Vichter Straße

Vichter Street with the Coal-Wellem House.

During the British Occupation in 1919

After World War I, British occupation troops were stationed in Mausbach. These were the 1/1st North Midland Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery Regiment. The officers and soldiers were billeted with local families, at least from December 20, 1918 to June 10, 1919.

During this time, the Scot Sergeant Limpad, presumably a military photographer, captured the lives of British soldiers and villagers in numerous photographs. He particularly documented the daily life of the community forest workers Katharina Wildt née Schüßler (1868–1944) and Katharina Heidbüchel née Joussen (1854–1921) by accompanying them in their work in the forest.

The historical images show, among other things, Vichter Street in 1919. On the left, the so-called Coal-Wellem House can be seen, where Wilhelm Bildstein (1844–1933) lived with his unmarried sisters Gertrude and Maria. Bildstein, a war veteran from 1870/71, had served with his own team and returned home safely. Later, he worked as a farmer and coal dealer, for which he earned the nickname "Coal-Wellem".