Some history of
SCHWARZBUBENLAND

	From: "Alois Grolimund" <alois.grolimund@bluewin.ch> To: "Bill Grolemund" <billgrolemund@usa.net> Sent: Friday, March 03, 2000 5:18 AM Subject: Schwarzbubenland Hi Bill Several persons asked me about the name Schwarzbubenland. I am now in a group of historics friends and we have researched the origin. Here is the answer, complete with Grolimund-information: Around the year 1800 in Switzerland we have 11 Grolimund citizenships, all of the Kanton Solothurn: Balsthal, Baerschwil, Beinwil, Deitingen, Himmelried, Kammersrohr, Matzendorf, Muemliswil-Ramiswil, Seewen, Subingen, Trimbach. In Lupsingen Kanton Baselland we also find the Grollimund name. The citizenships of the Schwarzbubenland are: District Thierstein: Baerschwil, Beinwil, Himmelried District Dorneck: Seewen The Schwarzbubenland is an old historic name which cannot be found on a geographical map. The Kanton Solothurn is divided into 10 districts. The Schwarzbubenland contains the two districts Dorneck and Thierstein which are on the northern side of the mountain Passwang. All other districts of the Kanton are situated on the southern side of the Passwang. The district Dorneck is counting 13 villages: Baettwil, Büren, Dornach, Flüh, Gempen, Hochwald, Hofstetten, Metzerlen with Mariastein, Nuglar, Rodersdorf, Seewen, St.Pantaleon and Witterswil. Altogether 17,300 people live in this district. The district Thierstein is counting 12 villages: Baerschwil with Wiler, Beinwil, Breitenbach, Buesserach, Erschwil, Fehren, Grindel, Himmelried, Kleinluetzel with Huggerwald, Meltingen, Nunningen with Roderis. Altogether 13,100 people live in that district. The name "Schwarzbube" means literally "black boy". The expression Schwarzbubenland (land of the black boys) is known throughout Switzerland. The origin of this name is unknown, but there are a couple of legends: In early days iron ore was made with wooden coal. As a result of workers getting dirty (black) the Schwarzbubenland got its name. An immigrant from Schwarzwald (Black Forest) in Germany married and founded the Schwarzbub area. However this is long story which is probably not true. People in this area often did not follow the orders of the government of Solothurn and were therefore called black boys in the meaning of the black sheep. Near the frontier there were lots of smugglers. Smuggling was literally called passing the frontiers black. Smugglers coloured their faces and hands black while passing the frontier in the night. In early days people from that region wore traditionally black clothes. The name comes from an own political idea - which was very conservative - , which often not agreed with the one from the other parts of Solothurn. In the year 1642 Basel had problems with people from this area. Criminals usually broke out prisons, one of them even was shot while fleeing, and people were generally afraid of them. So they were named the Schwarzbuben. In the year 1830, 600 people demonstrated in Balsthal against government with a flag showing the name "Die Schwarzbuben". This flag is still existing in a museum in Dornach. Our ancestors were named black boys because they often mixed black coffee with schnapps. There are some more stories which are less flattering but we feel very proud to be Schwarzbuben. Vieleicht ist das etwas fuer Deine homepage in the internet. Ich weiß nicht ob Dich Caesar aus Kalifornien informiert hat. Have you completed the homepage in the last half year? Ich habe nicht the internet und kann nicht selbst nachschauen. Best regards and a beautiful weekend and when you have: good carnival. Alois	...

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