The Mennonite Library and Archives has 3 large-format negatives (5 x 7 inches) of maps for the villages of Franzthal, Neu Dessau, and Brenkenhoffswalde, Mennonite villages in the Neumark region (in present-day Poland). The origin of these negatives and the archives where the original maps are located is not known. Below is an analysis of the maps, including links to the images, by John D. Richert, January 2020.
Adalbert Goertz wrote a number of articles about the Mennonites who settled in the Neumark beginning in 1765. One article in particular caught our interest: "Mennonites of Neumark, Prussia, in 1805." (Mennonite Family History, April 1985 by Adalbert and Bärbel Goertz.) In that article they presented the names associated with each lot number which appeared on three maps: Franzthal, Neu Dessau and Brenkenhofswalde. Two of the three maps were inserted into the article while a map of the Driesen area, 1936 replaced the one for Franzthal. The map resolution as printed was insufficient to discern much detail. We contacted Lois Mast at MFH and we jointly reached the conclusion that the original images of these maps might be at the Mennonite Library and Archives, North Newton, KS. John Thiesen located the images and provided us with scans of all three maps. These maps are in very good condition and provide sufficient detail to expand our knowledge of these villages considerably beyond just names and lot numbers. In the following paragraphs we first discuss the general details which apply to all the maps and then each village is discussed in turn.
An 1893 Map of the Neumark region including Brenkenhofswalde, Franzthal and Neu Dessau has been prepared for us by Rod Ratzlaff. He had to graft two images into one to clearly show the physical relationship of these three villages. The resulting map can be viewed here.
The 1805 Maps (which are discussed in the following sections) were drawn to scale and each one has a Maßstab (scale/ruler) for linear measurements. The measurement system they used was in conformance with the "Royal Magdeburg Dimension" of 1793. (See: http://preussische-masse.de/alte_masse/alte_masse_magdeburger.html) The linear units were Ruthen (Rods) where 1 Ruthen = 3.7662 meters or 12.356 feet. Area measurements were in square Ruthen (also called Quadruthen or square Rods) and Morgen (Magdeburg, Rhineland or Brandenburg Morgen), where 1 Morgen = 180 square Ruthen. The title on the Maßstab further indicated compliance with the Decimal Ruthen standard which was in use by surveyors at that time. A Decimal Ruthen consisted of 10 Decimal Fuß (Decimal foot) and each Decimal Fuß consisted of 10 Decimal Zoll (inch). We compared some of the linear dimensions on these Maps with corresponding points shown on the Google Map (Satellite view) and established there is agreement within 1% or better. Therefore 1 square Ruthen = 152.8 square feet and 1 Morgen = 0.631 Acres (which is in complete agreement with the statement in the Goertz article which places 1 Morgen = 0.63 Acres). The detail provided on these maps is quite impressive.
The Kartenmeister database website was used to find the Google map/satellite view of each village. There are enough landmarks remaining after more than 200 years that the 1805 Maps can easily be oriented for comparison with the current views.
The 1805 Map of Franzthal (Gleboczek, Lubusz Voivodeship, Poland) was dated October 1805 and may be found here. The first item to note is there is no arrow to show the North orientation. We have determined that the property of Jacob Bäcker, #15, runs lengthwise on approximately a North-South line with the "No. 15" at the southern end. Also note the extensive use of canals and ditches along with dams and walls to control the water from the Netze (Notec) River. The water flowed from east to west around and through the original village in three canals or ditches. One canal ran through the village in a line with houses on either side. This canal no doubt irrigated their gardens and fruit trees while providing water for other domestic uses including their animals. The largest of these farms, #13 at 31 acres, belonged to David Voth while the smallest, a portion of #15 at 1.3 acres belonged to Peter Bäcker, who likely was Jacob Bäcker's son. To the east of the 15 primary farmsteads was a group of wetland properties which no doubt were used for grazing along with 5 smaller farmsteads numbered from 16 through 20. The inset at the far right depicts pasture which was located just north of the main village. These pastures were used by the farmstead owners along with non-Mennonites who lived in Vorbruch. There were no home sites on these pastures. A typical home, exemplified by the farmhouse of David Dürcks at #5, measures about 36 feet by 112 feet. His land measures 262 feet by 3360 feet or 20.2 acres. There were no outbuildings on his property, only some fruit trees. The Kirche was located on property # 12, occupied by Benjamin Sperling. The 1893 Map displays a + symbol indicating a church existing at that location. The Kirche building measures approximately 31 feet by 41 feet, as scaled from the 1805 map. The 1805 Map provides no indication whether there was a cemetery at the Kirche or elsewhere in Franzthal.
Satellite imagery of what remains of Franzthal is revealing. The red marker in the view is misleading as the actual location for Franzthal is about one-half mile north of that marker spot. The GPS coordinates are centered on Frantzthal are: 52.8455 N 15.7351E. The outline of the border of each property is very visible with trees, sand or rocks on the lines in many instances. The remnants of the ditches, or canals, are still a scar on the landscape and at least two of them can be followed in their path over to Brenkenhofswalde with one of these labeled "Polka". The remains of the horseshoe shaped connector to the Netze (Notec) can be seen as well. There are residences in a row following the same, or similar, line as those occupied in 1805. The Kirche building appears to be standing, although few details of the structure at that location can be discerned. Further research has determined the building at that location is St. Barbara's Catholic Church. (See: http://www.lubtur.pl/turystyka-lubuskie/obiekt/kosciol-filialny-pw-sw-barbary-w-gleboczku.html. In the official state register of Polish national heritage sites this church is described as built in the second half of the 18th century. (Communication from Michael Targowski to Rod Ratzlaff, 2/18/2020.) How much of the original Mennonite structure is remaining has yet to be determined.
The 1805 Map of Neu Dessau (Kosin, Lubusz Voivodeship, Poland) was dated July 1805 and may be found here. The North Arrow on this map needs to be rotated clockwise about twenty degrees to correctly align the map with the satellite image. Neu Dessau was settled in 1763 or before. The Mennonites who emigrated from the area of Schwetz and Culm in 1765 established the villages of Franzthal and Brenkenhofswalde while others settled in Neu Dessau. Consequently the differences between Franzthal and Neu Dessau are notable. We first notice that the decision to build the village on high ground between the Netze (Notec) main channel and Die Alte Netz Strohm placed limitations on expansion and necessitated the construction of significant embankments to control the spring and summer surge in both water channels. The placement of houses is not consistent, with over half of them placed along a ditch which paralleled an embankment (Der Netz Wall) along the Netze main channel. Others were placed further away from the ditch while more were placed near the middle of their property with a meandering ditch connecting them. There were 30 lots in all, with a typical lot measuring 210 feet by 5000 feet (lot 16 at 24 acres). On lot 21 there was a Kirchhof (churchyard/cemetery) measuring about 0.32 acres. It is interesting to visualize this Kirchhof bisected by the major embankment which was 24 fuß wide (almost 30 feet) identified as Neudessauer fahrdamm. It seems possible the Kirchhof was located there first with part of it buried when the Neudessauer fahrdamm was built? The 1893 Map also depicts the Kirchhof straddling the Mittle dam. There does not appear to be a Kirche nearby, or anywhere in Neu Dessau for that matter. A portion of lots 13 and 14 (approximately 185 feet by 1540 feet or 6.5 acres) was set aside for the schoolmaster with a group of buildings at the north end, presumably for the school and his residence.
Satellite imagery of the area which once was Neu Dessau does not reveal much of the village except that the farm fields run in the same direction with similar patterns. Also note the embankment which ran through the village (referred as der Mittle damm in 1893 and Neudessauer fahrdamm in 1805) is now a road marked as "174". The red marker misses Neu Dessau and is located about one-half mile SSW of the center of the old village. A better GPS location for central Neu Dessau is 52.838 N 15.885 E. The Notec is about 150 feet wide at this location which agrees closely with the 1805 Map. The kinks and turns of Der Alte Netz Strohm are a reasonably close match with the Satellite view. The details of the buildings, cemetery and school cannot be discerned; they all appear to have been plowed over or torn down. The Google map identifies a tourist attraction at 52.83 N 15.88 E which is described as Opuszczone miasteczko westernowe (abandoned western town) but we can't determine if it corresponds to anything on the 1805 Map.
The 1805 Map of Brenkenhofswalde (Blotnica, Lubusz Voivodeship, Poland) was dated November 1805 and may be found here. Note that the North Arrow of the primary section of this map is pointing down not up. In addition, the map has to be rotated about ten degrees counter-clockwise to correctly align with the North-South orientation. With the map oriented correctly notice the arrows showing water flow in the canals is from East to West, fully consistent with the flow of water that comes from Franzthal (which lies East of Brenkenhofswalde). The numbering of the lots was not sequential and several lots were double numbered indicating some sub-division took place over the years resulting in 20 distinct farmsteads. Much like we saw in Franzthal the farmhouses were aligned along a central canal which in this instance was 12 fuß (14.8 feet) wide. The Kirche was located at the far northern end of Peter Buller, Jr's lot, # 16. The building measures 30 feet by 74 feet and was on a field set aside for the Kirche, 136 feet by 272 feet (0.85 acre). Behind the Kirche was a cemetery, 136 feet by 115 feet (0.36 acre). Additionally there was housing for the poor: The Rothen Hause (Red Home) was located alongside Lot # 16. Apparently Benjamin Gans (Jantz) was living there at the time. The farmsteads of the main village (the 20 distinct farmsteads) were similar in size and shape to those found at Franzthal. The inset depicts pasture which was located northwest of the village center. These fields were divided and assigned names with lot numbers which were generally consistent with the farmstead numbers although there were a number of instances where the names on the pasture did not correspond. There weren't any buildings or homes located on the pastures, although there was a holding pen for cattle located in common with three pastures. One of the pastures, in the name of Gottfried Lange but unnumbered, appears to have been tended by residents of the Red Home. This pasture was the largest in the complex, measuring 247 feet by 945 feet (5.4 acres).
Satellite imagery of the remains of Brenkenhofswalde is stunning; this is the jewel of the three villages. We first notice that the 1805 outline of the village is readily visualized. The fields look much the same as in 1805, except some of them are now uncultivated while others are filled with stands of trees. The string of houses along the west-to- east road which passes through Blotnica is closely aligned with the farmhouses shown on the 1805 Map and some may stand in the exact locations as in 1805. Finally, a building is standing at the same location as the Kirche in the 1805 Map, with an area located at the north side of the building where the old cemetery was located. The Google map identifies the church as: The Church of Archangel Michael Blotnica. Online images of this Catholic Church reveal that it is of red brick construction with a steeple and grassy lawn surrounding the structure which instills doubt that any of the original structure remains, save perhaps some of the original foundation. (See: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saint_Michael_church_in_B%C5%82otnica,_Poland.jpg) Another online source (See: https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko%C5%9Bci%C3%B3%C5%82_%C5%9Bw._Micha%C5%82a_Archanio%C5%82a_w_B%C5%82otnicy) states the church "was built in the late 19th century for the local Protestant [likely Lutheran] community." In the official state register of Polish national heritage sites this church is described as built in the last years of the 19th century. (Communication from Michael Targowski to Rod Ratzlaff, 2/18/2020.) It was consecrated as a Catholic church in 1946 and underwent general renovation in the 1980s.
