UNDATED – A postcard shows a traditional fisherman’s house in Ellerbek near Kiel in Germany. Published by Ludwig Handorff, Kiel
The story behind the image
Here’s a historic postcard that is undated and was never sent. It provides a glimpse at the old Kiel in Germany, or rather: the old Ellerbek that used to be a quiet village situated on the eastern coast of the Kiel Fjord – before it was integrated into the growing city.
There were about 20 houses along the waterfront and maybe 40 additional houses at the core of the village. It was founded in the 13th century, and life was dominated by fishing, with the most important product being sprats (which ultimately became ‘Original Kiel Sprats’.)
In the 19th century, a romanticized view of the original fishing life emerged. While the city of Kiel kept growing and became an industrial hotspot, Alt-Ellerbek stood for unspoilt nature and was a popular destination for day trips. When the Imperial Shipyard was built in 1868, the wharf expanded quickly and needed more space. And so, in 1904, the historic cottages of Alt Ellerbek were demolished, and the families were moved to Wellingdorf.
One house could be preserved and was relocated to Gaarden where it became a museum. It got destroyed in WW2 but its collection was saved and is part of the holdings of the Kiel Maritime Museum today.
The City Archive of Kiel has the full story (in German.)
My interest in Ellerbek was triggered by the fact that my great great great grandmother, Margaretha Dorothea Möller (born Lassen), spent her last years with two of her sons, Johannes Heinrich and Peter August, in Ellerbek where she died in 1896.
The high resolution image
| Capture Date | unknown |
| Publisher | L. Handorff, Kiel |
| Location | Kiel, Germany |
| Image Source | 9 x 14 cm postcard |
| Digital Image Source | EPSON Perfection 4870 Photo |
| Digital Image Source Format | TIFF, 48 bits/pixel, sRGB |
| Edited Image Format | JPEG, 24 bits/pixel, sRGB |
| Edited Image Dimensions | 6154 x 3729 Pixels |
| Copyright | Photo © L. Handorff, Kiel Scan © Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com |
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