POST 11, POSTSCRIPT: RATIBOR & BRUCK’S “PRINZ VON PREUßEN” HOTEL

Note:  This postscript discusses additional information obtained about the Bruck’s “Prinz Von Preußen” Hotel from a Polish gentleman who has written a book on the history of Ratibor.

Figure 1-Cover of Paul Newerla’s book entitled “Ratibor einst und jetzt”

 

Following publication of Post 11, Mr. Paul Newerla from Raciborz, Poland, author of a book on Ratibor, entitled “Ratibor einst und jetzt” (“Ratibor, then and now”) (Figure 1), contacted me.  He shared a lot of information and visuals from his book and other sources, including historic maps, to round out my understanding of the Bruck’s “Prinz von Preußen” Hotel, the inn owned by my family for three generations.  Mr. Newerla also made me aware that my family’s connection to Ratibor extends a generation earlier.  According to land registers from the city of Ratibor, Jacob Bruck (1770-1832), father of the original owner of the Prinz von Preußen, Samuel Bruck, was an arrendator, a lease-holder, on two properties within Ratibor.  Jacob owned properties on Jungfernstrasse and Stockhaus-Gasse prior to construction of the family hotel; interestingly, an 1812 city map sent to me by Mr. Newerla shows the exact parcels owned by Jacob. (Figure 2)

Figure 2-1812 map of Ratibor showing location of parcels owned by Jacob Bruck along Jungfernstrasse & Stockhaus-Gasse, and location of “Odertor,” the city gate atop which Bruck’s Hotel was built
Figure 3-The only preserved tower of Ratibor’s fortifications, along with a fragment of Gothic defensive wall

Ratibor’s city walls, towers (Figure 3) and gates, surrounding the town, were only demolished in 1828, after which the Prinz von Preußen was constructed at the corner of Oderstraße and Bollwerkstraße. (Figures 4, 5, & 6) The same 1812 map just alluded to shows the city walls and gates.  Approximating the position of the family hotel, it appears it was built almost atop where one Odertor, city gate, once stood.

 

Figure 4-1933 plan map of Ratibor showing location of Bruck’s Hotel at the intersection of Oderstraße & Bollwerkstraße

 

Figure 5-The Bruck’s Hotel at the time it was owned by Ernst Exner, located at the intersection of Oderstraße & Bollwerkstraße

 

Figure 6-View up Oderstraße looking at the Bruck’s Hotel

 

A historian, Ms. Katrin Griebel from Zittau, Saxony, who has studied the surviving personal papers of two of my great-aunts, Franziska Bruck and Elsbeth Bruck, archived at the Stadtmuseum in Berlin, has gleaned some anecdotes about the family hotel.  According to Ms. Griebel, the building occupied by the Bruck’s Hotel was the former palace of a marquis.  Upon the nobleman’s death, the palace became known as the “Prinz von Preußen.” 

Figure 7-Advertisement for Johann Strauss the Junior’s orchestral performance at the “Prinz von Preußen” on October 17, 1850

By 1850, the marquis’s palace was assuredly a hotel.  Mr. Newerla sent me notices related to two orchestral performances given by Johann Strauss the Younger at the “Prinz von Preußen.”  In October 1850, Johann Strauss had plans to perform in front of the Russian Czar, and on his way to Russia he performed at the hotel the evening of October 17, 1850, spending the night. (Figure 7)  On his return from Warsaw, he again stopped in Ratibor, giving an orchestral performance “im Saale des Prinzen von Preußen,” the “Hall of the Prince of Prussia,” on the afternoon of November 17, 1850 (Figure 8), leaving that same evening for Vienna.

 

Figure 8-Advertisement for Johann Strauss the Junior’s encore performance at the “Prinz von Preußen” on November 17, 1850

The Bruck’s Hotel’s “Saale des Prinzen von Preußen” (Figure 9) served other community functions.  Mr. Newerla has found records indicating that on October 31, 1859, Ratibor’s fire department held a large carnival ball there; the fire department also organized a theatrical performance, the proceeds of which were earmarked for the assistance of an injured fire brigade colleague.

Figure 9-Location of the “Saale des Prinzen von Preußen”

Several pages from Mr. Newerla’s book discuss the founding in Ratibor of the “Peace Lodge XVII No. 361” of the “Independent Order B’nai B’rith” on May 9, 1886, which met at the “Prinz von Preußen.”  B’nai B’rith was originally founded in 1843 in New York, and became established in Berlin, Germany in 1882.  My great-grandfather, Fedor Bruck, was a member of Ratibor’s Lodge.  Even though the statute of the Lodge specifically excluded politics from its field of activities, they were under police surveillance.  While the Lodge continued to meet at the Bruck’s Hotel until at least April 1934 and steered clear of political matters, they appear to have been under pressure to disband.

Figure 10-Cover of Ratibor’s 1889 Address & Business Book

Page 39 from Ratibor’s 1889 Address & Business Book (Figure 10), sent to me by Mr. Newerla, lists residents along Oderstraße, including number 16.  Both my great-grandfather, Fedor Bruck, and grandfather, Felix Bruck, are listed at this address.  Fedor is the “Besitzer,” or owner, and Felix Bruck the “Geschäftsführer,” the Managing Director (Figure 11); by 1892 Fedor Bruck was deceased.  Under business listings, there are none for hotels, but Fedor Bruck is listed under “Gasthöfe 1 Classe,” first-class inns, and, oddly, under “Bade-Anstalten,” or bathing establishments. (Figure 12)

 

Figure 11-My great-grandfather, Fedor Bruck, and grandfather, Felix Bruck, listed in Ratibor’s 1889 Address Book at Oderstraße 16
Figure 12-Listing for Fedor Bruck under “Gasthöfe 1 Clasße,” first-class inns, and under “Bade-Anstalten,” or bathing establishments

 

Mr. Newerla sent me a series of advertisements for the Bruck’s Hotel. (Figures 13-19)  They appear to extend from the time the hotel was owned by my great-grandfather, Fedor Bruck, possibly through the 1930’s and later.  Throughout its existence, it was known as the “Bruck’s ‘Prinz von Preußen’ Hotel,” even though it was no longer owned by my family.

Figure 13-Advertisement for Fedor Bruck’s Hotel
Figure 14-Advertisement for the “Prinz v. Preußen” when my great-grandfather, Fedor Bruck, owned the establishment

 

Figure 15-Advertisement for the Bruck’s Hotel when it was owned by Max Kunzer
Figure 16-Advertisement for the Bruck’s Hotel was it owned by Hugo Eulenstein

 

Figure 17-Another advertisement for the Bruck’s Hotel when it was owned by Hugo Eulenstein

 

Figure 18-Advertisement for the Bruck’s Hotel when it was owned by Ernst Exner

 

Figure 19-Advertisement for the Bruck’s Hotel when it was owned by H. Koeppe

 

 

 

 

One thought on “POST 11, POSTSCRIPT: RATIBOR & BRUCK’S “PRINZ VON PREUßEN” HOTEL”

  1. How very fascinating and how fortunate you are to have been made aware of all of this! I’m sure you are basking in pride at what your ancestor contributed to the hospitality and musical enjoyment of the populace.
    Best,
    Madeleine

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