Fourteen eyewitnesses from all districts of Weiterstadt share their memories – exhibition planned for 2027
How did the people of Weiterstadt experience the regional reform? What changes did the merger of formerly independent municipalities bring, and how did this shape life in the area today? These were the questions explored at a discussion with eyewitnesses, hosted by the Weiterstadt City Archives on October 28, 2026. A total of 14 eyewitnesses from all parts of Weiterstadt came together to share their personal memories. The results will be incorporated into an exhibition for the 50th anniversary next year.
Personal memories of a time of change
The event, entitled "50 Years of Territorial Reform in Hesse," did not focus solely on historical developments. Rather, it explored how local people perceived and experienced the changes at that time.
The regional reform resulted in several previously independent smaller municipalities being merged into one larger municipality. This eventually led to the development of the present-day city of Weiterstadt.
These changes had a lasting impact on the city's development. They affected not only administrative structures but also the way people lived together in the individual districts.
How was the merger received at the time? What expectations and experiences were associated with it? And how did the relationship between the formerly independent municipalities change over the decades?
Such questions formed the starting point for the discussions at the eyewitness café.
City stories and humorous anecdotes
In a relaxed atmosphere with coffee and cake, the participants shared their personal experiences.
A wide variety of memories came together. Besides historical events, personal impressions, everyday stories, and humorous anecdotes played a particularly important role.
The joint review made it clear that the territorial reform and its consequences were experienced differently by different people.
These diverse perspectives are of particular interest to the city archives. They complement the written history of the city with personal experiences and memories.
This resulted in a varied afternoon, during which the development of Weiterstadt was viewed from the perspective of people who experienced this time firsthand.
Exhibition planned for the anniversary in 2027
The memories and discussion results gathered at the eyewitness café will now be incorporated into the preparations for an exhibition.
The occasion is the upcoming 50th anniversary of the regional reform, which Weiterstadt would like to celebrate in 2027.
The exhibition is scheduled to be shown in rotation in all of the city's community centers over the course of the coming year.
This gives citizens from all parts of the city the opportunity to engage with the history of the territorial reform and its impact on the development of Weiterstadt.
In addition to historical information, the personal memories of contemporary witnesses should also play a role.
City archives are looking for historical photos
The city archives are still interested in materials relating to the history of Weiterstadt for the planned exhibition.
Citizens who own historical photographs relating to Weiterstadt and its districts and would like to make them available can contact the city archive.
Such recordings can help to vividly document the changes in the cityscape and in social life over the past decades.
The most important information
Event: Eyewitness Café “50 Years of Territorial Reform in Hesse”
Date: October 28, 2026
Organizer: Weiterstadt City Archives
Participants: 14 contemporary witnesses from all districts of Weiterstadt
Topic: Personal memories of the regional reform and the development of Weiterstadt
Outlook: Traveling exhibition for the anniversary in 2027
Exhibition venues: Rotating between all the community centers in the town of Weiterstadt
Wanted: Historical photographs relating to the history of Weiterstadt
Contact: Weiterstadt City Archives
(WEITERSTADT – RED/PSW)
