Reuth, Rhineland-Palatinate
Encyclopedia
Reuth is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality
belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde
, a kind of collective municipality – in the Vulkaneifel district
in Rhineland-Palatinate
, Germany
. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Obere Kyll
, whose seat is in the municipality of Jünkerath
.
, a part of the Eifel
known for its volcanic history, geographical and geological features, and even ongoing activity today, including gases that sometimes well up from the earth.
took over this part of Germany in the wake of the French Revolution
, incorporating Reuth and the rest of the region into the French Republic. It is believed that the outlying centre of Neureuth was founded in 1814. Two years later, Reuth found itself under Prussia
n administration. In 1859, the village’s first school
was built.
In 1870 and 1871 – the time of the Franco-Prussian War
– 17 families from Reuth emigrated to the United States
.
In 1891, the first watermain – made of stones – was built into the village centre. In 1893 and 1894, this facility was updated and lead
en pipes were laid. In these same two years, 15 children died in a diphtheria
outbreak.
The waterworks were further improved in 1911 with the advent of household connections. In 1924 came electric light. Once again in 1932, sickness claimed lives when 15 people died in an influenza
outbreak. An unfinished new school building was destroyed during the Second World War. However, Reuth got its new school eventually. It was dedicated in 1954. Then, in 1971, it was shut down.
Sewerage
finally came to Reuth in 1956, along with a sewage treatment
plant. In 1958, the local bypass, the E 42, was built, and in 1963, Flurbereinigung
was finished.
In 1968, a youth centre was newly built. It was expanded in 1987. A children’s playground
was built in 1990.
Between 1988 and 1990, the sewerage and sewage treatment plant were rebuilt. Between 1996 and 2002, all municipal streets and the village square were expanded.
In 2000, the wind farm
was built with nine generators
. In 2003, a new playground was opened in the village centre. In this same year and the next, youth group facilities and an event pavilion were expanded.
at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman.
The municipality’s arms
might in English heraldic
language be described thus: Per pale Or a fess wavy abased azure above which an axe palewise gules, and gules a fess wavy abased conjoined as one to the other argent above which a mitre Or charged with a Latin cross of the field above three bezants, one and two.
The field tincture
s Or and gules (gold and red) refer to the village’s mediaeval
allegiance to the lordship of Manderscheid-Blankenheim, for they are the Counts’ old tinctures. The fess wavy (that is, horizontal wavy stripe), which changes tincture at the line of partition, symbolizes the local brook, the Reuther Bach. The village’s name, Reuth – in common with other local names that end with —rath, —roth and the like – can be traced back to woodland clearing – called Rodung in German
– that most likely happened in the 9th or 10th century. This part of Reuth’s history, and indeed its name’s derivation, are represented by the axe. The mitre and the three bezants (golden disks, or in this case balls or orbs, as the German blazon has it) are Saint Nicholas
’s attributes, thus representing the municipality’s and the chapel’s patron saint.
Municipalities of Germany
Municipalities are the lowest level of territorial division in Germany. This may be the fourth level of territorial division in Germany, apart from those states which include Regierungsbezirke , where municipalities then become the fifth level.-Overview:With more than 3,400,000 inhabitants, the...
belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde
Verbandsgemeinde
A Verbandsgemeinde is an administrative unit in the German Bundesländer of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony-Anhalt.-Rhineland-Palatinate:...
, a kind of collective municipality – in the Vulkaneifel district
Districts of Germany
The districts of Germany are known as , except in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein where they are known simply as ....
in Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Obere Kyll
Obere Kyll
Obere Kyll is a Verbandsgemeinde in the district Vulkaneifel, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated on the upper course of the river Kyll, approx. 55 km south-west of Bonn. The seat of the Verbandsgemeinde is in Jünkerath.The Verbandsgemeinde Obere Kyll consists of the following...
, whose seat is in the municipality of Jünkerath
Jünkerath
Jünkerath is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Vulkaneifel district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Obere Kyll, and is home to its seat.- Location :Jünkerath, along with its outlying...
.
Location
The municipality lies in the VulkaneifelVulkan Eifel
The Vulkan Eifel is a region in the Eifel Mountains in Germany, that is defined to a large extent by its volcanic geological history. Characteristic of the Vulkan Eifel are its typical explosion crater lakes or maars, and numerous other signs of volcanic activity such as volcanic tuffs, lava...
, a part of the Eifel
Eifel
The Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany and eastern Belgium. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the south of the German-speaking Community of Belgium....
known for its volcanic history, geographical and geological features, and even ongoing activity today, including gases that sometimes well up from the earth.
History
In 1335, the Counts of Blankenheim transferred the town of Kyle (which included Reuth) to King John of Bohemia, whereupon they were promptly enfeoffed with it. Less than a century later, however, Reuth found itself in the hands of the Counts of Loen, in 1423. In 1469, all the Blankenheims’ holdings fell under the administration of the Counts of Manderscheid. These they held for more than three centuries, until in 1780, the Count of Sternberg took over all the Manderscheids’ holdings. He did not enjoy them for very long, for in 1794, the FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
took over this part of Germany in the wake of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, incorporating Reuth and the rest of the region into the French Republic. It is believed that the outlying centre of Neureuth was founded in 1814. Two years later, Reuth found itself under Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n administration. In 1859, the village’s first school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
was built.
In 1870 and 1871 – the time of the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
– 17 families from Reuth emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 1891, the first watermain – made of stones – was built into the village centre. In 1893 and 1894, this facility was updated and lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
en pipes were laid. In these same two years, 15 children died in a diphtheria
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium. It is characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity...
outbreak.
The waterworks were further improved in 1911 with the advent of household connections. In 1924 came electric light. Once again in 1932, sickness claimed lives when 15 people died in an influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
outbreak. An unfinished new school building was destroyed during the Second World War. However, Reuth got its new school eventually. It was dedicated in 1954. Then, in 1971, it was shut down.
Sewerage
Sewerage
Sewerage refers to the infrastructure that conveys sewage. It encompasses receiving drains, manholes, pumping stations, storm overflows, screening chambers, etc. of the sanitary sewer...
finally came to Reuth in 1956, along with a sewage treatment
Sewage treatment
Sewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and household sewage, both runoff and domestic. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants...
plant. In 1958, the local bypass, the E 42, was built, and in 1963, Flurbereinigung
Flurbereinigung
Flurbereinigung is the German word used to describe land reforms in various countries, especially Germany and Austria. The term can best be translated as land consolidation. Another European country where those land reforms have been carried out is France...
was finished.
In 1968, a youth centre was newly built. It was expanded in 1987. A children’s playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
was built in 1990.
Between 1988 and 1990, the sewerage and sewage treatment plant were rebuilt. Between 1996 and 2002, all municipal streets and the village square were expanded.
In 2000, the wind farm
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
was built with nine generators
Wind turbine
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
. In 2003, a new playground was opened in the village centre. In this same year and the next, youth group facilities and an event pavilion were expanded.
Municipal council
The council is made up of 6 council members, who were elected by majority votePlurality voting system
The plurality voting system is a single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member constituencies...
at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman.
Coat of arms
The German blazon reads: Von Gold und Rot gespalten, über einem von Blau und Silber gespaltenen Wellenbalken vorn eine rechtsgewendete rote Axt, hinten über drei goldenen Kugeln (1:2) eine goldene Mitra, darin ein rotes Kreuz.The municipality’s arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
might in English heraldic
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
language be described thus: Per pale Or a fess wavy abased azure above which an axe palewise gules, and gules a fess wavy abased conjoined as one to the other argent above which a mitre Or charged with a Latin cross of the field above three bezants, one and two.
The field tincture
Tincture (heraldry)
In heraldry, tinctures are the colours used to emblazon a coat of arms. These can be divided into several categories including light tinctures called metals, dark tinctures called colours, nonstandard colours called stains, furs, and "proper". A charge tinctured proper is coloured as it would be...
s Or and gules (gold and red) refer to the village’s mediaeval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
allegiance to the lordship of Manderscheid-Blankenheim, for they are the Counts’ old tinctures. The fess wavy (that is, horizontal wavy stripe), which changes tincture at the line of partition, symbolizes the local brook, the Reuther Bach. The village’s name, Reuth – in common with other local names that end with —rath, —roth and the like – can be traced back to woodland clearing – called Rodung in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
– that most likely happened in the 9th or 10th century. This part of Reuth’s history, and indeed its name’s derivation, are represented by the axe. The mitre and the three bezants (golden disks, or in this case balls or orbs, as the German blazon has it) are Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
’s attributes, thus representing the municipality’s and the chapel’s patron saint.
Buildings
- ChapelChapelA chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
from 1858. - Wayside cross, southwest of the village on the road to NeuendorfNeuendorf, Rhineland-PalatinateNeuendorf is a municipality in the district of Bitburg-Prüm, in Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany....
– basaltBasaltBasalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
niche cross from before the 18th century.