In the news1869
Cheap worker train tickets introduced
Belgian railways began offering cheap season tickets for workers in 1869, making commuting more accessible.
Meiningen, 12 Oct 1861 – Tarcienne, 23 Aug 1914
6 facts1 source
12 Oct 1861
Born in Meiningen
1891–1892
2 children are born
23 Aug 1914
Dies in Tarcienne, aged 52
He lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Meiningen.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1869
Belgian railways began offering cheap season tickets for workers in 1869, making commuting more accessible.
What people wore
Protecting Skin from the Sun
Women wore a white, coif-like cap on weekdays to protect their skin from the sun, as being suntanned was not considered fashionable.
Getting around
Limitations of mail-coach travel
Before railways became dominant, mail-coaches reached speeds of 8 to 12.7 km/h, but their daily range was limited to around 100 kilometers due to frequent stops, meals, and border controls.
In Europe · 1859–1871Italy is unified. Garibaldi, Cavour and Victor Emmanuel joined the Italian states into one kingdom, with Rome its capital from 1871.
In the news1866
A severe cholera pandemic struck Belgian cities including Brussels, Ghent, and Antwerp in 1866.
Music
Rise of male choirs and music festivals
The 19th century saw a massive surge in male choirs, known as Liedertafel, which moved from private social gatherings to public music festivals.
Daily life
Compulsory schooling and kindergarten costs
Children were required to attend school from ages six to fourteen, often carrying books in long tin satchels. In model kindergartens, families could pay fees between sixpence and three shillings a month for care and meals.