|
Wallern was first named in a document in 1269. By the year 1569, it had been
named nearly 20 times, though often only on the margin of documents. Yet there is not much we know about the place
itself.
In a document from 1569, it is reported that Wallern at that time had 23
feudal houses. Twenty years later, in 1589, we find the names of the farmers who lived in these houses. Yet we
know nothing about the form of the small village from this time.
In 1683, the location was probably, like the rest of the surrounding area, destroyed by the Turks. During the
reconstruction, Wallern took on the form that one can see in the town center today.
With this project, I have tried to depict the construction of the town between 1683 and 1914. By the year 1914,
the housenumber had reached 251. However, this doesn’t mean there were 251 houses, as there were houses with two
numbers.
It was not possible to confirm the builder of every house. I decided it would be enough to name the first
verifiable owners of the houses.
To describe the houses, I used the old housenumbers, which were adopted in 1852 and were used until 1930. These
early numbers are on the last pages. I have also indicated which streets the applicable houses are on.
From the Urbarial lists and church records the following building periods can be identified:
1. 1683 - 1767: houses 1-109 were built. These are the houses on Hauptstraße, from Nr. 1-69 and from 4-60. In
addition are the houses on Kirchengasse, from 1-16 and on Wassergasse. Also number 3 on Bahnstraße, which is now a
Raffeisenkasse bank.
2. 1767 - 1830: houses 110-134, earlier known as the “thirty-sixers.”
3. 1852 - 1853: after a longer break, houses 135-159. These are the Kurialisten houses.
4. 1866 - 1914: again a longer break, houses 162-251. Houses 160 and 161, both on Salidergasse, were built before
1767.
The book, which I present here, is primarily conceived for my fellow citizens in Wallern. Not everyone will enjoy
it. One cannot read it like a novel or a history book. It is a reference point for those who are not only
interested in the history of their own house.
To those who study it, I wish much enjoyment and also something of a connection to home, which accompanied me by
this work.
Father Josef Graisy |
