Kaiserswerth am Rhein Diakonissenmutterhaus postcard
Postcard titled “Kaiserswerth a. Rh. Diakonissenmutterhaus,” with a message on the back, bearing a red colour “German Empire” postally used stamp, cancelled on November 25, 1918 (?).
Mutterhaus der Diakonissen, Kaiserswerth am Rhein (NRW) — the main building of the Kaiserswerth Diaconate (Diakonie), an Evangelical community of sisters of mercy founded in 1836 by Pastor Theodor Fliedner and his wife, Frederieke Fliedner. Starting with the purchase of a single house, the institution quickly grew into a multifunctional complex that included a hospital, a kindergarten, a school for nursery teachers, an orphanage, a correctional facility for women, and a teachers’ seminary. Thus, the name “Stammhaus” (Main House) proved particularly fitting, since this building also serves as the main headquarters of the modern Kaiserswerth Diaconia; however, it was later renamed “Mutterhaus” (“Mother House”), where the hospital was located and where the deaconesses lived and were trained.
Back Side of the Card
The back side of the postcard bears the handwritten text in German, address and a cancelled stamp. The address side is written in relatively legible German Kurrent script. The postcard is addressed to the Fräulein Auguste Asprion (surname not absolutely certain; could also be Asprin, Asprin, or a similar spelling) at Saarbrücken V, Luisenstraße 31a.
The stamp is a 10 Pfennig Germania issue of the Deutsches Reich, which places the postcard approximately in the 1902–1922 period. The style of the cancellation and postcard strongly suggests the 1910s. The cancellation date is for sure "25.11." and the year most probably "18" making the date "25.11.18." The handwritten text in German is difficult to read. Something that can be recongnised:
Salem d. 24/11 19..
Meine l. Olÿschka!
Deinen l. Brief vom 15. d. habe ich gestern
mit großer Freude erhalten und danke Dir
auch vielmals für dasselbe. Es ist …
… zurück nach Danzig? …
die Zeit nur bei mir mit Sorgen …
Wir machten die Reise …
und sind auf der Fahrt …
Die damalige Zeit hat mir jetzt die
lebhaftesten Erinnerungen …
Wir … gute …
Salem, November 24, 19..
My dear Olÿschka!
I received your dear letter dated the 15th
yesterday with great joy, and I thank you
very much for it. It is …
… back to Danzig? …
Time passes for me only with worries …
We made the journey …
and are on the way …
That time now brings back the
most vivid memories …
We … good …
