The district rounds off: Waldeck-Frankenberg turns 50!
The district rounds off: Waldeck-Frankenberg celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024. Whether it's a travelling exhibition, bicycle tour or anniversary celebration for citizens and employees - numerous activities are planned in the anniversary year to celebrate the milestone birthday of Hesse's largest district.
Birth of the district
The formation of the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg through the merger of the two old districts in 1974 was the result of a comprehensive territorial reform that the state of Hesse had initiated half a decade earlier and steadily pushed forward. The state government hoped that the mergers would result in larger and therefore more efficient municipal administrations. The creation of the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg was regulated by the law on the reorganisation of the districts of Frankenberg and Waldeck of 28 September 1973, which came into force on 1 January 1974: Waldeck-Frankenberg was born!
The pain of parting and a new sense of home
However, the idea that "what belongs together grows together" did not automatically materialise just because a signature had dried on the paper - neither in the south nor in the north. Based on the historical roots of the two old districts, many clung to traditions and the identity founded on their history. Whether it was the name, car licence plate, coat of arms, the seat of the district town or the location of the administrative offices: The population of the new district first had to get used to many of the changes.
"50 years later, the two old districts have largely grown together into a single entity without forgetting their traditions and roots," emphasise District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst and First District Councillor Karl-Friedrich Frese. "In this anniversary year, we would like to celebrate this new sense of home that has grown over the past decades - together with all citizens, politicians and employees of the district administration - and we cordially invite you to join us!"
Travelling exhibition, bike tour & anniversary celebration
For the anniversary year, the district has organised a travelling exhibition together with the Wolfgang Bonhage Museum in Korbach, the Museum im Kloster in Frankenberg and the municipal museums in Bad Wildungen: The organising team met 50 people from the district to tell their personal stories as part of the exhibition - and what connects them to Waldeck-Frankenberg.
The 70s-style exhibition not only reflects the zeitgeist of this special decade with exhibits from the home decor and lifestyle of the 70s - including design icons - but also invites visitors on a short journey through time into the extraordinary history of the district. The exhibition will be on display at the Wolfgang Bonhage Museum in Korbach from 15 March to 20 May. In Frankenberg, it will be on show from 16 June to 11 August in the Haus am Geismarer Tor and from 22 August to 20 October it will be on display in the municipal museums in Bad Wildungen.
Lion meets star
Under the motto "Lion meets star", the district is also organising two guided cycle tours on 8 June - one starting from the south and one from the north - to the Waldeck-Frankenberg boundary stone museum in Vöhl-Herzhausen. There, cyclists interested in history can learn all kinds of interesting facts about the former borders and political conditions in the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg while enjoying cool drinks and a light snack.
Anniversary celebration at Südring
At the end of September, the district administration at Korbach Südring will open its doors - on behalf of all administrative offices in the district - to welcome all citizens to a big anniversary celebration on the weekend of 28-29 September. Many departments and initiatives of the district will be organising activities for children, young people, families and all interested parties, presenting themselves and their work and offering an exciting look behind the scenes of the district. There will be a colourful and entertaining programme for young and old around the district hall and the new administration building on the Südring. Further information on the district's anniversary, the origins of Waldeck-Frankenberg and the planned activities can also be found online on the anniversary website created especially for the milestone birthday.