Excerpt: Social life in times of scythe working in Scharnstein

In connection with the development of the scythe industry a class of industrial bourgeoisie developed in Scharnstein. In addition to the entrepreneurial family, these included the executive employees, who were called "officials" as well as their families. They mostly came from out-of-town and led a middle-class lifestyle. The work apartments for the employees and management were spacious, had a representative living area, bedrooms, rooms for children and servants and already were equipped with bathrooms. Young and unmarried scythe workers received rooms in the "Burschen- oder Madlhaus". Widows of scythe workers found shelter in the "Witwenhaus".
The large labour requirement of the newly built scythe industry – in 1913 the Redtenbacher works numbered 700 employees - could only be achieved through the influx of workers. Since the housing options in Scharnstein were missing, the company adapted several old houses and built new accommodations. In 1910 there were a total of 82 households in the factory apartments, mostly consisting of four to five people, for who also heating materials, soap and towels were provided. Next to the apartments there were company owned laundry rooms, a bathroom, a factory consumption, as well as a canteen.... You will find more about this exhibition inside the museum!