In the packed hall of the town hall, Mayor Manuel Aichberger opened the new Topotheque, which was presented by Topothequer Erwin Martinetz. The musical accompaniment was provided by Thomas Gravogl with his own songs relating to the town and its surroundings enhancing the emotional content of the old photographs. Alexander Schatek explained how to use the Topothek.
This new online archive already documents several key events in the city‘s history with photo series. These include the opening in 1964 of the now historic, but still operational, single-seat chairlift to the Muckenkogel mountain, attended by many prominent figures; the granting of city status in 1974 with the Federal President; and numerous flood events.
Many of the photos are quite familiar to the residents of Lilienfeld, but hardly anyone has ever looked at them closely. Erwin Martinetz zoomed in on the photos, and a murmur went through the hall: in the background of the speakers and musical groups captured in the images, many recognized long-deceased acquaintances and even relatives! Even the Topothequer‘s grandfather happened to be scurrying around a corner in the background in 1964! How much more interesting a photo becomes when neutral passersby suddenly become people with whom you had a close relationship!
Of course, one name cannot be omitted from the list of prominent figures from Lilienfeld: Mathias Zdarsky. In 1905, this ski pioneer organized the first giant slalom in skiing history on the slopes of the Muckenkogel. In Lilienfeld, skiing wasn‘t just for downhill skiing, but also for ski jumping. And even in summer, people knew how to stay active – in the water of the outdoor swimming pool, which has changed considerably over time. While the water provided welcome refreshment in the summer, it sometimes brought disaster. These flood photos also offer a glimpse into local economic history. Two Mazda station wagons from the first two series to conquer the Austrian automotive market demonstrate that the Schrittwieser car dealership was a pioneer in the brand in Lilienfeld.
Following the presentation, numerous photos were handed over to the Topotheque team, and Lilienfeld Topotheque evenings were already scheduled for February 19th and March 19th to rapidly expand and make the town‘s digital collection even more interesting.
The speakers on the opening evening, in the round of the other Topothequers: Alexander Schatek (left), Erwin Martinetz (4th from the left), Thomas Grasvogl (with guitar), Mayor Manuel Aichberger (right) © Stadtgemeinde Lilienfeld