In the news1883
First national health insurance introduced
Germany became the first country to introduce a national social insurance system with the approval of a worker's health insurance plan.
Marmorpalais, 27 Jul 1888 – Munich, 27 Jan 1958
9 facts3 sources
27 Jul 1888
Born in Marmorpalais
27 Jan 1958
Dies in Munich, aged 69
He lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Marmorpalais.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1883
Germany became the first country to introduce a national social insurance system with the approval of a worker's health insurance plan.
Getting around
Steamship travel on the Weser River
By the late 19th century, steamships on the Weser river were a popular tourist attraction, with the upstream journey from Hamelin to Münden taking 15 hours and 30 minutes, and the downstream journey taking 8 hours and 29 minutes.
At the table
Simple breakfasts and rare egg treats
Breakfast typically consisted of brown rye bread and a watery brew of coffee and barley, as milk and sugar were considered expensive luxuries. Eggs were an extremely rare delight, and one worker noted that it was amazingly rare for him to even get one.
Around the world · 1889–1890The “Russian flu”. A flu pandemic travelled the world by rail and steamship in a few months, killing about a million people.
What people wore
Distinctive vests signaled marital status in Betzingen
In Betzingen, married men wore black velvet vests, while unmarried men wore red cloth vests with twelve silver buttons. Bachelors also traditionally displayed a red handkerchief from their pocket when searching for a bride.
Music
Growth of amateur music societies
Community music-making was popular among the rising middle class, leading to the widespread founding of singing societies and amateur orchestras.
Daily life
Lighting evolved from kerosene to electric bulbs
Most households relied on kerosene lamps, which were often lined up on a hallway table; one family remembered the smell and the dim light, which contrasted with the later, unpleasantly bright electric bulbs.