A piece of Indersdorfer history returns

Created: 01/25/2022, 19:02

Now they are back and delight many Indersdorfer: special signposts made of wood.

© Walter Hanusch

A small piece of local history is returning to the market town of Indersdorf: Very special signposts are being put up again.

Indersdorf - In the 1970s they were part of the townscape, the carved signposts on the Indersdorfer Marktplatz and on the Bahnweg in Karpfhofen.

The farmer at the market place showed the viewer the way to the train station, the farmer with the sow the way to the market place.

And the nuns with their children pointed the way to the monastery in Karpfhofen.

Many years ago the signs were gone.

This annoyed some Indersdorfers so much that they investigated in 2016.

One didn't give up until the signs - at least those that look the same - were back.

But from the beginning:

The history of the signs goes back to the former mayor Hans Strixner.

At that time he commissioned the Indersdorf woodcarver Hans Isemann to make the signposts.

From then on, not only the people of Indersdorf were enthusiastic about Isemann's original works, but also many visitors to the market town.

Much to the chagrin of Werner Probst and Georg Weigl.

both live in Karpfhofen, near the signpost to the monastery, which one day disappeared from the scene.

Allegedly, the signs were removed by construction workers.

Bauhof boss Michael Eberhardt explained why.

"In the course of a construction project on the market square, the signpost to the train station was in the way and was removed, as was the one in Karpfhofen.

Also, both were in a condition that would not have made restoration possible.”

Weigl, a long-time former municipal councillor, inquired about the whereabouts in the municipality in 2016 and was just referred to the building yard.

An inspection confirmed Eberhardt's statement that the specimens could no longer be restored.

The ravages of time had already left their mark on the signs beforehand and also due to the storage in the building yard.

But Weigl did not give up.

Again and again he made representations to the congregation.

He put pressure on them to find an artist who would re-carve the two signposts based on the originals by Hans Isemann.

Georg Weigl was only satisfied when the community signaled their willingness to replace the signs.

Where is the train station from here?

This sign on the market square now shows the way again.

© Walter Hanusch

After a long search for an artist to take on this work, Hubert Wilhelm from Petershausen was found.

No stranger, because the artist already gave carving courses offered by the adult education center in Indersdorf.

It took some time for Wilhelm to carve the two signposts based on Hans Isemann's originals.

The nuns carved by Isemann in Karpfhofen were originally painted.

Wilhelm, however, created his works in natural wood - he has his reason: "When painted, the pores of the wood close, the wood does not get any air.

That would shorten the shelf life enormously.”

Now the signposts are up again - not only to the delight of Georg Weigl and Werner Probst, but also of many Indersdorf citizens.

One thing is for sure, many agree: the farmer on the market place upgrades the newly designed market place.

Walter Hanusch