Weibersbrunn

The name "Weiberbrunn" is derived from the Weibersbach, a contributory of the Hafenlohr. It rises at the western end of the village. The Middle High German Brunn refers to a well or spring. Weibers probably derives from the proper name "Wibert".[3]

Originally, Weibersbrunn was just a roadhouse on the Eselsweg (donkey trail), a long-distance trade route through the Spessart. In 1706, the Weibersbrunner Glashütte was founded as a subsidiary of the Electoral Mainz Spiegelglasmanufaktur (mirror manufacturing) at Lohr. For over 150 years, high-quality glass (window panes, goblets) was produced here. The highly valued semicircular crown glass sheets – called Mondglas or "Moon Glass" – used for window panes, was delivered to Aschaffenburg. Other products went to Lohr. Mondglas made Weibersbrunn internationally known. After Guillaume Brument, the French master glass maker died in 1759, local knowledge of the necessary techniques faded and the quality of the Mondglas declined. In addition, in the period of industrialization, local glass production became uncompetitive due to a lack of railway transport. Before the motorway was built, Weibersbrunn was connected to the outside world primarily by the Poststrasse (postal road) Aschaffenburg-Würzburg, either at Echterspfahl or at Hessenthal (Mespelbrunn).[5][6]

The village grew around the glass works, with craftsmen supplying intermediate products and services to the works. Although glass production started to incur losses, these were covered by the Hochstift Mainz until its end in 1803. In 1805, the works were auctioned off and after that run by various entrepreneurs, but without much success.[5]

The Electoral Mainz area in the Hochspessart (High Spessart) was merged into the Principality of Aschaffenburg in 1803 and in 1810 it became part of the Grand Duchy of Frankfurt, shortly thereafter, however, passing between 1814 and 1816 to the Kingdom of Bavaria by way of Austria. In the course of administrative reform in Bavaria, the current community came into being with the Gemeindeedikt ("Municipal Edict") of 1818.

In 1861, the glass works closed following a long period of stagnation. This brought on a period of destitution for the local population that only ended with the building of the motorway around 100 years later. During that time, locals had to earn a living as itinerant labourers in the large cities or in strenuous forestry work as the local soil was ill-suited for successful agriculture.[5]

Virtually no signs of glass production remain today, the works were replaced by the new parish church in 1862 (consecrated in 1864). Glass products made at Weibersbrunn can today be viewed in the Spessartmuseum at Lohr and in a small Heimatmuseum in the village.[5]

On 1 July 1862, the Bezirksamt Aschaffenburg was established and its territory included Weibersbrunn. In 1939, Germany introduced Landkreise (districts) and Weibersbrunn now was one of 33 communities in the old Landkreis Aschaffenburg. In the course of Gebietsreform, this was merged with Landkreis Alzenau in Unterfranken to form the current Landkreis Aschaffenburg (Aschaffenburg district).

The Autobahn (motorway) through the Spessart was built in 1955-60. This allowed locals to commute to the Rhine-Main region and brought in tourists. Hotels were opened and the motorway restaurants and gas stations at Rohrbrunn brought tax income to the municipality.[7]

In 1966, the parish church St. Johannes Nepomuk was enlarged.[4]^: 158

From 1977 to 1993, Weibersbrunn was part of a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft (administrative community) with Waldaschaff and Rothenbuch.

In 2006, the community marked its 300th anniversary with a great festival.

Within community limits in 1970, 1,817 inhabitants were counted, in 1987 1,934, in 2000 2,146 and in 2006 2,109.

The figures given for Weibersbrunn's population in the 19th century are 721 in 1826, 960 in 1852 and 817 in 1859 (Klauprecht 1826, Virchow 1968, Hecht/Reder 2002).

Municipal tax revenue amounted in 1999 to €975,000 (converted), of which net business taxes accounted for €144,000.

Weibersbrunn glass plant, founded in 1706 by Electoral Mainz mirror manufacturers, was the community's genesis.

According to official statistics, there were 52 workers on the social welfare contribution rolls working in producing businesses in 1998. In trade and transport this was 41. In other areas, 304 workers on the social welfare contribution rolls were employed, and 818 such workers worked from home. Nobody was employed in processing businesses. Two businesses were in construction, and furthermore, in 1999, there were as many agricultural operations.

Weibersbrunn is surrounded by "magnificent high forests".[4]^: 158 The nature preserve Rohrberg near Rohrbrunn was created in 1928 to protect old growth oak and beech trees. Southeast of Weibersbrunn lies the Naturwaldreservat Eichhall, another nature preserve.

Weiberbrunn is located on the Bundesautobahn 3. There are two interchanges (Weibersbrunn and Rohrbrunn). The Bundesstrasse 8 used to pass through the municipal territory at Rohrbrunn and Echterspfahl. However, this stretch of the B8 was rededicated in 2007 and became Staatsstraße 2312. The A3 motorway today "replaces" the B8 between Marktheidenfeld and Aschaffenburg.

In 1999 the following institutions existed in Weibersbrunn:

• Kindergartens: 100 places with 72 children
• Primary school with 9 teachers and 166 pupils

• Ignaz Roth (1894–1972), German politician (SPD)

• Julia Hecht, Klaus Reder: Die Landgerichte Aschaffenburg und Rothenbuch um 1860. Würzburg 2002. (German)
• Johann Ludwig Klauprecht: Forstliche Statistik des Spessarts. Aschaffenburg 1826. (German)
• Rudolf Virchow (1852): Die Not im Spessart. Neuauflage, Hildesheim 1968. (German)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Weibersbrunn.

• Municipal website