Otterndorf - The Crane House

The Crane House

One of Otterndorf’s prominent buildings is in the oldest part of the town and is called the Crane House. This building dates from 1735 although its present façade dates from the later year of 1760. Once owned by the Radiek family the building was the focal point of this successful family business. The family traded in Wine, Salt and other spices. The Crane effigy on the top of the house from which the building gets its name was put there by Elizabeth Radiek in memory of her late husband. The Crane house, now is the location of a museum dedicated the country life of Hadeln, as well as a local history archive.
Another old building in the town is the Latin school. This unusual building dates from 1614. For many years this school provide the only education for the children of the Hadler farmers and Otterndorf citizens who could not afford to send their children to fee charging schools. The building once boasted a bell which hung from a roof timber on the front but has unfortunately over the years been lost. The Headmaster of the school from 1778 until 1792 was the German poet and translator Johann Heinrich Voss.

In many of the Brick gables of the old buildings of the town, there has been incorporated into the brickwork the patterned shape of a witches broom. The superstitious residence of the town believed the “Thunder Broom” would ward of evil spirits and forces.

Other prominent buildings in the town include:-

• The Yellow Baroque House, which until 1768 was the home of the Courthouse Director.
• The City Hall, recentally restored and inside can be seen an oil paintings by Karl Otto Matthaei, Carl Long and Karl Hein.