Village history

As I mentioned last week, the village chronist was holding an exhibition over the history of the village on two Sunday afternoons. Today although officially a Blip meeting day, I crept off for an hour or so, leaving the other two Blipers to discuss histograms, aperture settings etc.

The exhibition was being held in the village Kindergarten and also houses the chronists office. I had never been in the building which is from 1730. The exhibition was interesting but simply neither had the time or space to properly get involved and I was just as interested in the school building as the exhibition - there was simply too much and too many people.

Attenhausen's history is totally linked with the Ottobeuren Abbey which was possibly founded in 764 AD but the documents from then mentioning the village are disputed. The first official document mentioning it is from 1167. Lots of history involving the Swedes (30-year war) and especially the 1796 nearby battle with Napoleon's troops.(Bavaria was for a time on Napoleans side). Attenhausen and the Kindergarten were the summer seat of the Ottobeuren Abbots with a notably large lake, now dry but much of the dam still visible and indeed in useable condition.

Several old parish records on display but out of more modern history, I choose the Blip showing a letter/memo to the county's mayors with instructions on giving ex Concentration Camp victims 100 grammes extra bread rations per day. The reason I do this is my surprise at seeing a document just two months after Germany's surrender dealing so matter of factly with such "everyday" issues. Given the letter took 9 days to get the 15km from Memmingen to the parish probably shows how broken down communications were but it also shows the renowned German virtue for organisation.

In the extra photo a ceiling painting in the school which helps explain my interest in the building. Perhaps I will have the opportunity to visit again.

Back home joined the Angel Eyes and Tochterpleach for the pleasant part of a Blip meeting. I was a bit concerned about the wet footprints from the pool ladder towards the sun loungers but they assured me they had been talking shop. Pleasant BBQ and chat followed and as it turned dark, the first drops of rain started, ending seemingly weeks of hot, dry sunny weather. We could certainly do with the rain but hope it doesn't mark the end of the summer!

Nice day in good company. Will be repeated soon and maybe then I will get to find out more about taking photos.