying to change the name of that night to something that implies more than glass was broken–lives were also broken and destroyed.
The streets were narrow and cobbled. We went in the old church, now Protestant. The Marktplatz is circled by beautiful old half-timber homes. They’ve just changed out the cobblestones for flat pavers, easier for folks to walk on. The old City Hall still stands at the head, from the 1300s. There is so much history here. The homes are old and kept up. There are specialist carpenters who take care of the old homes, restoring and preserving them. I love drinking in the history and love imagining people through the centuries living in these places that are still maintained and standing and lived in now. It’s incredible to me. I love it so much.
There was an old castle there, now what’s left of it has been turned into a day care for people with dementia. There is a nice garden courtyard behind a big gate where they can wander. There is a pretend bus stop so if someone thinks they have to go somewhere right now, they’re taken to the bus stop, where they may sit for hours until they forget where they thought they needed to go. It was sweet.
What an interesting wander! Followed by a delicious dinner and good visiting with Ralf and his family. His son, Phillip leaves for the MTC in Provo soon.
Our Frankfurt Germany Mission 