Köpenick’s teacher was called „Dummer“ (stupid)

The number of teachers in Köpenick was pretty impressive at “Dummer’s” time. It wasn’t THE teacher in Köpenick called “Dummer”(stupid), but only A teacher. Teacher “Dummer” started his teaching profession in October 1882 in Köpenick and was a well-known man, due to hundreds of students he educated during his career of 28 years and also due to his work for different clubs and bodies. In 1908 he stated his knowledge to the school deputation at the city. He always went to church and did his work as directorate. The teacher’s club could count on him as well as the choir and school principal Runge. In the principal’s office at Glienicker Maximilian “Dummer” dropped dead on December 22, 1915. “Dummer” was born in “Pyritz” on July 22, 1861 and had returned from war only a few weeks before due to an accident. Since then he was part of the “Freiwillige Genossenschaft der Krankenpfleger” (unsolicited association of orderlies) as a group leader. On July 7, 1915 his wife Else had already died at age 38 in his apartment in Köpenick, Pestalozzistraße 2/3. A contemporary of our poet laureate Schiller cited him as follows:

• Death approaches people fast.
• Death has no terms.
• Falls in the middle of the way.
• Pulls him away from life.
• Ready to go or not.
• He has to meet his judge.

Ever since, teacher „Dummer“ is one of Köpenick’s 7 wonders of the world.

A doctor named “Dr. Todt” (Dr. Death)

When a doctor is called “Todt” (death) it’s understood that this name will make everybody wonder. In about 1874, shortly after Gustav Borgmann had become Köpenick’s mayor, 26 year-old Dr. Adolf Todt began to work as a doctor in Köpenick. It’s unknown whether he was a stranger or son of Köpenick. He was a doctor of the poor and worked at the Köpenick hospital where he saw Köpenick’s dark sides spread in front of his eyes. He lived and worked there until he died on September 18, 1902.

Miss „von Flemming“ founded a society of young men

We don’t know when the society was founded exactly and what it was called. It was said to be a society of young Christian men. It’s a fact though, that Miss Flemming and pastor Wolff, belonging to the Protestant church community “St. Laurentius”, were in contact and that she gave him donations. Pastor Wolff worked in Köpenick from 1896 to 1916. He was chairman of the Protestant society of young men. It seems that this society’s foundation was supported by Adelheid von Flemming. The Flemmings descended from the “Buckows”, a kind of lordship with 14 manors in Switzerland. The park’s and street’s names there still remind of the Flemmings today, they lived in their country estate “Schöneweide” located in today’s district “Spindlersfeld”. Adelheid’s dad had bought this country estate for her mom as a widow’s domicile. In 1903 Miss von Flemming sold her real properties to Ernst Rubien, owner of a print office. He called the streets there Flemming- and Gutenbergstreet. After she had sold her real properties, Miss von Flemming moved to Berlin, where she died on November 15, 1907 at age 76 in the “Brückenstraße” (bridge street). According to her wish, she was buried next to her mother - who had died in 1864 - at the family’s burial place in the Köpenick cemetery, Rudower street.

A mayor called „Borgmann“ („borrowing man“)

We don’t know if (and if yes, how often) Gustav Borgmann stood in front of empty city treasuries and had to borrow some money. It rather seems that his name and not reality constructed a “wonder”. Actually it was the opposite. Under Borgmann’s leadership, Köpenick developed from a typical march spot to Teltow’s largest city with a pretty ideal infrastructure. The energy of Borgmann and his colleagues was due to many factors. When Borgmann became Köpenick’s mayor in 1871, the so-called “foundation years” started which was not only due to the war. Köpenick and it’s location at the imperial capital’s main waterways benefited from this development. Many promotive factors led to Borgmann’s success. The “Forstgerechtsamkeit”, the city’s borderline and the modern reformation of public places and bridges all took place during Borgmann’s reign. Even the development of the school system was due to Borgmann’s work.

After 33 years as Köpenick’s mayor, Borgmann - born on February 15, 1838 – retired for reasons of age. Unfortunately he could not enjoy his sunset years. He died on April 6, 1908 shortly after his 70^th birthday. Gustav Borgmann was buried next to his friend, Dr. Todt (Dr. “Death”). His obituary said: “Gustav Borgmann was a preventive, even gentle, head of the city council, always on the right track. A faithful citizen, always willing to help and advise those who weren’t as fortunate. He was honorable and a friend of meaningful humour. Altogether, according to his being and his outward appearance, he was our city’s number one citizen“. Unfortunately, Gustav Borgmann’s grave was not conserved.

The hospital at the cemetery

Today, the Köpenick hospital belongs to the “Allende-Quarter”. But shortly after 1870 the Köpenick hospital was built right next to the cemetery “Rudower Straße” and a rehabilitation center. The still existing half-timbered building gives us an idea of what the old hospital looked like. Dr. Todt (Dr. “Death”) worked here, accompanied by two nurses. Two years after Dr. Todt’s death, a third nurse joined. All nurses together earned 1.000 marks a year. In comparison, in 1900 each patient had a limit of 82 pens nursing allowance. The hospital had about 40 beds. On December 29, 1904 the hospital had about 26 male and 10 female patients. Male patients stayed there for about 18.3 days, female patients for about 36.1 days. In 1904 the Köpenick hospital got an autopsy ward for about 1.900 marks. In the same year the old horse shelter became the hospital’s pavilion. Nevertheless, a new hospital was planned. The old Köpenick hospital then became a nursing home.

Jail in „Freedom“ street

This street Freiheit (freedom) had been named a long time before the district court and the district jail were built there. The name “Freiheit” (freedom) is due to the settlement of Huguenots in Köpenick between 1685 and 1700. At this time the Huguenots as well as the Jews could only be judged by the elector. In order to make settlement easier for the Huguenots, they were excused from a couple of duties – for this reason the street was called “Freiheit” (freedom). Between 1878 and 1879 the district court and jail were built. Only 20 years later (due to the city’s growth) it wasn’t up to standards anymore. It was actually planned to enlarge the building and make the boarding school smaller. But since the construction of the “Dorotheen-Lyzeum” was planned there, now domicile of the district authority at the “Freiheit 15”, the new jail was built at the “Dammevorstadt”. It took only 2 years (October 1, 1899 – December 1 1901) to build the new district court and a modern jail. This complex still exists today and created jobs for 11 judges. The jail was built for 9 women and 43 men. In 1899 Köpenick had 20.197 inhabitants. These times must have been contemplative for judges and police.

The „town hall cellar“on the first floor

The town hall cellar on the first floor somehow found its pendant in the tower room of Berlin’s Red City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) which isn’t in the tower but beneath the tower on the ground floor. The Köpenick town hall cellar wasn’t even in the old Köpenick city hall (the former building). It was located at the “Schlossplatz”. At the corner with the beautiful roof-towers. In front of the “cellar” which exists since the sixties of the former century, the “Schwarzer Adler” (black eagle) used to welcome its guests. The new building made it possible to run the inn inside the building. In the middle of 1905 the town hall cellar was opened. The curiosity of the cellar on the second floor soon became a legend.