Then and Now - 1945, 1950s and 2013

August 22, 2013 – I am now playing catch-up with this trip. I understand that things aren’t in chronological order – hope that doesn’t bother our readers too much.

Today I want to do some comparisons from back then to now. When we first moved to Echternach in 1953, the town was still in major recovery mode from the war. Buildings were being scraped up after being blown up. My memories include the building across from the Ciné being in piles. The stonemasons were working away at restoring the buildings around the Basilica and restoring the Basilica itself.

 

When we were staying at Germaine Prim’s house early in our visit, she brought out some photos which were taken in about 1945 which give some idea of the damage. This was something I had never experienced and it brought home to me what war does – to people and to their homes. Below are some of the then (1945), from the 1950s and now (2013) photos.

St. Willibrord Basilica - 1945

St. Willibrord Basilica - 1945

 

St. Willibrord Basilica - 2013

 

Echternach Parc Pavillon - 1945

 

Echternach Parc Pavillon - 2013

Rue de la Gare looking towards the Marktplatz - 1945

 

 

Rue de la Gare looking towards the Marktplatz - 2013

 



And to bring things forward a bit – here is where we lived when we first went to Echternach –

And here is what it looks like today – gone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the house we moved to in 1954 after my brother Gordon was born. It was on Rue des Bons Malades (and still is). I would still like to know how the little street got its name. This house was newly built and there were no other houses next to it. There was a vegetable garden behind it and beside it.

PS - Jemp Friedrich helped me out on the name of the street - rue des Bons Malades. Bons Malades is a euphemism for lepers. It is a very short street. Poor folks!

 

This is a view of the back of the house. My room was the one on the second floor on the left of the photo. Baby Gordon's room was next to mine with the little balcony. The kitchen was directly below Gordon's room. Rob, Louise and Don had rooms on the third floor.

 

I remember when the stonework was being done for the front "fencework" was being done. The stonemasons were amazing to watch. The living room was right above the garage and the dining room was directly behind it. Mom and Dad's room was directly above the living room. There was a half bathroom right next to the front door on the left. The roller blinds on the outside of the windows were wooden when we were there and they took to place of storm windows in the winter as well as sun blinds in the summer. 

 

The backyard is still the same and the little alleyway that we used to get over to Sauergaase is still there –

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here is the “Douanes Zoll” building next to the bridge where we went to Germany on the other side.

This was where we had to have our “Grenze Pass” stamped both in and out. I had to apply for one as I wasn’t a Luxembourger and it took a while but eventually it came through. Unfortunately, I don’t have it any more. And it’s still there, a lovely little building -

 

 

And that's it for this post. There will be more to come as I work my way through all the material.