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Tour through Geismar

St. Martin & Thieplatz
image author: Stefan Scheiter

A Tour

through

Altdorf Geismar

Our tour starts at the Mitteldorfstraße. Surrounded by an old wall, the protestant St. Martins church, built in the years 1737-1743, is situated there. The first record of the church is in the foundation letter of the St. Peterstift in Nörten in the year 1055; as well as the first record of the village Geismar.
Builder were the earls von Hardenberg, as the inscription and the coat of arms above the north portal display.

Moritz Jahn House & Thieplatz
image author: Daniela Ramb

If we leave the church through the south entrance, one reaches the Thieplatz, which was well into the 19.century used by the community as a meeting and court place. In 1984 was it renovated into a 'best room' with candelabras, ornamental paving and steps made of white Portuguese granite. 16 years ago the traditional Altdorf festival was started and is celebrated on this place. The community mounted a memorial stone in 1981 at the west exit of the Thielplatz for the poet and writer Moritz Jahn (1921-1944 rector of the Geismar primary school).

Historical baking house
image author: Daniela Ramb

Over the granite staircase, our roundtrip leads to a well renovated half-timbered house. The former town hall and school, build in 1848, houses today the 'Museum am Thie'. Farming life and trade is being portrait in 12 inner rooms, a historical backing house and the annexed forge in the musseum's garden. Well worth a visit.

image author: Daniela Ramb

We reach our next destination over a typical narrow pass, the street 'Im Kolke'. Until the last century, water of the springs from the old pond, was running through the alley. At this location, the most important farmstead in the old Geismar, the Hardenberger Hof was situated. After it was pulled down in 1966, a piece of Geismar's history was irrevocably lost. Today only a plaque serves as a reminder of this big and important farm.

image author: Daniela Ramba

Already Jacob Grimm, one of the 'Göttinger Seven', deduced the name Geismar from 'geis'= Sprudel, Quelle (spring) and 'mar' = Sumpf (fen). A trough is today the only visual reminder of the water opulence in Geismar. To become a 'real Geismarer', one has to be christened with trough water. If you want to join the circle, take your chance at the Altdorf festival. And there even is a certificate.
How important it is to conserve old building substance as not to destroy the village character completely, may show the example of the former dairy farm 'St. Crucis'. Today is houses the youth centre Geismar.

We turn into the Kerllsgass; at the end of the alley was the village's old farmstead 100 situated. Formerly a well known tavern for students (Zum urfidelen Winkel), today it houses the administration office Geismar, the police and the public library.

Back to Heinz-Erhardt-Platz
Continue with Kapelle Niedergandern

Weitere Informationen

Source:
Dr. Maria Baalmann