M

In 1961, around 30 singers came together at the VHS Bocholt to rehearse madrigals, folk songs, cantatas and motets under the direction of Lotar Gronau. In June 1963, after intensive rehearsals, the resulting madrigal choir gave its first public concert and sang madrigals from the 16th and 17th centuries and a cantata by George Frideric Handel.

On the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the town of Bocholt in 1972, the choir began its development from a chamber music ensemble to a large concert choir with the performance of Carl Orff's "Carmina burana".

In the following decades, Lotar Gronau worked with the choir on secular and sacred a cappella works as well as the most important composers from the oratorio and mass repertoire of the baroque, classical, romantic and modern periods.

An important concern of Lotar and Brigitte Gronau, in addition to extensive rehearsal work, was the cultivation of sociability. For this reason, the couple organised twenty trips to France between 1973 and 2002, where choir members and members of the circle of friends enjoyed music, culture and culinary delights.

After reunification, the singers had already travelled through eastern Germany five times in the footsteps of Johann Sebastian Bach by 2007.

In November 2005, Rainer Maria Klaas took over the direction of the Madrigal Choir from Lotar Gronau.

With the development of the Madrigal Choir from a chamber choir to an oratorio choir, the question arose as to how the performances of the great works of choral literature with solos and orchestra could be financed in future. The costs could not be covered by the income from ticket sales alone.

For this reason, the Friends of the Madrigalchor Bocholt e.V. was founded in 1978. Its members pay a fixed annual contribution towards the fees of the artists involved.

It is not only the joy of music that connects the singers of the Madrigalchor with the circle of friends, personal contacts have also been made, especially at joint celebrations and when travelling.

The Gerburgisheim in Bocholt is home to a girls' protection group for girls aged between 12 and 18 who

in
• need,
• threatened and affected by physical, psychological and/or sexual violence,
• have run away from their families or youth welfare centres,
• want to get out of unbearable situations and don't know where to go.

During their stay, which lasts a maximum of three months, the girls receive intensive educational and psychological support with the aim of helping them to

return
• to their family of origin or
placement
• for inpatient therapy, i.e. admission to a suitable facility, or
• independent living in their own home (assisted living)

The "Memorial to the Victims of Violence", designed by the Jewish artist Ellen Bernkopf (born 1904 in Hanover, died 1992 in Jerusalem), stands in a small green area on the corner of Casinowall/Kirchstraße on the Aa-Promenade. It stands for the war and civilian dead of the world wars and those who perished in the concentration camps. The artist, herself a victim of persecution under the Nazi regime, wanted a quiet sculpture in the centre of the city's traffic. The memorial was not to be placed in a remote location, such as a cemetery, where it would only come to the public's attention on official days of mourning.

The sculpture is a life-size figure sitting on a plinth, with arms folded and head slightly tilted, appearing to be contemplating. Mrs Bernkopf's intention was that people rushing past, especially children, would not be frightened but would be encouraged to think and ask questions.

Mrs Bernkopf worked on the sculpture in a studio at the Pastori foundry in Geneva from 1968 to 1969. In the spring of 1970, the memorial was erected in the place the artist had specially requested between the Aa bridges, in front of the Südhaus. In 1999, the memorial was moved to its current location as part of the construction work on Neutor Square.

Lit:
Ellen Bernkopf, To the victims, in UNSER BOChOLT Jg. 21 (1970), H. 1, p. 8/9
Gerd Häckelmann, "Memorial for the victims of violence", in UNSER BOCHOLT Jg. 21 (1970), H. 1, p. 6/7

This path was named in honour of the abbess of the Poor Clares convent, Sister Maria Paschalis (Anna Stollmeier 1892-1961).

Lit:
Wilhelm Seggewiß, Bocholter Straßen erzählen Geschichte, in: UNSER BOCHOLT Jg. 40 (1989), H. 3, p. 64.
Gerhard Schmalstieg, Straßennamen in Bocholt nach nur hier bekannten Personen, in: UNSER BOCHOLT Jg. 55 (2004) H. 4, p. 53-72.
Source: Gerhard Schmalstieg, Where does the "Schwartzstraße" get its name from?

The first chapel in Mussum was built in 1671 on the Niedermöller-Kapellemann estate. It was called "Chapel of Our Lady". The current owner of the farm still goes by the common nickname "Chapelman". At the time of its construction, the Catholic faithful in Mussum still belonged to the parish of St George.

The vicar at the time, Ernst-Ignaz Busch, had the chapel built so that the faithful from Mussum, Liedern and Lowick could fulfil their Sunday duty and be taught religion. However, the chapel was demolished after a few decades. In 1897, Mussum was separated from the original parish of St George and assigned to the new parish of St Joseph. The street "Mussumer Kirchweg" still describes the route that the faithful took to the new church.

When St. Joseph's Church was destroyed on 22 March 1945, an emergency church was first set up in the warehouse of the farmers' cooperative and later in the hall of the "Mussumer Mühle" restaurant. Karl Wiedehage, the parish priest of St Josef at the time, temporarily took over pastoral care in the parish. Even before the hall had been prepared for the service, the priest was shot by looters during a night-time raid and died on 30 June 1945. At the urging of the faithful for a church of their own, the chapel association was founded in August 1947. Numerous donations and personal contributions made it possible to lay the foundation stone of the church, designed by the architect Kösters from Münster, on 8 August 1949.

The church "Maria, Trösterin der Betrübten" was consecrated by Auxiliary Bishop Roleff on 25 May 1950 with a large attendance from the local population. In 1964-1966, the church was rebuilt and extended due to the increased building development in Mussum. The windows and the choir were redesigned, and the redesign of the chancel was based on the regulations on the reorganisation of the liturgy issued by the Second Vatican Council, which came into force on the first Sunday of Lent 1964. The altar area was arranged according to these aspects.

Architect Bernd Kösters and Josef Baron are the responsible designers. It goes without saying that the image of the Mother of God is present in a St Mary's Church. The sculptor Emil Ebert created the image of a protective mantle Madonna, under whose mantle the congregation is sheltered. The cross above the altar shows the crucified Jesus. A beam made of elm wood serves as the crossbeam for this 2.80 metre high crucifix. This work was created by the sculptor Johannes Paschker. The simple windows are based on designs by the artist Mrs Lucy Vollbrecht-Büschlepp. Over time, the name of the church was changed to "Maria Trost" and later to its current name "Maria Trösterin".

In the meantime, the population of the parish had risen to around 2000. The parishioners pushed for independence and separation from the parish of St Joseph. On 1 October 1952, the church initially became a parish rectorate and on 1 October 1955 was elevated to an independent parish. Pastor Bernhard Hecker was the first parish rector to take office in 1952. After his death in September 1954, he was succeeded by Pastor August Sellenscheidt, who retired in September 1982.

The current pastor, Hubert Oelgemöller, was inaugurated on 26 September 1982. A separate cemetery was built in additional community work, which is still administered by the Maria Trösterin parish. The first burial in the new cemetery took place on 14 April 1951.

The two deceased pastors Bernhard Hecker and August Sellenscheidt also found their final resting place in the parish cemetery. Ursel Jost, 50 years of the Maria Trösterin parish in Mussum. Waltraud Liebrand, Art in the church Maria Trösterin. From: Commemorative publication for the 50th anniversary of the Maria Trösterin parish church, Mussum 2000.

Legend has it that the pilgrimage dates back to around 1430, when a poor shepherd suffering from an incurable illness was enlightened and found an image of the Mother of God in an oak tree that had grown in the shape of a staircase, worshipped it and was healed. The news of the healing prompted many sick people to take refuge in Our Lady of Marienbaum and ask her for help.

Between 1438 and 1441, a chapel was built for the image, the "refuge of sinners". The royal house of Cleves was very fond of the miraculous image and its veneration. The Duchess of Cleves used her own funds to found a double monastery for monks and nuns near the chapel, based on the Order of the Redeemer founded by St Britta of Sweden. The building was completed in 1460.

The pilgrimage, which began soon after 1430, continued through the turmoil of the wars of the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1636 and 1637, a plague claimed around 2000 victims. People flocked to the image of the "Refuge of Sinners". The church, which had been built in front of the original chapel of grace when the monastery was founded, had become dilapidated, so the monastery management decided to build a new one.

This new building is now the parish church of Marienbaum with the old Chapel of Grace as the choir. The pilgrimages to Marienbaum lost importance when the place of grace Kevelaer flourished in 1642. The monastery was closed by the French in 1801, but the image of grace still has its place on an altar in the parish church.

According to oral tradition, the pilgrimage from Bocholt to Marienbaum began in 1575.

The Bocholt pilgrimage is first documented in 1716, on the day of the Assumption of Mary, in a report about a miraculous healing of a Bocholt pilgrim.

In the first decades of the 18th century, the pilgrimage to Marienbaum is said to have been switched to Kevelaer. There may have been various reasons why this happened so late. The people of Bocholt had been connected to the pilgrimage site of Marienbaum since time immemorial, the route to Kevelaer was longer and the organisation of the pilgrimage had to be changed.

Initially individual pilgrims, later groups, travelled on to Kevelaer, and 1733 is officially regarded as the beginning of the pilgrimages to Kevelaer. However, the connection with Marienbaum has remained to this day. The pilgrims to Kevelaer stop off at the pilgrimage church on the way there and back and pray in a prayer to the "Saviour of Sinners".

Lit:
Dr Elisabeth Bröker, 250 Jahre Fußprozession Bocholt-Kevelaer, in:UNSER BOCHOLT Jg. 34 (1983) H.2.
See also:
Kevelaer pilgrimage: foot pilgrimage, family pilgrimage, women's cycle pilgrimage, men's cycle pilgrimage.
Haltern pilgrimage to Annaberg.

The many name changes alone reflect the one hundred and forty-year history of secondary education for girls in Bocholt and beyond:

Private school
• for daughters,
Higher
• girls' school,
Marienlyzeum
• ,
Private
• Catholic girls' school,
Frauenschule
• ,
Oberlyzeum
• ,
Frauenoberschule
• ,
Städtisches
• Lyzeum mit dreijähriger Frauenschule,
Deutsche
• Oberschule für Mädchen,hauswirtschaftliche Form

It all began with the "permission" from the Royal Government on 5 October 1866 to establish "a public school for daughters" in Bocholt. It was only to accept girls "who had reached compulsory school age". This date is regarded as the founding date of today's Mariengymnasium.

The school was initially located next to the Church of Our Lady in the building of the former Minorite grammar school and was run by the Sisters "Our Lady" (hereafter: U. L. F.) in Coesfeld. However, their presence only lasted until 1875 due to the Kulturkampf and the convent laws. The headmistress, Sister Athanasia, née Kock, and her fellow sisters had to leave Bocholt and were replaced by secular teachers.

It was not until 1891 that the Sisters U. L. F. of the Cooperative of Mülhausen received permission to re-establish a secondary girls' school in Bocholt under the direction of Sister Ansgaria von Tappehorn. The school moved to Langenbergstraße 18 in 1895 because the premises were more suitable. However, as these soon proved to be inadequate, the school moved to the garden of the St. Georg pastorate. Sister Leonia Grünewald, together with Sister Haverine, organised the construction of a school building there from 1900.

As the question of recognition had not yet been decided, a board of trustees was founded in 1913. In 1916, Sister M. Alacoque Dickmann (1915-1926) succeeded in having the school recognised by the state as a lyceum (previous name: Private Catholic Girls' School, now: Marien-Lyzeum). In 1919, a one-year women's school was added to the lyceum and Sister M. Apollonia took over its management. This made it necessary to enlarge the school building and increase the number of staff.

In 1922, the school merged with the private Protestant girls' school on Nordwall, which until then had been run by Miss Hambloch. In 1926, Sister M. Alacoque took her leave as headmistress and was succeeded by Sister Ancilla Imbusch for almost 11 years.

Between 1927 and 1935, the lyceum was expanded into an upper lyceum, the first Abitur took place there in 1930, the last in 1936, as the National Socialists established the three-year women's school in 1935. For this reason, the Sisters U. L. F. were once again replaced by secular teachers at the end of the 1936/37 school year, and the school was transferred from the St George community to the city. Oberstudiendirektor Raestrup, the headmaster of St George's Grammar School, took over as provisional headmaster and was replaced by Oberstudiendirektor Dr Herdemann in 1938. The first Abitur at the women's secondary school took place in 1937.

In 1938, the National Socialists renamed the "Städtisches Lyzeum mit dreijähriger Frauenschule" to "Deutsche Oberschule für Mädchen, hauswirtschaftliche Form" in line with their understanding of the role of German women. In the 1941/42 school year, lessons were severely disrupted by air raid alarms until they had to be cancelled completely on 21 September 1941.

The devastating destruction of Bocholt on 22 March 1945 also hit the school building hard. It was not until 25 January 1946 that lessons could be resumed with 353 pupils, but on a half-day rotation in the premises of the undestroyed St. Georg Grammar School. The name was changed to "Neusprachliches Gymnasium" (with women's classes UIII-UII) and Dr Semmelmann was appointed deputy headmaster on 17 November 1947.

It was not until the 1956/57 school year that the 15 classes were able to return to their own building on Schleusenwall; the official opening ceremony took place on 24 September 1956. Dr Semmelmann, who had retired in the meantime, was succeeded in 1961 by Senior Director of Studies Susanne Scholz (until 14.07.73).

In 1963, the Bocholt town council decided to expand the women's secondary school up to the final examination. This led to the construction of a new building for the women's secondary school in 1964, which was able to offer education up to A-levels from 1965. In 1965/66, a so-called F-Gymnasium was added to the girls' grammar school (with the acquisition of the subject-specific university entrance qualification for studying at the Pädagogische Hochschule [PH], the Hauswirtschaftsschule and Sporthochschule).

Co-education was also introduced in the F-branch. There were now three routes to the Abitur at the girls' grammar school: the modern language grammar school, the grammar school for women's education and the pedagogical-musical F grammar school (in 1967, the three different forms of the Abitur were taken for the first time).

The inauguration of a pavilion in 1966 provided urgently needed new rooms. On 1 February 1974, Oberstudiendirektor Herkel took over from Oberstudiendirektor Scholz, but left the school a year later due to a promotion. In 1975, the city council gave the school the name "Mariengymnasium" and introduced co-education for the entire school. Oberstudiendirektor Brinkhaus took over as headmaster on 3 September 1975.

On 8 May 1978, work began on an urgently needed extension, which was inaugurated on 18 March 1981.

In the 1990/91 school year, a bilingual branch was established (increasing English-language teaching, also in the specialised subjects).

Lit:

Permission to establish a public school for daughters in Bocholt dated 5 October 1866, in: UNSER BOCHOLT Jg. 42 (1991), H. 2 , p. 33.
Norbert Sieg, Chronicle of the municipal Mariengymnasium in Bocholt, ibid. pp. 34-36.
Roland Kirsch, Verhinderte der 'physiologische Schwachsinn des Weibes' die Gleichberechtigung?, Some notes on the history of girls' education, ibid. pp. 37-40.
Maria Hoffmann, A former pupil tells ibid. p. 56.
Susanne Scholz, Die gewandelte innere und äußere Struktur der Marienschule, in: UNSER BOCHOLT Jg. 18 (1967) H. 4, p. 42 ff.

At the beginning of March 1945, the five Catholic parishes in the city centre placed themselves under the protection of the Mother of God and, in the hope that the city and its population would be spared, promised to have a statue of the Virgin Mary erected. Despite the destruction, a competition was held after the reconstruction, which only determined the location in the vicinity of St George's.

The artists were able to determine the shape and the exact location themselves. The sculptor Wilhelm Hanebal (1905 - 1982) then created the 2.60 metre high figure in Jura marble. In front of the massive westwork with its soaring tower, the Madonna leads the faithful to the main portal. She is seated in order to create a transition from the level of the forecourt to the vertical of the tower via the stepped base and knees. Mary sits with empty open hands as a mourner, her son has been taken from her like many women and mothers during the war.

The inscription on the pedestal EMPFIEHL UNS DEINEM SOHNE refers to the promise of 1945. The statue was inaugurated on 31 March 1957 by Vicar General Laurenz Böggering.

Lit:
Wilhelm Hanebal, Die Marienstatue vor der Georgskirche, in: UNSER BOCHOLT Jg. 8 (1957) H. 3, p. 11-13.
Bocholter Kirchenkalender 1954 and 1958. J. Waldhoff, Holz, Stein und Bronze, Will Hanebal zum 100. Geburtstag, Steinheim 2005.

On 6 March 1904, the founding meeting at the Hotel Gebbing (Großer Kurfürst) was attended by 16 members and the then mayor of Bocholt was informed in writing on 30 March 1904. A fully preserved original copy of the association's statutes can be found in the Bocholt city archives. According to the law of the time, this naval comradeship had to be affiliated to the warriors' association of the Prussian state warriors' association. In 1921, the comradeship became independent after separating from the Landeskriegerverband.

After the Second World War, the Marine Kameradschaft Bocholt 1904 was re-established in October 1951. It joined the German Naval Association in 1953. In 1954, the 50th anniversary was celebrated with a memorial service at the cemetery of honour in today's municipal cemetery on Blücherstraße.

On 9 March 1967, the Bocholt city council decided to sponsor the German Navy gunboat "Seeadler" from Olpenitz near Kappeln. The Bocholt naval comradeship was included in this sponsorship. Since then, a friendly relationship has been maintained with the commander and crew. After the Seeadler was decommissioned in March 1976, the city of Bocholt agreed to sponsor the S 68 speedboat, which was in service from March 1977 until 2005.

In 1997, after many years of endeavour, a shanty choir was founded by the Bocholt Naval Comradeship. This was registered as a non-profit association with 115 members on 31 July 2001. A commemorative publication was published to mark its 100th anniversary in 2004.

Lit:
Festschrift 100 Jahre Marinekameradschaft Bocholt 1904 e.V. (available in the Bocholt city archives).

1 St Martin

The writer Sulpicius Severus (born around 363, died around 420), a contemporary of St Martin, and Bishop Gregory of Tours (born 538, died 594), one of his successors as Bishop of Tours, report on the life and work of St Martin. Sulpicius Severus does not pass on a curriculum vitae in the usual sense, but reports on individual stages in the life of St. Martin in the external form of letters and dialogues. In the 6th century, Bishop Gregory of Tours compiles reports on the miraculous effects and veneration of his predecessor Martin.

Martin was born around the year 316 (others place later years) in Sabaria, today's Szombathely (Steinamanger) in Hungary as the son of a Roman officer and also joined the Roman army at the age of around fifteen. His last assignment was as an officer in the imperial guard cavalry. These officers wore a white uniform coat. Like many young people of his time, Martin had turned to the up-and-coming new religion of Christianity, which had also been publicly promoted since Emperor Constantine.

During his service as an officer in the imperial guard cavalry, which took him to Amiens in what is now northern France, among other places, the soldier Martin shared his cloak with the freezing beggar in winter. After his voluntary departure from the imperial army, Martin became a pupil of Bishop Hilarius of Poitiers, tried to persuade his parents to convert to Christianity around 360 (he only succeeded with his mother), then lived as a hermit near Milan, travelled through Italy as a "wandering monk" and finally settled as a hermit near the city of Poitiers, together with many disciples and friends.

When a new bishop was elected in Tours in 371, the choice fell on Martin, who initially resisted (he is said to have hidden in a goose stall). Martin remained a monk even after his election as bishop. His episcopal term of office included many missionary journeys through his diocese to convert the population. Martin died in Candes on 8 November 397 during one of his pastoral journeys and was buried in Tours on 11 November 397. The veneration of St Martin, which had already begun during his lifetime, continued to grow after his death.

He was venerated as a national patron saint, especially in Gaul and in the later Frankish Empire. His episcopal city became an important place of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages. Martin's cloak (called a cappa) was kept by the Frankish and later the French kings in the Saint Chapelle in Paris (today's word chapel is derived from capella), where it was looked after by a capellanus (today's word chaplain is derived from this).

2. the custom

The commemoration of St Martin on 11 November became an economically significant date in the Middle Ages and early modern times. On St Martin's Day, the harvest work had to be completed, the servants changed masters and received their annual wages. On St Martin's Day, rents and taxes were paid and the bills of merchants and craftsmen were settled. St Martin's Day was the last public holiday before the forty-day pre-Christmas fasting period.

In Bocholt, the veneration of St Martin has been part of the annual festivities for centuries. The custom of pledging gifts, initially by students and after the Thirty Years' War by children and the poor, arose. The Low German song "Sünte Martins Vöggelken" (St Martin's Birds") refers to the pestering for gifts. At the beginning of the 20th century, the children's pestering for gifts on St Martin's Eve increasingly degenerated into harassment and begging, so in 1910 the Bocholt Association for the Preservation of Local History organised a joint, regulated procession for the first time.

In keeping with tradition, many hollowed-out carrots, painstakingly decorated with elaborate carvings and illuminated by the soft glow of a candle, have been on display ever since. Since the 1920s, Bishop Martin has ridden in front of the St Martin's procession; unlike in the Rhineland, it is not preceded by the soldier Martin. Perhaps Martin was emphasised as a bishop because the terrible experience of the First World War strengthened the desire for a charitable, caring role model. After the regional reform in 1975, the large city centre Martin procession of the old city of Bocholt was retained. In the neighbouring communities that became part of Bocholt, the tradition of St Martin's processions that had developed there was also continued in the same way.

In addition to the eleven St Martin's processions in Bocholt, there are also many smaller processions of individual kindergartens, so that in the days around 11 November the old St Martin's songs can be heard everywhere and St Martin's lights are displayed. The Verein für Heimatpflege Bocholt e.V. has presented and analysed St Martin's customs in various publications.

In the past, market rights were usually granted together with the town charter. The granting of market rights was also associated with the election of a market judge. This judge and his assistants ensured that there were no fisticuffs at the market or riots in the respective inns. Market rights were granted to the towns by the respective sovereign. It was introduced in 1016 by Henry IV of Bavaria, who was the first monastery in the German Empire to grant minting privileges and market rights to St Mary's Abbey in Prüm.

As a sign that they had market rights, towns had to erect an external market sign during market hours as a symbol of market freedom. In Bocholt it was a simple cross. It stood there for as long as the freedom of the market lasted. In Münster it was the sword.

In the 15th century there were two markets in Bocholt, the annual markets and the weekly markets. It was not until 1441 that Bocholt was granted a charter for the weekly markets by Bishop Heinrich, as documented. However, it can be assumed that this privilege was already granted when the Weichbildrecht was granted, or at the latest when the town charter was granted. As the market charter had to be renewed with the accession of each new sovereign, this is probably a confirmation of the old charter. In the charter, all those who visited this market, with the exception of caught thieves, obvious manslayers or murderers, persons declared peaceless by the court, or who had caused damage to the monastery or the town, were assured that they could travel freely and in peace to and from the markets.

On 24 September, Bishop Walram of Münster came to Bocholt to receive the customary homage. Two days earlier, on 22 September, he granted the town the right to levy a tax on all horses, cattle and pigs sold at the free fairs. The items sold at these markets were all kinds of local produce: fish in large quantities, handicrafts, woollen cloth and various types of furs and shoes.

According to the statute book of 1481, our town had three free fairs. These were: The first on St Severinus (13 May), the second on St James (25 July) and the third, the most important, on 4 December (St Barbara). This was rung with all the bells and lasted 15 days. It was also known as the "Nikolausmarkt" because the feast of St Nicholas (6 December) fell during the first days of this market period. This name has stuck to the last market of the year to this day.

At the request of the town, Bishop Johann granted the privilege of holding another free market on the day after the Exaltation of the Cross (14 September) in September 1571. It was usually called the "Cross Fair". In 1685, Bishop Maximilian Heinrich granted the right to hold a fifth market, which took place on 31 October and was mainly intended for the trade in fat cattle.

The cattle markets were still held in the 14th century in front of the Ostertor on the so-called "Woort". They were later moved to the square in front of today's courthouse on Nordstraße. The square was still a cattle market and fairground until after the First World War. Today's Nordstraße is also called Viehstraße on old city maps and the city gate Viehtor (Veepurte).

Until the annual markets were reorganised in 1887, the town had 10 annual markets (including the cattle market and the market for general supplies), which were spread over the individual months of the year, with the exception of February and August. The markets held in late autumn and winter were called "fat markets". Only fat cattle intended for slaughter were offered here. At the request of Bocholt's rural population, the number of cattle markets was to be increased.

The number of markets seemed superfluous at the time and detrimental to Bocholt's tradesmen. From 1888, with the exception of the months of December, January and February, in which only one cattle market was to be held, further cattle markets were to be held in Bocholt every fortnight on Tuesdays.

Of the 10 markets, only 5 were to remain, each combined with a cattle market. However, this did not prove successful. According to new market regulations from 1891, cattle markets were only held every 4 weeks on Wednesdays, and on 5 other market days in the months of March, May, July, August (or September) and December, cattle markets were combined with a stall market. The Münsterländer Heimatkalender of 1941 still lists 14 markets for Bocholt. 5 stall and cattle markets and 6 cattle markets.

The most important fair for the people of Bocholt is the Bocholt funfair. It has always been the centre of attraction in the town for three days. Centuries ago, a small congregation gathered in the church to celebrate the day of the consecration of St George. For this event, which was also attended by farmers from the surrounding area of Bocholt, " travelling folk" also came to the town to show off their skills. Later, travelling traders also arrived, supplying the families with everything they could not produce themselves: Kettles, pots, nails or tools. Gradually, the fair developed into an unrivalled funfair.

What is left of these fairs today?

- The Bocholt funfair is the largest fair in western Münsterland,

- the Krammarkt four times a year, with the St Nicholas market as a special event. (The associated cattle market still existed during the Second World War).

- the weekly market, with its more than 600 years of tradition, which still takes place (today four times a week) in front of the historic town hall.

New additions since September 1998 are the evening market every Thursday in front of the historic town hall and, more recently, the Christmas market.

You could also add the wine festival, the "Bokeltsen Treff" and all open Sundays.

Lit:

Wilhelm Seggewiß, "Bocholter Straßen erzählen Geschichte". in UNSER BOCHOLT Jg. 38. H 2-3, p. 90.

Charlotte Kersting, "Kirmes. A town celebrates", in: UNSER BOCHOLT Jg. 21, H. 3, p. 12-17.

Friedrich Rejgers, "Geschichte der Stadt Bocholt" und ihrer Nachbarschaft, Bocholt 1891, pp. 181 ff., 599 ff.,643 ff., 729 ff., 799 ff., 984.

Friedrich Reigers, "The town of Bocholt during the nineteenth century", Bocholt 1907, 1966, pp. 224 ff., 230 ff.

Dr Hans D. Oppel, " Living relics from ancient times ", in : UNSER BOCHOLT Vol. 48, H. 2, pp. 65-66

Otto Moritz was born on 26 March 1905 in Golkowitz, district of Kreuzburg O.S.. Nothing is known about his family background or his schooling. He trained at the teacher training college in Leobschütz, completing his training with the 1st state examination in 1925.

However, he did not enter the teaching profession until 1934; his employment in the meantime is unknown. Moritz passed his 2nd state examination in 1936 and then worked as a teacher in Oderwiese, Krappitz district. He was drafted into the Wehrmacht in 1940-45, and on 17 March 1946 he and his family were expelled from Silesia and initially came to the district of Leer in Lower Saxony. On 17 June 1947, he was assigned to a post at Biemenhorst primary school as a so-called refugee teacher.

On 1 April 1954, he became deputy headteacher and assistant headteacher, and after the retirement of headteacher Heinrich Hillermann on 1 April 1957, he became acting headteacher of the Biemenhorst school, becoming full headteacher three months later. Otto Moritz retired on 10 July 1969, moved to Bocholt and died here at a ripe old age on 6 July 1999.

Since 1996, his official residence has been home to the reliable half-day school Biemenhorster Schule, which is named "Haus Moritz" after him. On 8 June 2006, the Southeast District Committee renamed the northern section of the street Auf dem Takenkamp, which is separated by the B 67n, Otto-Moritz-Weg.