John Blankenbaker's Germanna History Notes

Note 1665

In Schwaigern, the head of the von Neipperg family was the Lord of the town and surrounding areas.  At first, the family generally had the status of Knights.  About 1719, and certainly before 1726, Reinhard von Neipperg was elevated to a Count.  At about the same time, he converted to Catholicism.  In his residence, he built a Catholic chapel.  The community remained largely Protestant (Lutheran) and the Count had the right to name the pastor.  In 1755, he transferred the right of choosing the Protestant pastor to an expanded community representative body.  (The von Neippergs still have a presence in Schwaigern, with their Schloss on the main square, next to the Lutheran church.)  Pictures are available on the Germanna Colonies Family History home-page of this web site.  The son of Reinhard was a career diplomat in the Vienna Court of the Emperor.)

Fire was always a problem in the towns and villages.  Schwaigern had its share.  In 1811, 90 buildings were destroyed.  Barely had the town been rebuilt, when in January and February of 1849, 18 main buildings and 27 outbuildings burned down.  Because the two fires that were closely spaced in time, perhaps they had been incendiary.  Then in 1892, fire destroyed one section of the city and, in the reconstruction, the Bahnhofstrasse (Railroad Street) came into being from the Marktplatz (Market Square) to the Wassergasse (Water Lane).  Another fire, in 1905, burned between the Schlosskirche (Castle Church), Heilbronner Street, and the Markplatz.  The town hall on the main square was destroyed along with 13 residences and 30 barns.

Hail storms have created havoc also.  In recent times they occurred in 1883, 1897, and 1905.

A good source for reading about the conditions in Schwaigern in the eighteenth century is Aaron Spencer Fogleman's " Hopeful Journeys ".  This discusses the Kraichgau region, which roughly runs from Schwaigern to Heidelberg.  Our most recent discussion of this area was when we talked about Pastor Henkel, who emigrated to America.
(Fogleman's book is discussed more on Page 68, Note 1677 , and on Page 68, Note 1686 .)

In our visits to Schwaigern, Eleanor and I have not been very impressed.  Perhaps one reason is that there are few good photographic opportunities.  The buildings are close to each other and getting a good visual setting is difficult.  The city is also confusing in its layout.  One resorts to sheer memory in finding one's way around and does not try to apply any logic.

The question was asked, "Would the family name Schwiger be related to Schwaigern?"  I doubt it.
(08 May 03)