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Muttenz History |
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ST. ARBOGAST CHURCHUnder the Bishopric of Strasbourg, the church o£ Muttenz was named after it's Patron Saint: St. Arbogast. Around 600 AD, Saint Arbogast was the Bishop of Strasbourg, who had the ability of healing sick people. St. Arbogast was remembered as a benefactor to the people of Muttenz. The legend tells that at one time, while descending the Warrenberg, Arbogast fell upon his knees, praying and imploring a special blessing for this community. His prayers were heard and a well sprang up beside him. The fountain is known to this day as Arbogast fountain. St. Arbogast church is the only still existing fortress church in Europe. It used to serve as shelter to the villagers at an epoch when the Citadels on the Wartenberg the former refuge, began to fall into ruins. In the 12th century, the Church was entirely rebuilt. Around 1230 it is mentioned as being "the greatest sight of the village. After the heavy earth-quake of 1356, the partly destroyed church was reerected and restored by Prefect Konrad Münch. In remembrance, he placed his family coat of arms in the choir, where it still can be seen. In 1380, his son Hans Münch had the church encircled by a 7 meter high crenelated wall with two inserted gate-towers, as a new refuge for the villagers. The north gate he had decorated with a Münch (Monk) coat-of-arms in red sandstone. In 1435, Hans Münch's wife, Agnes yon Brandis, a noble-lady from Berne, donated a church-bell in honor of St. Arbogast. This bell can be heard daily - as of today - at vespers' time. Their son, Hans Thüring Münch, built the today's church tower in 1430. His family coat of arms can be admired at the westside of the tower. Arnold zum Lufft, Priest from 1474 through 1517, is said to have built the nave with the Gothic ceiling around 1504, the way it presents itself today. Between 1507-13, he had the whole church decorated with beautiful paintings. In the course of the Reformation, the congregation of Muttenz accepted the new religion, thus St. Arbogast church became a Protestant church in the year 1529. The crucifixes and other sacramental accessories were disposed of. The paintings disappeared under a coat of white-wash but fractions have been restored between 1972 and 1974. Already once before, in 1882, the frescoes were freed from the whitewash and carefully copied by local painters. Karl Jauslin (1842 - 1904) of Muttenz copied 18 of them. These copies are stored away in the State's Archives of Basle. After the copying was done, the paintings disappeared once more under a coat of plaster and whitewash. The plaster now proved to have been very harmful, as it has sucked up the colors (Karl Jauslin's grave is in the churchyard, in the shelter of the belfry). In 1630, the St. Arbogast church was equipped with bigger windows (cutting off parts of the paintings, as it was found), and the belfry was made one story higher. Between the years 1746 and 1770, Muttenz had a legendary clergyman who is still respectfully remembered as of today: Hieronimus Annoni. A street is named after him. He was an exceptionally good preacher. People poured into church also from surrounding communities, even from Basle. To keep things under control, delegations sent down to the Birs bridge tried to persuade people from Basle to return home. The Church Council was faced with the necessity of enlarging the church. However, Hieronimus Annoni died before these plans were effected - and thereafter the church was big enough again.
St. Arbogast church, partly built in the Romanesque style and partly in the Gothic style has found, long ago, the interest of the archeologists. When in 1972, restorations of the church became due, the archeologists found their time had come to set foot into it. The floor was removed, they began digging and, luckily enough, disclosed two former foundation walls, somewhat smaller but parallel to the existing ones, as well as stone-box graves that date back to the era of the Alemani. In 1806, a new altar was erected and the first organ placed into the church, replacing the trombones that used to accompany the singing congregation. In the year 1922, the wrought-iron stoves were removed from the church and replaced by an electric heating. In 1926, a new organ was installed. The former one had served for 120 years. The bells of St. Arbogast church count among the most ancient ones in this country. The eldest one, donated by Agnes yon Brandis, bears the date 1435 and is jointly dedicated to St. Arbogast and St. Pantsleon. St. Pantsleon is said to have worked in this area around 200 AD. The second eldest bell is dated 1494, the third one 1571. In 1767, the minor bells were melted and poured into a bigger one. The belfry, as of today, holds six bells. The last two were hoisted in 1949 by 657 schoolchildren. The biggest one, weighing 1,980 tons, was donated by the citizens of Muttenz, the other one, 1,402 tons of weight, by the local chemical industry. In olden times, the dead were buried in the churchyard; high dignitaries within the church itself. The pictures below shows two gravestones of Spänhauers, the one on the left of Daniel Spähauer, born Sept. 8, 1809, deceased Aug. 15, 1842 the inscription reads"May God comfort the widow and children" The stone onthe right is the one of Friedrich Spähauer who was killed ina accident on March 22, 1876 at the age of 18. "He is now counted among the children of God and his heritage is among the Saints. Dedicated by his mourning parents, sisters and brothers".
In 1860, the churchyard had grown too small and a new cemetery, some 100 meters away from the church, was taken into operation. Entries contained in the St. Arbogast Church Books from the year 1748 through 1830 In the year 1748, Hieronymus Annoni, Minister of Muttenz, started to write down information about historical and other events. His successors made a tradition if this, which they maintained up to the year 1830
On November 2, 1755, the earth-quake that destroyed Lisbon, Portugal and other towns could be felt in Muttenz. Every year thereafter, on this very day, Thanksgiving was held. In 1757 the assistant to the provincial governor gave up his job. A new one, a nice and friendly man, was elected and presented to the people by the provincial governor (Landvogt) Christ on December 11.3 1758 was an unusually wet year. The harvest was exceptionally bad, the fruit could not be stored. A field suddenly gave way and dropped into depth - an obvious result of an earth-quake. People were rather disconcerted. On March 14, 1768, a 'necessitous' marriage was performed. The night before, the bride was touched and mistreated by a group of fellows in such a way, that a magistral investigation was necessary. Two fellows were put into the penitentiary, 5 others condemned to three years military service. The farmhand Waldburger, in a spell of wantonness, swam across the Rhine. On his way back, however, he drowned before the eyes of his friends and was never found again. August 2, 1772: After 8 pm there was a very bad thunderstorm. The lightning struck the house of the blacksmith, Hans Georg Hornecker, right through from the roof to the cellar and all across the house. What stupefaction! The parents and children stood in the living room and prayed. The eldest daughter, Elisabeth, born in 1767, stood behind the window. The lightning struck the child and killed her on the spot. The parents fell to the floor, but the youngest boy who stood beside Elisabeth, remained erect and nothing happened to him. 'This shows how God proves mighty in the weak!' On August 4, the child was buried. All the church bells tolled. The entire congregation gathered in church, and I held a very earnest ceremony about Job. The year 1775 was a year blessed by God, especially for Muttenz. The crops grew big and rich, the hay was of excellent quality and there was fruit in abundance. The vineyard bore more than anyone could remember. But the summer was a frightful one, both for town and country. The arsenal got struck by lightning and burned down completely. Seven days later, there were more thunderstorms, one after the other, threatening to destroy the whole town and village. The lightning struck five times, but praise God, without causing fire. 'May God be blessed, amen.' 1776 was the coldest Winter in Europe; no one has ever experienced an equally cold spell before. Not even the eldest books mention such low temperatures. 1782: The church tower required some overhauling. The cock was removed from the peak and carefully carried into the Minister's house, where drinks were offered to the thirsty men. October 5, 1800: Five houses, 7 households in all, burned down. The fire broke out in the afternoon, started by a 5-year-old boy. The damage was estimated at some Sw.frs. 11,000.-. From church collections, both in Basle and Muttenz, some 4,859 francs could be distributed among the impoverished people. In the same year there was a bad epidemic, the putrid fever, causing 16 deaths. In one house the whole family lay ill in one room: mother, father and five children. The father died. 1803: two families emigrated to Southern Russia, one of which, having used up all their belongings before they even reached Vienna, returned to Muttenz. 'Blessed be he who does not see and yet believes.' On March 16, 1806, the Minister was happy to hold his first sermon in the newly decorated church. They had painted the pulpit and covered it with a new cloth. A new altar was erected with stones from Muttenz. Voluntary donations allowed for the purchase of an organ. It has got eight registers, was built in Basle and cost 1,200 pounds. 'The Lord, whom we serve in His house, may give us the strength that we may live up to the vow we made before the altar.' P.S. The voluntary collection amounted to 1,317 Franken 4 Batzen, equalling 1,097.16.8 pounds. The missing amount was covered by the municipal money-bag. In the Spring of 1807, the community has cleared all the streets from mud. For four weeks, ten carts and twelve volunteers have constantly been at work. The government was so pleased about this well-doing that they presented the municipal purse with 300 Franken. 1811 was a very advanced year, allowing for the crops to be brought in already on the 5th July. On September 13, the red grapes were picked during 8 consecutive days and therafter the white grapes. The weather was so good that we shall have an excellent wine. March 31, 1813: A fire broke out on the hay-stack in Heinrich Aebin's house, just opposite the parsonage. Fortunately it was absolutely windstill and thanks to the eager help of a large number of people, the entire house, with the exception of the hay stack 4, could be preserved. 'God be praised that this great danger had ended so well'. It has not been possible as yet to find out how the fire started and what caused it. God and time will tell. April 1: The two beautiful linden trees were planted between the bridge and the fountain on the church square. August 1: God be praised! We now know what - or rather who -started the above fire! It was found that Aebin's maid, 18 1/2 years, started the fire by revenge, because a few days earlier, her master had turned her lover out of her bed, giving him a good beating. The criminal court decided that she be publicly exposed 5 and put into the penitentiary for six years. Toward the end of the year 1813, the Confederated troops crossed the French border from Basle in order to fight for freedom and independence. 6. A great number ef soldiers took quarters in Muttenz to the effect that in each and every house some 20-30 men were lodging. It was then that Muttenz got a new Minister, coming from a peaceful, well-protected valley in the alps, who was somewhat alarmed at being faced with these wardoings. With him a squadron of Austrian dragoons arrived in Muttenz. That evening, the windows were rattling from the bombing of the fortress of 'Hüningen' 7. At the same time also the typhoid fever had reached our village that brought death to the thousands of people near and far. The village was full of ill people. Everyone looked depressed. But the pity of God helped us overcome. The epidemic was less strong in Muttenz than elsewhere, and only 12 people died from it. After Paris was captured and Napoleon deposed of and exiled, peace returned to us. 'Let us be greatful to the Almighty.' 1815. Napoleon escaped from the island of Elba and returned to France. This is a frightful event, also to us. Warriors from all over the country hurried to the frontiers to protect our country. Thus Muttenz again had a remarkable amount of soldiers to lodge. They got drilled day and night in and around our village. There were artillery and supply units. However, the two brave men Blücher and Wellington - with the blessing of God - saved us from another attack, and Napoleon was deported to St. Helena. 'Now the longed-for peace should be ours.' 1816. This summer has been exceptionally wet and cool. The crops were poor and we are facing the forthcoming winter with dread. 1816/17. The fear we had in the summer of 1816 became only too true! Food was very scarce and hoarding and usury made the situation even worse. Toward the end of the year, the food prices were constantly going up. Our Government was compelled to arrange imports from Poland and Prussia. The shipments, however, arrived too late for the hungry population. To help people survive, the Council of our Canton issued a proclamation by which five sacks of potatoes perresident were permitted. Those who had bigger stocks had to sell 20% of the surplus to the Council with the purpose of securing enough potatoes for planting in Spring. Through this measure we could secure 101 sacks in Muttenz. By the end of the year, Basle installed a welfare office that was to give practical advice to all municipalities of our Canton. Among other things they suggested that we open a soup-service on behalf of the poor and hungry, of which we in Muttenz had about one hundred. Consequently, every second day between March 18 and July 22, soup was distributed, 5,641 helpings in all, without counting the ones offered to poor passera-by. Between 78 and 97 helpings were served each time. The costs were covered by the more furtunate people of our community. Basle has established a spinning-mill, where the needy women of the rural districts can earn some money. Finally the food arrived from Poland and Prussia. Our community received 2,951 pounds of flour at 1-2 Batsen and 166 1/2 pounds free of charge, 225 bushels of wheat at 7 Franken and 264 1/2 pounds of rice free of charge. The documents, invoices, book-keeping etc. are stored away at the Parsonage, bundled into a parcel bearing a label: 'Documents Concerning the Years of Hunger 1816-1817'. This year of hunger meant quite a bit of extra work and problems for the Ministers. However, they got to know their congregation, rich and poor, far better than within ten years under normal conditions. But one also learned to thank and praise our Lord much better and the harvesting of the crops in 1817 turned out to be a real folk's feast. As a result of the inflation, many Swiss left for America in Spring. From Muttenz there were 21, among others: Hans Georg Jauslin, tailor, with his wife Elisabeth (former wife of Jakob Spänhauer, whose son Daniel, born 1799, followed them two years later), two children of his first marriage, one child of this second marriage and an illegal child of Elisabeth's. September 22, 1818: A delegation came to inspect both church and school. To the great satisfaction and hope of Minister and School-Master, they could be convinced that the schoolroom was far too small for all these children, since the delegation hardly found room to stand. 'God be praised', this was a good year, fertile and even more advanced than 1811. Also the wine promises to be at least as good and abundant as the one of 1811. January 3, 1819: The 290th anniversary of the Reformation was celebrated. On the evening of January 2, all the bells tolled for 10 minutes, which made such a great impression on everyone - that it might just as well have lasted for an hour! A program was distributed to the congregation. All the school-children assembled in the school-room 15 minutes ahead of time and crossed over to the church two by two, lead by the school-teacher. The boys were seated in the choir and the girls on the two long benches. All the officials of the community, dressed in black coats, met at the parsonage from whence they formed a procession and moved solemnly into the church. The best singers of the school-children sang a hymn, then the congregation sang another one; then we all prayed. The altar was decorated merely with the Bible and the Chalice as a symbol of the Reformation which formed the subject of the sermon. In the afternoon the school-children, of which each and everyone was presented with the New Testament, were catechized. On May 3, another 11 persons left for America, among others Daniel Spänhauer (see above). On October 20, the new school-room was inaugurated. The cost amounted to 2,400 Franken. 1820. It was necessary to re-cover the church roof. For this purpose, the cock was removed and covered with a coat of gold. 1825. Friedrich Meyer, a married man, emigrated to America, leaving his wife and child behind. However, she must have approved of this, since she had offered to pay for the passage! 1829, July 3: The church tower was struck by lightning, fortunately without starting a fire. There was some damage done to it and repair work was necessary. The Winter of 1829/30 was exceptionally cold. The spell lasted for a whole month with temperatures as low as 20° Reaumur (approx. - 20°F). We fear that the vineyard and fruit trees may have suffered. Later it was found that the vineyard had been harmed somewhat; otherwise it turned out to be a good and fertile year. There was fruit in abundance. Comments on the 'Entries in St. Arbogast Church Books'
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