Ellen Retemaier

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.

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.

Music

Diverse musical repertoires in cities

Musical life was diverse, blending folk music and rustic dances with military band repertoires that featured marches, operetta tunes, and original works.

Daily life

Compulsory primary education was six hours daily

Children attended primary school for six hours daily, often sitting four to a bench; primary education became free of charge in 1891.

What it cost

Weekly earnings for working-class families

Manual workers commonly earned around 12 to 15 marks per week, while some skilled industrial workers like lathe operators could earn 20 to 30 marks weekly.