Charlie Battery - Kleingartach
Scenes of Our Local Neighborhood - 1959 - 1969
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Out Of The Woods With Niederhofen In View
As one comes down off the Heuchelberg to the valley (Tal) floor we come to the main road that runs, to the left, to Neiderhofen, Kleingartach and beyond. And to the right, to Stetten, then Schwaigern and beyond. In order to get a good birdseye view I suggest looking at the following documents.
First, for a more detailed view of Charlie Battery's geographical relationship to the immediate four villages, please "click here" and go to page two.
For more of an overview of the geographical relationships of the LeinTal (pronounced "LineTal), Charlie Battery on top of the Heuchelberg, and the Zäbergau (pronounced Zäbergoy) please "click here", and see page seven.
Actually, I suggest reading both of the documents in full for more of an understanding of the area.
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Looking To The Right We See Stetten
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Motorin’ Through Schwaigern - Hey... Slow Down...!
Uwe Koch of Schwaigern, reports that the factory in the background right, produced parquet flooring and veneer. The logs were manufactured to that end product. In the 1970's the company, named “Holzhandel Kohler” went bankrupt.
With “Holz” meaning wood, and “handel” meaning trade or business, ending with Kohler, a persons name whose business it was.
Today the real estate is now a supermarket.
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Schwaigern 1,250 Years Old - Celebration Parade
So, Uwe Koch sent me these next two photos of Schwaigern celebrating its 1,250 year birthday as a formal village. Participating in the celebration were some folks from Niederhofen who decided to honor Charlie Battery's contribution to the success and prosperity of the region and country, by creating the float that you see.
Actually the person who initiated the project is a man named Norbert, and his early photo can be viewed by “Clicking Here”. This is a photo taken in 1960 of a group of school children. Norbert is in the first row, far left.
We are greatly honored by their thoughts and efforts, and say to Norbert and his friends... Vielen Dank guys...!
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Schwaigern 1,250 Years Old - Celebration Parade
This a great detail of the missile float. I think it is very imaginative, creative, and a very good example of using what ever materials one has at their disposal and producing an excellent result.
The missile is very well crafted and presented. What I love is that are using a tractor and trailer, and after all, that's what the do... Farming.
Fantastic job...! And again thank you...!
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Entering Beautiful Downtown Niederhofen in 1960
This is the main road into the village coming down from the Battery.
The Gasthaus Rose is just up the hill and round the bend. Our home away from home...!
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Entering Downtown Niederhofen in 2012
This photo is from the same view as the image above, but is from a little bit farther back, so the changes really are apparent.
There are still landmarks that orient the eye, like the tall building on the far right, and the church spire in the distant center of the road, but there has been much change in Niederhofen.
If you stretch your browser out vertically and use the scroll bar to fit the first four images in the window, then it helps see all the differences.
Thank you Uwe for the images you have provided., we appreciate your contribution.
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Intersection At Gasthaus Rose Close up
You can see the sign of the Gasthaus Rose sticking out on the first building to the left at the top of the rise.
The turn to the right is the same street that funeral procession is on, and can be viewed on the two photos at the bottom of this page. They are walking towards the Gasthaus Rose.
So.... going past this intersection, and around to the left, the road continues on to Kleingartach. We do have a photo that illustrates this road that is entering Niederhofen from Kleingartach. You can see that photo by “Clicking Here”, then use the link in the photo text, or the browser “Back Arrow”, to return to this page.
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New Bus Stop At The Intersection
I can not see any sign of the Gasthaus Rose in this picture. Even when I use the powerful magnifying tool in Photoshop can I see any structure that resembles the original building.
It would be a shame if that historical building did not survive. I hope it was not sacrificed for the bus stop.
April 7, 2012...
It is with a sad heart that I must announce that the Gasthaus Rose has been demolished to make room for a Bus Stop. I can' believe it...!
Uwe Koch of Kleingartach, who provided the photo to the right, informed me of the news after I emailed him stating that I could not find the Rose in this image. As he remembers, it occurred the end of the 70's or early 80's when they rebuilt the road.
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Yours Truly, Neil Watson, and Howie Watson Passing The Time
Here we are in the Gasthaus Rose, where we hung out a lot...! It was a nice place to pass the time. People were friendly and I don't remember any bad times that could flare up in other places, and the tables had table cloths, which was a nice homey touch.
And no... Neil Watson and Howie Watson are not related, except as a “Band of Brothers”