Leutenbach: A new book celebrates 50 years of a vibrant community!

Leutenbach: A new book celebrates 50 years of a vibrant community!

A new chapter in the history of the entire community of Leutenbach is opened. On the occasion of the community's 50th anniversary, a book was published that sheds light on the development of the former individual communities of Nellmersbach, Weiler zum Stein and Leutenbach. The work consists of 192 pages and the editors emphasize that it is not intended to be a dry chronicle, but rather paints a vivid picture of the past five decades. The editorial team consists of Mirjam Weigle, the head of the department Jakob Schröder and Ulrike Beck. Work on this book began in autumn 2023 with the creation of an initial concept, which has now been implemented and represents a significant part of the community chronicle, as ZVW reports.

The founding of the entire community dates back to 50 years ago, when the communities of Leutenbach, Nellmersbach and Weiler zum Stein merged. This step was marked by resistance, especially among the population of Nellmersbach and Weiler zum Stein, who initially rejected the merger. Nevertheless, the local councilors of the three communities approved the merger, convinced of the advantages of a shared future. The early days were difficult, but over the years the individual communities developed into a lively community that is now considered worth living in and offers a wide range of activities for young and old. Various events are currently planned to mark the anniversary in order to offer citizens the opportunity to actively participate. Mayor Jürgen Kiesl invites you to celebrate the anniversary year 2025. Among other things, he announced an anniversary exhibition in the town hall on January 12th and the presentation of the anniversary book on April 13th in the local history museum. A big anniversary weekend with a citizens' reception and other activities is planned for the end of June, as can be read in detail on the website of the Leutenbach community (https://www.leutenbach.de/jubilaeum/50-jahre-gesundheitsgemeinde-leutenbach).

Identity and community

In the context of regional development, the “Future of Villages” project is also important. It examines images of self and others, as well as local identities. The advantages and disadvantages of regional identities are discussed. At a time when diverse lifestyles come together, the question arises as to how much home people actually need. Local identities are often defined by a common “we,” which is central to community cohesion. In this sense, the identity of the community of Leutenbach as a whole plays an essential role in its development. The balance between individuality and belonging is seen as a challenge. The consideration of local identities is also of great importance for marketing strategies in the region, as it is important to find and communicate unique selling points, as explained in the considerations on Future of Villages.

Overall, the anniversary year invites you not only to celebrate the history of the community as a whole, but also to actively participate in its future development. The new book not only contains historical reviews, but also suggestions for a future-oriented community.