Charlie Battery - Kleingartach
Scenes of Our Local Neighborhood - 1959 - 1969
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Stocksberg Strasse In Stockheim - 2010
This is an amazing photograph, there is so much to learn here. The span of time in this image must be about seven hundred years plus years just in the architecture alone. If you use the scroll button an position the previous village photo so that you can see both of these town views, it can become an interesting comparison.
My first impression of this image is prosperity, reverence, and growth, with tree lined streets and new houses. In fact the house to the far right of the image is so totally contemporary, with a front lawn and an upper deck with clothes drying what appears to be an enclosed solarium. I mean if you look at the other houses on the strasse it is a complete break with the traditional architectural style. An auto is parked in its front parking space and there is even a street sign saying... you guessed it... Stocksberg Strasse.
This sculpture is charming, reverent, and well executed, presented by an agrarian culture giving thanks to God. I'm guessing that it is from the Baroque Period. For a more detailed view please “Click Here”. The whole focus is the vineyard and the grapes on the vine. A holy man, Pope Urbanus I, offers a cutting of grapes lying tenderly across a bible as gesture of thanksgiving for the abundance they provide, the blessed wine, and they are also a symbol of continued fertility, both human and agricultural. More can be read about the second pope of the Holy Roman Catholic Church if you “Click Here”.
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The material is a fine creamy white marble that still reveals it's fine detailing and modeling, and nothing hangs like marble fabric. However, I am personally concerned that it so exposed to the weather elements, and we know how extreme that weather can be. I hope that it is outside for the summer months only. This treasure should be protected...!
I have long been curious about how the villages look after all this time, and I am happy to see their progress. Farming is a difficult existence, with much hard work and worry, and is something I was aware of as I observed their efforts in the daily passing in our neighborhood.
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The Schloss Stocksberg Viewed From Stockheim - 2010
Is there any Schloß more picturesque than the Schloss Stocksberg....? Well OK there probably is, but this one is sure a beauty. It's a perfect solution...! It has an architectural aesthetic that is both visually captivating and perfectly functional in it's use, both defensively as well as making a power statement.
I don't think I have ever seen a castle keep, or tower, with this style of design. For one thing I've never seen the four corner turrets incorporated into the roof line before. Now I'm sure there are others, but I haven't seen one.
And the idea to leave the turret level space open was brilliant. I mean that open space lets everyone know, “We are watching you”, so it's obvious that it was of tactical and strategic observational importance. In viewing the previous images of the sweep of the valley plus the height of the keep, basically gave them a 360º view of the surrounding area, both long range and short range. If we could see the keep from the barracks then they could see what was going on the whole plateau plain. So both their front and back were covered.
The four corner turrets also have their own built-in defensive positions with the 5 narrow slots positioned equally around each turret perfect for firing arrows, and later powder based weapons, to defend the castle.
I am also thinking that in feudal times the Castle Barons had 360º control all of the vineyards from Haberschlacht to Stockheim, and around the plateau to Kleingartach and Niederhofen. The grapes, and the implied vintners, were a major source of wealth and notoriety for producing some of the finest wines in all of Germany, just as it is known today.
Alright, I admit it, I love castles.
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Exquisite Sandstone Arch Marking The Public/Estate Boundary
In 1954 the Stocksberg estate was divided. A farmer bought the farm buildings, the castle building was sold in 1969 to a manufacturer. A stone archway in the vineyards marks the end of the former publicly-owned ravine while climbing to the castle. And over the keystone of the arch is the Stockheim coat of arms that appears to be fashioned out of iron or steel, depending on how old it is.
This beautiful arch is fashioned out of a delightfully modulated tan sandstone with warm earth tones. This classic Roman Arch's elements are of an oversized nature and are not only proportionally pleasing, but give an excellent illustration of the physical properties of an arches' construction. Each block of the arch is expertly fashioned with an inner ribbed element, and squared off at its opposite ends to transfer the circular to the vertical and horizontal, allowing the finish of the arch into complete structure in and of itself.
Something very interesting are the semi-circular tiles on the stylized roof, which are Mediterranean design, and quite unusual in the northern climes. And actually, as I study the tiles more in depth I see they have a flange on each side allowing them to fit nicely together. This makes a roof much more weatherized, where as the Mediterranean style is to have rows of semi-circular tiles facing up and a row of the same tile facing down spanning the space between the two up tiles, which works fine in area of a more milder climate.
An overview of the arch and it exact location in the vineyards can be seen in an image on page one. Please “Click Here” to view this image.
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The Gasthaus Traube
The Gasthaus Traube (Grape) was one our favorite social gathering places. The upstairs was a hall where social events took place such as dances, and fests, etc.
It still exists today and is painted and looks beautiful and well cared for. Visit the Gasthaus Zur Traube to view it as it is today.
As stated on their web page:
Willkommen in Stockheim:
In Stockheim, einem Ortsteil von Brackenheim, umrahmt von Weinbergen, am Fuß des Stocksberg und dem imposanten Schloss Stocksberg liegt das traditionsreiche Gasthaus “Zur Traube”. Seit über 80 Jahren im Familienbesitz sind wir bemüht unsere Gäste mit guter, schwäbischer Küche zu verwöhnen. In unserer gemütlichen Gaststube servieren wir Ihnen Weine der WG Dürrenzimmern-Stockeim oder ein Glas Sekt.
A Google Translation:
Welcome to Stockheim:
In Stockheim, a district of Brackenheim, surrounded by vineyards at the foot of the floor mount and the imposing castle floor home is the traditional inn “Zur Traube”. For over 80 years of family ownership, we are trying to spoil our guests with good Swabian food. In our cozy restaurant we serve wines from the WG-Dürrenzimmern Stockheim or a glass of champagne.
Please Note: Google translations have their limitations. They translate the words OK, but it's not always good at translating the context and idiom of words and sentences. So that's why it appears a bit awkward. It's almost like someone trying to speak a foreign language, but speaking from their own language context not theirs. But you get the gist of it all... Don't you...?
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One Way To Leave Stockheim
If one turns to the right at the coming yellow road sign you will go to Brackenheim, just 10 kilometers away.
But if you continue to go straight ahead then one would come to the village of Haberschlacht, about 4.5 kilometers down the road.
Then continuing through Haberschlacht and up the hill you would see Charlie Battery on the horizon.
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Sculpture of St. Nepomuk in Stockheim - 1960
Nepomuk was a priest at about 1350-1393, was imprisoned in Prag (capital of todays Cheq-Republik), tortured, chained, thrown in Moldau River where he drowned pitiably (probably rebel against archaic church or “government”).
.He was declared a Saint in 1729. Now his statue is positioned in front of a farmhouse at the end of the village - towards the direction to Brackenheim.
Stockheimers call him just “Nepomuk”
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Sculpture of St. Nepomuk in Stockheim - 2010
This is an updated image of the sculpture in the previous image. It has since been moved from downtown Stockheim to a vineyard on the road from Stockheim to Haberschlacht. If you look carefully you will see the grape vines growing past the leaves of the tree.
For a more detailed view please “Click Here”.
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The sculpture seems to fashioned from a more coarse material, possibly sandstone, or a rough limestone. There is still excellent detail in the piece, however, it is being ruined by the elements. Weather, mosses, and lichens are taking their toll on this important part of the neighborhood's heritage.
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G. I. Art...?
And No... G. I. Art is not a Missile Crewman action figure.
I couldn't pass up this beautiful shot. Turned out to be a pretty good exposure with a clear image and depth of field using my trusty Agfa 35mm camera with a built-in light meter, that I bought in the PX for about $35.00. A lot of money in those days, especially with a monthly salary of 75.00 a month as a PFC.
There was just so much to excite the creative eye, my camera was always with me no matter where I went. This shot was taken down around the path into Stockheim, below the Schloss Stocksberg.
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Village Of Stockheim
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Village Of Stockheim
Image by Jim Fitzpatrick - Pennsylvania - 1960Image Use Policy
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