Weinhaus Huth. Photo: Ulla Hennig
The old house watched the building activities. All over the years, since the end of the World War II, it had been alone.
It still remembered the good old times, when its cellars were full of exquisite wine bottles, and its rooms filled with the noise of people running around, being busy. People in fine clothes, with servants who carried the bottles away. It was not alone then, there were many houses like it, and at night they used to whisper and to tell each other stories about the people who were living in them.
Then the big War came, and the bombs came down. One after the other, its fellow houses were shattered into pieces. Oh, what a thundering and terrible noise that was! The old house stretched and stood tall.
It was still standing when the war came to an end. It was the only one left over. At first, it missed its fellow houses, but then it got used to being alone. It watched. It watched the Berlin Wall cutting through the big place in 1961. It was a home for people in need, and although they were not like the people in its early years it was proud to be still useful.
And then it witnessed the fall of the Berlin wall. Now people were crossing the big place, people with helmets on, and people with business suits. And lots and lots of building cranes came. The old house looked at them suspiciously. They were building something new, shiny, glassy, architecture of the 20th century. Surely, those new houses would be arrogant, wrinkle their noses about the old building.
It was the night after the new houses were finished. “Hey you, over there!” The old house that was not used to be addressed in that way, didn’t answer. “Madam Old House”. Obviously they didn’t give up. “Yes,” the old House answered (it didn’t want to be impolite). “Well, we have to spend quite some time together, so why don’t we have a nice chat?” The old house looked at the new glassy and shining fellows. They might be glassy and shining, but they seemed to be nice and social. And the old house, for the first time after many, many years, enjoyed the company of fellow houses again.
This is a contribution to Joanna Young’s Group Writing Project The Results of My Writing Experiment.
Ulla, what a lovely story – and history of Berlin into the bargain. Thanks for taking the leap and experimenting!
Great story and I love finding odd bits of history of the Huth genre, especially German. My father’s parents came over to the States in the 1870’s but we did not get much history handed down, unfortunately. Of course, it is also likely the historic Weinhaus Huth had nothing to do with our poor family from Alsace-Lorraine. Thank you.
One thing I was wondering Ulla – how did you eventually decide to jump in and write, then publish this piece?
Joanna
Joanna,
actually it was your last answer to my comment which helped me in my decision to jump in.
Ulla
Ulla, this is fabulous! It is a sense of place kind of storytelling which appeals to my heart in such a strong way.
I feel so privileged to be learning more about the soul of Berlin through you.
Ulla,
I am glad that this old house finally found some friends, and that there was a happy ending.
Some might say that a house is not a human and does not have feelings. Well, it may not be a human, but a house still has character, traditions and stories to tell.
What an amazing story! loved it, and loved the reminder of Berlin’s troubled history! Great entry, Ulla!
What a beautiful writing experiment, Ulla! One of my favorite lines is, “Surely, those new houses would be arrogant, wrinkle their noses about the old building.”
I love older homes with lots of history myself. I live in a house [old stagecoach inn] that is 152 years old and when we first bought it almost 40 years ago, we were told there were bullet holes in the bar room.
Look forward to more of your stories, Ulla!
Ulla,
This is a lovely story — and beautifully told! I love your perspective: that of sharing your historic tale from the viewpoint of the personified building! This unique perspective adds color and character to your narrative, creating a thoroughly satisfying read.
Thanks for sharing this!
Jeanne
Lovely story line, lovely photo and building. Thanks for sharing.
Lovely simply the best of Ulla…I have personally experienced housespeak …they have so much to say!
[...] http://ullahennig.wordpress.com/2008/11/24/old-and-new-a-story-from-berlin/ [...]
Wow! I would love to have a conversation to this building some time. Can you imagine?!
Great story!!
Ulla–
Great Story. Keep writing. Your story and photo complement one another beautifully.
Lori
[...] Old and New – A Story from Berlin (a short story about the old Weinhaus Huth and the new buildings at the Potsdamer Platz). [...]