Georg von Eppinghoven

Getting around

Local transport from train stations

Upon arriving at a railway station, travelers could hire an omnibus or a one-horse carriage known as a vigilante to reach their final destination. An omnibus with 14 to 20 seats cost 50 centimes, though it was often slower than walking due to frequent stops at inns.

At the table

Expensive Bread and Strict Price Controls

Bread was so central to survival that authorities strictly regulated its price; by 1854, a single one-kilogram loaf of household bread could cost a quarter of a worker's daily wage. Consumption was minimal, with local agencies aiming to provide only one kilogram of bread every two days per person.

What people wore

The blue sarrau work blouse

Ordinary working-class and agricultural men commonly wore a sarrau, a loose, knee-length blue blouse made of linen or hemp, often over other garments. It served as a protective outer layer, sometimes worn with a black cotton cap and a red scarf with white polka dots.

Music

New instruments and dances gained popularity

During the 19th century, musicians imported instruments like clarinets, cornets, and trombones, and popular dances such as the polka, quadrille, and scottische became widespread.

Daily life

Seasonal schooling and teacher conditions

Children often attended school only in winter due to labor demands, and in some cases, the teacher's entire dwelling was a miserable cabin serving as kitchen, bedroom, and classroom.