The city of Bremen was founded in the 9th century. Located on the Weser River it developed into one of the major ports of Germany. Because silt began to reduce the navigability of the river as far as the port of Bremen, the city purchased land near the mouth of the river and founded the city of Bremerhaven in 1827. The docks were opened in 1830 and transatlantic service was initiated from Bremerhaven in 1847.

Bremen/Bremerhaven became the major port of embarkation for German emigration. Many emigrants came up the Weser River by barge. Bremen took advantage of the would be emigrants and provided accommodations and travel necessities. The city of Bremenhaven processed the emigrants at the Emigration Office, part of which still stands today. Other port cities like Hamburg discouraged the poor riffraff seeking a better life in America.

Between 1850 and 1880 thirty-eight percent of the emigrant ships arriving at Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports of North America were from Bremen/Bremerhaven. It has been calculated that over the past two centuries more than 7 million people emigrated through Bremen and Bremerhaven. While there was an ordinance from 1832 requiring shipping companies to make lists of all their passengers the lists to 1920 were unfortunately destroyed. Some Bremen/Bremerhaven ships submitted copies of their lists to U.S. officials at the port of debarkation. Gary Zimmerman and Marion Wolfert have indexed Bremen/Bremerhaven passenger for arrivals in the port of New York (Lists of Passengers Bound from Bremen to New York, 1847-67). Ship mainfest do exist in the form of passenger arrival lists into the port of New York between 1820 and 1957.

Hamburg, Liverpool, Southampton, and Le Havre were other significant ports of departure.

Bremerhaven is still a major shipping port and one of the larges fishing ports in Europe.

Lehe (pronounced Leah), the birthplace of Henry Blanck, was a borough since medieval times. It became a part of the city of Bremerhaven in the mid 1900s.

The current municipality of Bremerhaven was formed through the union of three separate towns: Bremerhaven, Geestemünde (founded by Hanover in 1845 as a competitor to Bremerhaven) and Lehe.

Norddeutscher Lloyd Bremen (North German Lloyd) was formed in 1856 and operated between Bremerhaven and New York with its port in Hoboken. It soon expanded to other cities. Bremen Sailors

Henry Blanck born in Lehe, Germany in 1847 immigrated to Hoboken, New Jersey, USA where he died in 1911. Henry Blanck served in the German Merchant Marines on four tours out of Bremen between 1868 and 1870. According to the telephone book July/August 2005 there were 10 Blanck in Bremerhaven/Lehe combined. There were other listings with different spellings. See. Henry Blanck

The Erxmeyer brothers, Fredrich and Heinrich, served several tours in the German Merchant Marines out of Bremen between 1868 and 1870. Their sister, Melusine, married Henry Blanck in Hoboken. See Erxmeyer

J. Berend Petermann born in Ganderkesee, Duchy of Oldenburg in 1843 served in the German Merchant Marines out of Bremen for 14 years before marrying in Germany and immigrating to the United States, ultimately settling in Hoboken, N. J.. See Berend Petermann and Berend Petermann at Sea

See Bremen Sailors

Bremerhaven as described in the North German Lloyd Brochure of 1896

BREMERHAVEN

Population 17,000. Beermann's Hotel, is situated about 30 miles below Bremen, with splendid docks and fine harbor. The town is developing rapidly and trade is increasing with rapid strides. Tourists should inspect the dry dock of the North German Lloyd Steamship Company, whose steamers start from this port. Other objects of interest are: the lighthouse affording a capital view, and the Church, an edifice in the Gothic style of architecture. After departing from Bremen the train passes through Rotenberg, Buch- holz and Harburg, for Hamburg.

BREMEN. Population 125,000, on the river Weser. HOTELS: Central Hotel; Hotel Europe, Franz Voth; Hotel Hill- mann; Hotel du Nord. Travelers are met on arrival at the railway station by porters and omnibuses from the hotels.

Cab fares are as follows: for 1 or 2 persons, within the city, 70 Pfg. To the suburbs 1 M. and 20 Pfg extra for each additional person. Bremen has a very extensive commercial and shipping business and indeed must be regarded as one of the most important commercial towns on the European Continent. It is the chief emigration port of Germany. The number of emigrants leaving here in 1890 was 141,425. In 1888, Bremen joined the Zollverein (German Customs Union).

The principal buildings and objects of interest are: The Theatre, the Art Gallery, the Rathhaus erected 1405-10 with 8 statues representing the Emperor and the 7 electors. The Rathskeller, where excellent Rhine and Moselle wines may be obtained, by the bottle or glass. Some of the casks are very old, especially those called the "Rose" (1653) and the "Twelve Apostles". The cellars are worth seeing. Statue of Roland, a stone figure 18 feet in height, erected in the year 1412. Schiiting, built in 1538 (Chamber of Commerce). The Exchange, German Bo rse, is one of the most striking buildings of the town. In the large hall is a fine fresco painting, representing the colonisation of the Baltic provinces by the Hansa. It covers 1280 sq. yds. of space. The Triumph of Neptune on the wall of the great staircase, is another fine work of art. Notice also the other good frescos. The oil paintings emblematic of the export and import trade, required two years of work. The old Gewerbehaus, erected in 1619 by the Cloth Dealers Guild, is an excellently preserved building and the only structure of the kind in Bremen. It originally consisted of two separate houses, The facade was restored in i860 or thereabouts. The Frieze of the upper staircase very curiously represents the trade of the artisan from early childhood till entering the married state. The Great Hall contains 26 frieze subjects, representing the development of the human intellect, and is very interesting, the artist going back to the primeval age. The Kaiser-Saal contains bust portraits of the ancient German emperors. Printed descriptions can be had of the janitor. The Gewerbehaus belongs to the state, and forms an important factor in the promotion of Bremen trade, The Panorama of Vesuvius will be found worth a visit.

The Liebfrauenkirche dating from the 12th century, the Stadthaus, the Cathedral in the Gothic style dating from the nth century, in which is the Bleikeller, a vault containing mummies, some of which are 400 years old. The Museum, Gustavus Adolphus Statue in the Domsheide. This figure was designed by Fogelberg and cast in Munich. It was destined for Gothenburg, but the ship transporting it was wrecked. Some Heligoland boatmen recovered the statue however and it was bought by some Bremen merchants in 1856. The Kiinstlerverein (artists club) at the back of the Cathedral, is an edifice in the Gothic style. The Kunsthalle contains designs by Diirer. Washington's passage of the Delaware, and many notable paintings, The Post Office is a fine building in the style of the Renaissance. Near this are the Hauptschule, the Orphanage and the Synagogue. Johanniskirche, (Roman Catholic). St Ansgar Church is an edifice of the 13th century, and St. Stephen's Church (1644).

The city is adorned by handsome promenades (Wall-Anlagen) on the ancient ramparts. All visitors to Bremen should not fail to visit the Burger-Park, the pet of the town's people. The origin of this park is very curious and is as follows: The citizens having at the beginning of the eleventh century no pasture land for their cattle, a certain Countess Emma von Lesum made them an offer of as much land as a cripple who could not walk, could encompass by creeping from sunrise to sunset. The cripple was found who accomplished his task well, as the present territory proves. Whether this is founded on truth or not, it is a fact that the present beautiful park, like Boston Common of yore, was at one time used as a pasture. It much resembles Central Park New York. The Kaffeehaus on the Emmasee is a pleasant place of resort which can only by recommend for its restaurant with good and cheap cooking. From here, a path leads over pretty bridges to the Meierei or Dairy Gardens, all worth seeing.

There are many bridges over the Weser, connecting the Altstadt with the Neustadt. From Wacht-Strasse to the Werder is the Gross Briicke. There are steamers to Bremerhaven twice a day.

HOTEL de l'EUROPE. First - class house, situated on the promenade. ELECTRIC LIGHT IN EVERY ROOM. 120 Guest chambers and parlors. ELEVATOR. VIENNA CAFE, open all night and restaurant. 155 FRANZ VOTH,

June 5, 1901

Bremerhaven

Bremerhaven

Bremerhaven, Hafenpartie mit Dampfer des Nordd Loyd [harbor with Northdeutsche Loyd steamer]

Wartehalle des Norddeutchen Lloyd in Bremerhaven, 1870

Leuchtthurm und Schieberüvke Bremerhaven, Kaiserhaven

The Saale was one of the ships that was destroyed in the Hoboken pier fire of 1900. See Hoboken Fire of 1900

Marketplatz mit Bugermeister Smidt-Denkmal, Bremerhaven

Marketplatz, Bremerhaven

Marketplatz, Bremerhaven

Photographie u. Verlag K Eden, Bremerhaven

Bremerhaven - An der Geetsebücke

Bremerhaven - Geestemünde - Die neue der Geetsebücke

Photographie u. Verlag K Eden, Bremerhaven

Bremerhaven - Hafenstrasse Ecke Rickmersstrasse

Photographie u. Verlag K Eden, Bremerhaven

Fischereihafen-Einfahrt Bremerhaven [Fishing harbor entrance Bremen]

Photographie u. Verlag K Eden, Bremerhaven

Bremerhaven - Sturmflutbrandug

Bremerhaven, Mole u Leuchtturn

tolle Kunstler-AK Bremerhaven, Doppelschleuse, Boote und Dampfer im Hafen, Turm

AK Bremerhaven-Weserdeich, Strandleben, Strandetablissement Seelust mit Leuten

1900 German Postcard Gruss Aus Lloydhalle Bremerhaven

The ship is the Mosel

The launching of the Bark Helvetia from the Tecklenborg Shipyards, Bremerhaven, July 29, 1858.

The Bark Helvetia was an immigrant ship that made regular runs between Bremen and New York.

June 18, 1860 Ships in Port, Bremen Bark Helvetia loaded for Bremen.

July 17 1860 Domestic Ports, CITY POINT - sid July 13, Bremen Bark Helvetia Poppe Bremen, The World page 8, New York

MARINE INTELLIGENCE.; Cleared. Arrived. Sailed. By Telegraph. Spoken, &c. Foreign Ports. August 17, 1861 Bark Helvetia, (Brem..) Bandorff. Bremen 43 ds., with mdse. and 36 passengers to Chas. Luling, July 31, lat. 43 48, lon. 57 14, signalized a ship strg. E., showing No. 3,061 2d distg. pendant. (NYT) MARINE INTELLIGENCE.; Arrived. Miscellaneous. Spoken, & c. Foreign Ports. June 9, 1862 Bark Helvetia, (Brem.,) Brandorff, Bristol 35 ds., in ballast to Chas Luling. (NYT)

Auftraggeber: Franz Tecklenborg, Bremen Baunummer: S, Baujahr: 1858, Stapellauf: 00.00.1858, Klasse: Bureau Veritas, Verwendung: Auswandererschiff, Typ/Takelung: Bark, Antrieb: Segelschiff, Material: Holz, Verbleib: 1889 aus Register gestrichen.

The Tecklenborg shipyard operated in Bremerhaven from 1845 to 1928. See Sea Tourism, J. C. Tecklenborg Shipyards and Historisches Museum Bremerhaven

Bremerhaven, Flotte Norddeutscher Lloyd, Holzstich 1871

Gruss aus Bremerhaven

Bremerhaven - Lehe Rhede

Bremerhaven 1875

Bremerhaven 1875

Bremerhaven 1875

Bremerhaven 1875

Bremerhaven 1869 - The Germania and the Hansa - The departure of the Germania and the Hansa for the North polar Expedition

In 1869 the Germania and the Hansa set out from Bremerhaven to explore the North Polar region. The Germania was specially built for the expedition. It had a crew of 15 men. The Hansa had been built in 1864. It had a crew of 13 men. The expedition left June 15, 1869. The ships lost sight of one another. The Germania made it through the pack ice but the Hansa became stuck in the ice and was not able to connect up with the Germania. The Germania returned to Bremerhaven on September 11, 1870. The Hansa was crushed by the ice and sank on October 22, 1869 near East Greenland. The crew survived the winter on the drifting ice pack. In the spring of 1870 they managed to get to the coast of Greenland from which they were brought back to Germany on a Danish ship.

Tow in of a North German Lloyd steamship into the Imperial harbor of Bremerhaven, 1892

This ship with two funnels and four masts was the Trave. The Trave was built in 1886. She could carry 150 first classe, 90 second class and 1,000 third class passengers. She was involved in several accidents. In June 1889 she collided with the Russian schooner David causing the David to sink. In June 1892 the Trave collided with the sailing ship Fred B. Taylor in dense fog about 240 miles off Sandy Hook. The Trave was outward bound. The Trave cut the Fred B. Taylor in half but she herself suffered only slight damaged. She took on the crew of the Fred B. Taylor and proceeded to cross the Atlantic going first to Southhampton and then on to Bremerhaven. The Taylor sank with a lose of two lives. Both vessels were found at fault.

No date

An interesting aspect of all of the older houses in Lehe is that they are not square to the street. They are all built in the form of a parallelogram.

Hafen Strasse apparently became the main street of Lehe at a later time. The newer church (Paluskirche) and many public buildings are currently on Hafen Strasse.

A Comprehensive System of Modern Geography and History By William Pinnock, 1835 called Bremen-Lehe a chief port on the Weser River.

In 1821 it was stated that the population of Bremerlehe was 1,350. (A New Universal Gazetteer, Or, Geographical Dictionary: Containing a ... By Jedidiah Morse and other publications)

Lehe was first mentioned in 1275. It was an official residence and had market rights. In 1776 Hessians soldiers shipped out of Lehe to serve the English in the American Revolutionary War.

The Napoleonic period brought Lehe suffering and losses. In 1795 British soldiers landed in Lehe. 60 people were killed in Lehe in 1813 when the town revolted against the French.

In the second World War British bombers targeted Lehe several times. A variety of homes were destroyed by explosives and incendiary bombs. Many people lost their lives in the bombing.

The Bremerhaven -Lehe railway station was opened in 1863.

Lehe and Bremer Haven - Date unknown.

Lange Strasse, Lehe, August 2005

Lange Strasse, Lehe, August 2005

This building is across the street from the old church.

Lange Strasse, Lehe, August 2005

St Dionysii, Lange Strasse, Lehe, August 2005

The present church was built in 1802-03 after a fire destroyed the older building. The tower and part of a granite wall remained from the older church. Formerly a Reform church, it was taken over by the Lutherans in 1803.

Interior St Dionysii, Lehe, August 2005

The interior was under renovation when we visited.

Back of St Dionysii, Lehe, August 2005

There is a date of 1802 in large numbers on the back of the church.

St Dionysii, Lehe, August 2005

Lange Strasse, Lehe, August 2005

Lange Strasse, Lehe, August 2005

Post Strasse, Lehe, August 2005

The yellow building is dated 1860.

Post Strasse, Lehe, August 2005

Stresemann Strasse, Lehe, August 2005

Hafen Strasse, Lehe, August 2005

Hafen Strasse, Lehe, August 2005

Pauluskirche, Hafen Strasse, Lehe, August 2005

Lehe Langestrasse

Lehe Hafenstrasse

Hafenstrasse LEHE

Lehe Hafenstrasse - Posted 1910

Lehe 1907 Englischer Garten A. - G., Lehe, Weser, Concertplatz

Lehe i. H. Restaurant im Speckenbüttler Park

Printed on back:

Stadtpark "Speckenbüttel" Leher Bügerpark, Hauptrestaurant Parkhaus Konzert-Veranstaltugen I Ranges Perle der Unterweserote Inhaber Carl Gossler [owner] - Fernsprecher [telephone] 1730

The park gate was built in 1896.

Speckenbüttler Park is still in existence.

Pauluskirche LEHE

Lehe - Stadpark Speckenbuttel, Schwanenteich

Gruss aus Lehe (Greetings from Lehe)

Lehe, Kaserne, Kirche, Post, Rathaus, Matrose mit Reichskriegsflagge

[Lehe, barracks, church, post office, town hall, sailor with imperial war flag]

Alt-Lehe mit Blick auf die - Alte ref. Kirche

[Old Lehe with a view of the old reform church]

Lehe in 1928

In October 2020 Debra Rowzee shared three images of Lehe taken by her grandmother when she visited Lehe in 1928.

1831: Bremerhaven: Lehrer Johann Christian Blanck eröffnet an der Osterstraße die erste Elementarschule der "Colonie". In der Regel besuchten die Kinder aus der Colonie bis dahin, wenn überhaupt, die Schule in Lehe, was sich nun nach und nach ändert. Im Jahre 1840 gehen 243 Kindern in das Institut des Lehrers Blanck, nur 15 wandern noch nach Lehe. Bereits 1836 folgt eine höhere Schule für Mädchen und 1839 eine höhere Schule für Knaben."

[1831: Bremerhaven teacher Johann Christian Blanck opened the first elementary school in the "colony" at Easter Road. In general before that the children of the colony went to the school in Lehe if they went at all. In 1840 243 children go to the school run by Teacher Blanck, only 15 continued to go to Lehe. In 1836 a secondary school for girls and in 1839 a secondary school for boys were founded.]

Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck BREMEN Freihafen I.

	Bremen No date
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

	Bremen No date
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

	Partie an der kleinen Weser Teerhof Bremen No date
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

	Bremen Rathaus, Dom und Borse No date
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

	Bremen, Parlie am Rathaus No date
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

	Bremen, Roland No date
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Across the Atlantic from New York to Southampton, Havre and Bremen, by Norddeutscher Lloyd (goggle book), June 2012 Statue of Roland

Across the Atlantic from New York to Southampton, Havre and Bremen, by Norddeutscher Lloyd (goggle book), June 2012 Rathaus Bremen

Across the Atlantic from New York to Southampton, Havre and Bremen, by Norddeutscher Lloyd (goggle book), June 2012 Interior Rathaus Bremen

Across the Atlantic from New York to Southampton, Havre and Bremen, by Norddeutscher Lloyd (goggle book), June 2012 Bremen, Weser

Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Bremen Marktplatz

Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Bremen Rathskeller

	Bremen 2005
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck

Collection of Maggie Land Blanck Bremen Uberseehafen