Composed by Chief Instructor, Edgar Lück

74.78 Kb Das Dorf, Eckmannshausen

96.15 Kb Das Melken

200.92 Kb Der Pfingstlümmel

123.20 Kb Würsteheben

97.22 Kb Erntewagen

Eckmannshausen in both a general and specific way can be correctly equated with the "Eckmashusen" in Siegerland, that appears in an entitlement tax table from Amöneburg dated in approximately 1300.

Also we notice the name, Eckmannshausen in church records in Mainz, where the location is described as being under the "sedes" (= grand parish) of Netphen.

The actual settling of Eckmannshausen can be estimated to be even earlier, in fact to the time in which integration took place into the Frankish Empire where Christianity was introduced. At this time, all small towns', names were formed with -dorf, -hausen and -inghausen, just as the majority of place names originated with -bach.

The formation of a living group can be connected with a historical event. Their names are formed just like that of a village group. The modifier "Eckmanns" is a family name in the Wesfall. The baseword (etymon), "hausen" is the old plural case of what is today, "häusern". Originally another relationship belonged to the place description - an article, "with" or "to the Eckmannshäuserns", that is at the houses of the Eckmann.

This saga describes the formation of the word, Eckmannshausen: The originator of the place was a farmer by the name of Eckmann. His residence lay directly on Dreisbach, at the location of the ancestral home of dean Schwunk, in the local of the present day Schneider Restaurant.

To authenticate, we hear of Eckmannshausen again about a later time. In directories of the earnings of the county assets of Siegen between 1417 and 1419 is located a cottage in "Ekkemanshusen". Since it is mentioned, it must already have been erected some time previously. Judging purely by the position of the entry, this would make the cottage in "Ekkemanshusen" the third oldest in Siegerland.

In the assets table of 1575, "the old waterway" and the "field with the old grindstone" were listed in the Eckmannshausen accounting (1512 Eckmansshssen). It was of obvious advantage here for an artificial water supply to the factory, a former cottage, with hydraulic power driven workings, in which appliances produced in the factory were reworked.

The first water pipeline was built in Eckmannshausen in 1907. It led from "Setzer Berg" to Ortsmitte (Chapel School). The one-kilometer long undertaking cost 4,347 RM. Beneficiaries were only the families that lived en route, however. All others depended on their own sources. An alteration happened, as Eckmannshausen and Ölgershausen affiliated by means of the "Breitenbach Reservoir Water Association" in the year 1955. It began with the construction of an extensive water pipeline network. The water shortage was remedied.

Old is replaced with new; early things are smiled at as unfashionable and antiquated. Some of us still hold onto one concept solidly, however: the tradition of a place, a scenic area. We observe it in Eckmannshausen year in and year out, which pulls diverse, groups of the village together. On New Year's Night, the older boys still go house to house, to sing about the New Year. A few days later the "Astral Singers" evoke the memory at the "ways of Tomorrow Land". They bring the families not only God's blessing for the year but also collect money for the mission overseas. Hardly has nature awakened, than the girls of the village the festively decorated as May Maidens bear the colorful maypole through all streets singing of spring. A short time later the schoolboys ring in with their rendition about spring. They wander, pulling the "Pentecost-tyke"; a boy packed in birch twigs. Before each house, they recite their little religious saying and take in thanks fruit, ornaments and money. One evening of the otherwise dimly illuminated November ones in Eckmannshausen is illuminated brightly. It is Martinmas. A colorful sea of torches and lanterns moves to the region of the graveyard from the village. Here tensely wait big and small for the burning down of a form constructed by the teenagers with Martin-fire. Fascinated, all look into the flames flowing up to the dark night heaven. As the year approaches its end, on the day after Christmas, one of the most beautiful days of native custom is for the bachelors of the place. Then they go from house to house, in order to collect meat, bacon and sausage-pieces and the necessary change for the nightly celebration in the inn. The "Würsteheben" is an ancient heathen midwinter custom. The evil spirits of the dark (Wintersonnenwende) shall be expelled, so that the time of the light (spring) can start.

Progress, technology and the new lifestyle of the present-day generation have brought a custom to Eckmannshausen: the celebration of Thanksgiving. From 1949 to 1963, this celebration was performed by the population of the village and Siegerland every year with a large participation. The parade formed after the Thanksgiving church service in the chapel and the blessing of the fruits of the field. The focus of this procession was much imagination and good humor of the inhabitants with decorated harvest wagons and many appealing singles groups and persons in official harvest dress.

Concerning the question of the building of first school, all clues and documentation are missing. We only know, that considerably earlier the old schoolhouse at Dreisbach stood on the location of the present-day "Daub" residence. In 1860 the construction of a new school was begun. It was a so-called "chapel school", that is, the building was a church as well as a school. On October 21, 1861, Hi Mass was celebrated there for the first time. In the years of 1927/28, an extension was made to the chapel, since it had become too small. Another expansion and reorganization of the chapel was planned in 1957.

In 1930 it was urgently acknowledged about and, in 1936 planed for new buildings of a school, which could not be realized because of World War II. First in 1952 the plan was taken up again, since the prohibitive circumstances necessitated the duplicate use of the building and equipment and the consequences resulting from it regarding of the new school. After intensive work then on the October 3rd, 1953: the school reconstruction on Unglinghausener street was approved. At this time, nobody considered that in twelve years (1968) an extensive school reform program had to be enforced. In the framework of the school reform, the two beginning classes became grade schools in Herzhausen namely (1966) and the secondary classes Protestant Grade School in Unglinghausen (1968) dissolved and the children of these schools transported to Eckmannshausen. The previous Catholic grade school of Eckmannshausen, through gymnasium reconstruction and modernization, was changed into a community-primary school, in which the children from the 1st to 4th school year are taught, which has been done up to the present-day day.

Notably, the small place of Eckmannshausen has an active club activity. Previously in the 80 years of the previous century the friendship of singing of the inhabitants had led to the foundation of a club. However, after a short time of existence it was dissolved because of a disagreement of the members. The desire to sing however remained. On a Sunday in the October of the year 1911, it was ready. Thirty-eight singers registered for membership, under Teacher Adam as first choir director. Since then the MGV has had Eckmannshausen , that has achieved many performance successes and accompanies all events of the village, whether happy or sad, with their singing. The local gun club celebrated its first jubilee in 1982 (25 years). Since 1957, the friends of the shooting sport meet according to in the routine of the village community, exercising of their sport and socializing. A big day in the history of Eckmannshausen was the completion of the new gymnasium (3 February 1968). With it came the possibility that all clubs could hold bigger events in an ideal location. In addition the new structure gave porpoise for the foundation of a club. So the Eckmannshausen Gymnastic Club was called into the life on the initiative of teacher Edgar Lück. This club has made a name for itself through not only its many members (about 330) but above all else also through its good synthesis of sports achievement, athletics and its variety. Still young in years is the Fishing Rod Friends of Eckmannshausen. The completion of the upper, outer dam in the year 1972 gave the impetus, for the native Petrijüngers in1974 to put together a small, but powerful club. The soccer club, SV Eckmannshausen celebrated a "Resurrection" in the summer of 1979 since it was based on the association already established in 1 October 1946. However for only ten years, the players chased the round leather ball, and then the club was dissolved in May of 1956. Joy in the game, successes and comradeship should now be foundation of a club, which wants to contribute apart from other local associations, and offer a many layered possibility for leisure time and relaxation to the young and old of Eckmannshausen.

The outline of the local history shown by me of Eckmannshausen shows, that the place can look back on almost 700 years of documented history. For our generation, a retrospective view means thanks, acknowledgment and obligation. Thanks and acknowledgment to our ancestors, who have created something despite often the biggest difficulties, of which we can be proud. The cornerstone of this work was definitely a continuous thought that only together can we achieve something and a deep belief in God, the Creator who has given them strength and insight for everything. The retrospective view also means obligation for us, to continue the work, which was begun, to bring tradition and present into a correct unison and to think values of a harmonious and working village community continually. Only then will Eckmannshausen be a living stone in the big building of the community of Netphen and the Kreis Seigen-Wittgenstein.

Eckmannshausen Site