Do you hear the whispers carried on the wind through Friedhof Tegel? It’s a place of history and peace. It is a testament to time’s passage.
Friedhof Tegel was established in 1875 outside the village. It sat along the former Hermsdorfer Weg. Before we delve deeper, let’s take a moment to appreciate the setting. Imagine this cemetery in 1875. This area was well outside the main village.
In 1873, the Royal Government in Potsdam approved the new cemetery. It was to be built on about two hectares. The land belonged to Lehnschulzen Ziekow and Büdner Müller.
Look at the Friedhof Tegel chapel built in 1900. It is a simple hall with a polygonal apse. The chapel reflects the brick Gothic style typical of the region. Notice the bright red bricks. Observe the light plaster trim. Take in the crenelated gables and pointed arch windows. A cloistered portal completes this unadorned building. Sadly the architect remains unknown to this day. The chapel stands in the tradition of simple mortuary halls from the mid-19th century. The rectangular brick building has three windows on each side wall.
Throughout its history, Friedhof Tegel has been expanded several times. Expansions in 1905 were followed by further growth in 1932. The cemetery grew eastward to what is now Wilhelm-Blume-Allee. This created what locals called the new section.
In 1956, Friedhof Tegel stretched all the way to Ziekowstrasse. The cemetery’s western parts were closed. In 1977, part of the cemetery south of the chapel was repurposed. It was needed for a new access track for the Niederbarnimer Railway. More parts of the cemetery were lost in 1983. This land was needed for the construction of a highway feeder road.
Today, Friedhof Tegel provides a serene escape from the city. The chapel and grounds tell tales of Tegel’s past. Consider the lives that have shaped this community. They rest here in peace. It is a reminder of time’s relentless march.