“Es Brockelche” – village servant, field gunner, and delivery man
Every community in Rheinhessen had people who were somehow special in their own way. Lovable, but sometimes very quirky. Unfortunately, this category of fellow human beings has become rare in Rheinhessen. “Es Brockelche” was one of those special kind of people.
“Es Brockelche” in front of his farm gate, 1959.
Image source: Ernst-Ludwig Happel
… “gets told by him former Metzjersfra from de Obbergass!”
Johann “Jean” Schneider lived at Obergasse 13.
In the fifties, during the term of office of Mayor Brehm, he was the local servant and had the task of announcing notices of the municipality, as well as the announcement of a new film in the “Festspielhalle Darmstadt”.
Before the news was announced in a loud voice, “es Brockelsche”, as he was affectionately called, swung his brass bell at the top of his lungs.
Then came the announcement, read from his notepad:
“Heit Obend leeft im Saale Darmstadt der
Film: the light ‘Musse’!”
A neighboring woman at the window heard this and called out to him, “Schütz, des heest net ‘Musse’, das heest ‘Muse’!” He didn’t really care, though, and moved a few houses away. He did not take the content of his exclamations too seriously, especially when they were announcements with terms he did not know or names he was not familiar with. Another time, it is said, he rang out again to announce a new film, this time American. He called out:
“Announcement! Heit Obend leeft im Saale Darmstadt der Film … isch’s net lese! Go here, unn do sehn er’s!”
The film was called: “Broadway Melody”. It just wasn’t that simple!
“Es Brockelsche with local bell”, 1958
Image source: Unknown
Autumn closure of the Lotz winery 1952, “Es Brockelsche” on the right side of the picture
Image source: Christel Deiß
In addition to his work as a village servant, Johann Schneider was also active in the Harxheim vineyards as a “Wingertsschütz” in the fall.
References:
Eyewitness reports
