The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-02-02

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of Austrian and Swedish prisoners
captured in the thirty-year war, IN
der the supervision of those great
generals, Picelomini and Bonner.
From this old bridge we passed
through the Saal-Thor or gate, to
the city of Old Saalfeld, which lies
at the foot of the Thuringen Forest,
IN. E. 772 #. above sea level, and
remains surrounded by old walls,
moats, gate-ways and portes. We
soon reach the market place on
which stands
THE OLD COURT HOUSE.
Erected in 1888 81. It contains
many chambers of interest, especial.
lily so is the Torture or Rack cham.
Der. The history of Saalfeld 1881
1910, is also shown, and of much in
terest are the three original letters
from Melancthon to the Mayor, in
1912 45, some hair from Luther, and
in little box two portions offngers
cut from a criminals hand. In front
the Court house used to stand the
lgallows and the racks, and on the
whole one experiences a creeping
sensation of chill, in travelling
through the old, gloomy structure
and glad to get away. In the neigh
boThood stands
THE HOTEL TO THE GOLDEN GOOSE,
But Goose no longer, but changed
to the Golden Anchor. This old
structure is made famous by that
unhappy prince, John Frederick,
I"The Noble Hearted" who was held
prisoner here by Charles V. after the
battle of Muehlberg, 1547. The
former experiencing all at once an
intense anxiety and presentment
that an evil was about to befall him,
was, by his urgent entreaties, taken
out of the house, and no sooner had
he left than the structure gave way.
Back Of the market, quite prominent,
stands a splendid old edfce,
THE JOHANNIs CHURCH,
Still in use. A venerable Gothic struc-
ture, covered with elegant stone
carvings at the outside, surmounted
by two high towers and erected in
$50, by King Henry, the "City Build
er." The church was burned in
11s9, excepting the old North Tower,
but was rebuilt in 1209-I9 and the
South Tower added; again much
damaged by fire in 1840-56, was re-
built in its present elegant style.
The inside is finely adorned with
and painted ceilings, and a
fine organ. Near the altar stands a
statue Of John the Baptist, who pro-
tects the vaults in which lie the
illustrious dead. To the southwest
corner of the church is at
taehcd an elevated stone pulpit,
much worn, and from which at GER
tain periods, absolutions and indul-
gences were sold by that notorious
old sinner, Tetzel, and afterwards
used as a public stand to punish
Sabbath breakers and swearers.
Another stone figure of man stand
ing beside a tub Offerings and hold
ing fish in his hand, indicates that
the church stands on Thuringen soil.
THE NIooLAI CHURCH,
In the southeast part of the city, was
erected in the 9th century, used in
the 18th century as a nun-cloister,
and in the 18th converted into an
arsenal, still later into powder
and in 1885 into a beet
sugar factory.
THE ANDREAs,
Or Barefeet Cloister Church, is also
called Coinage Church, as its fire
proof vaults have been used for that
purpose ever since 1857. This
church was erected in the 18th cen
tury, by the Earls of Schwarzburg
and Orlamunde, and used as a bu-
rial place. Duke Ernest improved
and ornamented the church, but was
interrupted by his death. a beau
tiful ceiling painting, the wonder of
every visitor, remains to this day.
At this time the church is used as q
warehouse for grain.
But among all those relics of a
past age, stands prominent over all,
THE sORBENBURG,
AS the oldest and most remarkable
weatherbeaten and time
gray, the only ruin of its kind in the
southeast part of this old city. This
old castle was erected by the Sorbes
in the 9th century, while those Wild
and warlike people retained and gov
erned all that country between the
rivers Saale and El6e. The Slaven
King, Samo, erected this solid castle.
Before doing so he consulted, through
a priest, the Oracle, in order to find
a proper place Of erection, which was
indicated by a white dove, which the
priest allowed to fly and which lit on
an old oak, out of which flew, on cut
ting the tree down, a swarm of bees
and consequently was this castle
called the "High Swarm" The old
castle was surrounded with double
wall and a deep ditch. Within is a
deep well, a deep large vault, and
two subterranean passages, which
led to two adjacent villages. 1t was