A century of free city: stories and memories in the new book

A century of free city: stories and memories in the new book

In Freistadt there are exciting news for historical lovers and everyone who is interested in the past of their city. A new book entitled "100 years, 100 photos, 100 stories" was published by Fritz Fellner and Christian Thürriedl in order to keep the history of the city alive. This work is the result of an innovative project that started in 2019 with the Café Memory, a popular meeting place for historical enthusiasts.

The Café Memory has developed over the years into an important point of contact for participants who want to actively contribute to maintaining city history. Originally founded in the castle museum, the café moved to the Salzhof due to the great demand. Here up to 120 people have the opportunity to bring in their stories and photos. Last year the café counted almost 1,000 visitors.
The enthusiasm of the participants led to the project awarded the renowned Josef Ratzenböck Prize, which was endowed with 2,000 euros.

a look into the past

The team around Fellner and Thürriedl was determined to use the prize money sensibly. The result is a 200 -page book that offers a journey through time through the past 100 years of Freistadt. The first image history dates from 1900 and shows Ochsen in Böhmergasse, while the last recording from 1999 records a celebration of the citizen guard. This almost genuine documentation illustrates in an impressive way of how the cityscape has changed over the decades.

The multitude of pictures ranges from historical recordings of a swimming pool to photos from an Aral petrol station at the Böhmer Tor, which was once a concise part of city life. "Almost every house in the city center also had agricultural character," explains Fellner and refers to this integral part of the community history. The event location "Freistädter Prater" from the beginning of the 20th century is also recognized in the book and offers an insight into the leisure offer of this era.

digitization for the future

Another important aspect of the work of Fellner and Thürriedl is the digitization of historical documents. "We can digitize almost anything-from slides, negative to old films and VHS tapes," emphasizes Thürriedl. This enables not only to preserve the city's memories and stories, but also to make it accessible to future generations. Through their work, the two contribute to the fact that the stories of Freistadt not only tell but also be seen.

The book can be purchased in the Freistadt Castle Museum and is a valuable contribution to the documentation and research of local history. Particularly noteworthy is also the ongoing commitment of the Café Memory, which invites every second Thursday of the month to impart history. Here everyone who is interested in the past are welcome. The upcoming theme evenings promise a diverse program that extends from the history of the houses on the main square to the theater tradition.

If you want to learn more about the activities of the Café Memory, you can register in the WhatsApp group via Christian Thürriedl on 0650 2340 232. This format not only offers education, but also creates a community of like -minded people who want to explore the past together.