Individual items from the archive holdings
Parcel map from the Offenbach district
In surveying, the term "parcel" (from the Latin word particula = particle) refers to a small piece of land used for agriculture or as building land. Today it is usually referred to as a parcel and is the smallest unit of land ownership in the real estate cadastre or land register.
This map from the district of Offenbach (Starkenburg province, Offenbach tax district, corridor III, section K, no. 38) was processed in 1850. For a closer look, you will find a detailed excerpt from the parcel map below.
Burial regulations for the Christian community of the city of Offenbach from 1832
The burial regulations of 1832 governed all matters and responsibilities relating to the cemeteries of the Christian community in Offenbach. This included the supervision of the cemeteries themselves and the personnel required for the burial facilities.
The management of the burial facilities was assigned to a special burial commission. This consisted of the mayor as "local police officer" and two members of the "municipal council". The commission was supervised by the "Kreisrath".
The first book of Moses of the Pentateuch in Hebrew from 1808
Pentateuch, Greek: five (scrolls), is the name for the five books of Moses, which form the law book (Torah) of Judaism.
The Haus der Stadtgeschichte - Archiv owns a multilingual edition of the first book of Moses, Genesis, with commentary, which was printed in Offenbach in 1808. The multilingualism and the text explanations in the margin result in the special composition and layout of the pages.
The Hebrew text is accompanied by the "Targum Onkelos", a literal translation into Aramaic. There is also a German translation. It is based on the Pentateuch by Moses Dessau, known as Moses Mendelssohn, which was printed in Berlin at the end of the 18th century. He wrote his translation of the five books of Moses in German with Hebrew letters and saw this work as a textbook for German and for the content of the Jewish faith.
The commentary on the Pentateuch was written by Rabbi Shelomo Yitzchaki, or Rashi for short (1040 to 1105), who was regarded as the most important Jewish commentator on the Scriptures and Talmud. His explanations of the Pentateuch became the preferred Jewish school and popular book.
This edition was printed by Zewi Hirsch and his son Abraham Spitz Segal in Offenbach in 1808. On November 23, 1763, Hirsch had received the privilege to establish a "printing house of Hebrew writings" in Offenbach am Main. Hebrew book printing had existed in Offenbach since 1714.
The book comes from the collection of August Hecht. August Hecht (1863 - 1943) was an Offenbach leather goods manufacturer and local historian. He donated his estate, which consisted of valuable old books, to the archive. Among them was this multilingual edition of the First Book of Moses with a commentary on Rashi.
Instruction for the bearers at the funeral services in Offenbach
This "Instruction", which probably dates from 1835, sets out all the necessary qualifications of the bearers at Offenbach funeral services.
The twelve bearers were chosen by a mortuary commission and had to fulfill special requirements. Paragraph two states that the bearers had to be people of impeccable reputation and must not be addicted to drink. Paragraph three regulates the requirements for service clothing. Black long pants, white neck ties, a round black hat without pile, black boots or shoes with black stockings and black gloves were prescribed.
Below you can see a detailed excerpt from the instructions
Plan of the Dreieich Forest
The plan is most probably dated 1743. The respective sovereigns are also indicated.
The word "forest" first appeared in the 15th century and replaced the term "Wildbann". A game ban refers to a special royal hunting right.
The Dreieich game ban or forest extended from the left bank of the Main to beyond Darmstadt. From the right bank of the Main, it extended along the Nidda to Bonames and on to Aschaffenburg. The administrative center of the game ban was Dreieichenhayn Castle in what is now Dreieich.
In the Middle Ages, 30 Wildhuben were designated within the Wildbann to protect the forest and game of the Dreieich forest. Wildhuben were owners of farms or estates who were obliged to protect the royal hunting rights. Among the 30 Wildhuben was one from Offenbach and one from Bieber.
The right to hunt in the game ban could be purchased. Until 1832, game money had to be paid.
Marriage register from 1837
This volume 63 of the marriage register for the Jewish community in the town and district of Offenbach dates from 1837.
The marriages of Offenbach's Jewish population were recorded in the "Civil-Stands-Register". In order for the marriage to be officially recognized, both spouses and two witnesses had to appear. This required a written certificate from the respective rabbi confirming that the marriage had taken place.
The spouses and the two witnesses had to sign the completed form, an example of which can be found in the appendix below. The notarization was granted with the mayor's signature.
Privileged Offenbach question and display sheet
In the 19th century, the Privilegierte Offenbacher Anzeigeblatt was published in Offenbach every Friday. The picture shows issue no. 7 from Friday, February 13, 1824.
The paper informed the people of Offenbach weekly about all the news in the city. The fixed sections were "News from Offenbach", "Announcements", "Auctions" and also a real estate section "For rent". The family announcements listed who had been born, baptized or buried in the current week. The current prices of foodstuffs were listed at the end of each issue.
The issues of the Privilegiertes Offenbacher Anzeigeblatt are collected in several volumes.
Guestbook of the wine house Bisch
The wine bar and wine shop was founded in Offenbach in 1875 by Valentin Bisch. Jacob Bisch ran the wine house at Herrnstraße 3 from 1933 until it closed in 1964.
The worn, leather-bound guest book documents over 50 years of wine enjoyment and conviviality in the popular wine bar. Offenbach citizens from all walks of life and professions, including craftsmen, politicians, artists and students who visited the guest house, have immortalized themselves in the book. The entries are correspondingly diverse: often characterized by wine and the bacchanalian atmosphere, but sometimes also surprisingly profound. In addition to wine - the wisdom "in vino veritas" can be found on several pages - politics and, of course, women are popular topics, which are expressed in words and writing, but also in paintings. The guest book gets its special expression from the many colorful drawings that complement the sayings and make them really vivid.
Below you will find a detailed excerpt from the guest book of Weinhaus Bisch, which you can browse through at any time in the Haus der Stadtgeschichte archive.