In the news1817–1830
Massive road network expansion by 1830
Between 1817 and 1830, over 1,000 kilometers of new paved roads were built, and regular postal services were established between major cities.
Dresden, 23 Apr 1828 – Szczodre, Wrocław County, 19 Jun 1902
10 facts3 sources
23 Apr 1828
Born in Dresden
19 Jun 1902
Dies in Szczodre, Wrocław County, aged 74
He lived through 9 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Dresden.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1817–1830
Between 1817 and 1830, over 1,000 kilometers of new paved roads were built, and regular postal services were established between major cities.
Getting around
High cost of travel
A short stagecoach trip from Berlin to Magdeburg cost four Taler, which was nearly the entire monthly wage of a village schoolteacher.
Around the world1825–1830
In England a steam locomotive pulled the first public train in 1825; within decades railways crossed every continent.
Daily life
Seasonal schooling and untrained teachers
Compulsory primary schooling existed, but children often only attended school in winter because they were needed for farm work and animal herding the rest of the year. Teachers were often untrained individuals, such as former soldiers or weavers, who were appointed by local churches.
What people wore
Festive attire and heated ruffles
For feast days, women wore black cashmere or silk dresses with a white ruffle at the collar that was permanently set into waves using a heated iron.
Music
Singing at church and parish gatherings
For many people in the Prussian lands, Sunday church service was a weekly routine, and singing could also happen at church occasions. Beyond worship, people spent leisure time with games like bowling and cards, and with dancing at local fairs and shooting festivals.
At the table
The rise of potato schnapps
Potato-based schnapps became a widespread and essential daily pleasure for the poor, as it was much cheaper to produce than grain-based spirits. Some observers noted that after market days, many farmers returned home in a state of intoxication.