August Kierspel

August Kierspel (born August 6, 1884 in Bergisch Gladbach ; † February 9, 1967 there ) was a German teacher and local poet .

Life

August Kierspel was born as the son of First City Secretary Gerhard Kierspel in 1884 in the small, meanwhile demolished half-timbered house on "Driescher Krücks". The cross is still on the old square in the Driesch district . In 1904, Kierspel first became a primary school teacher in Herkenrath and Gronau and also trained as a gymnastics teacher. In 1921 he completed his studies as a qualified commercial teacher and was involved as such at the “vocational and commercial school” Bergisch Gladbach . In 1927 he was appointed "Deputy Director" and in 1947 he was appointed "Vocational School Director". He was very attached to the local handicraft and advocated further training for master craftsman exams. By founding various specialist departments within the Kolping Family , he created opportunities for non-professional training.

In addition to his work, he was an enthusiastic friend of German songs. At the age of twenty he and friends founded the “Sangesfreunde” quartet and became its first conductor. He was also the conductor of the "MGV Liederkranz 1845" and its chairman until 1936. He was then appointed honorary chairman after he had been elected chairman of the "Rheinisch-Bergischen-Sängerkreis". He exercised this office throughout his life; it earned him the name "singer father".

He also made a name for himself as a local poet. Together with Hermann Ritter and Bertram Steinbach, on October 20, 1919, he announced the publication of a "Bergische Volkskalender" (Bergisches Volkskalender), which in future should appear annually. The first five volumes were self-published by August Kierspel. With the Bergisches Calendar 1926, the publishing house published “Joh. Heider "; today the work is called Rheinisch-Bergischer Calendar . In loving detail, August Kierspel drew the Bergische landscape with its people, animals, flowers, festivals and customs in a dialect manner in his lyrical poems. His play "Us ahler Bergischer Zick" brought it to 10 completely sold-out performances in 1982 and 1983 by the amateur theater "Am Strungerbaach" under the direction of Herbert Stahl .

Honors

• Faithful Service Decoration of Honor of the German Craftsmen 1944
• Badge of honor in gold with ribbon of the German Singers Association 1966
• Golden commemorative coin of the city of Bergisch Gladbach 1959
• Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon of the Federal Republic of Germany 1959
• Dedication of "August-Kierspel-Straße" by the city of Bergisch Gladbach in 1971

Fonts

• Us ahler Bergischer Zick, Volksstück in three acts , Bergisch Gladbach o. J. ("Allen braven Bergischen Zaldaten" 1916 sent "into the field")
• Bergische Hemed, Volksstück in 4 acts , Bergisch Gladbach undated (probably 1920)
• The first doctor, Volksstück in 4 acts , Bergisch Gladbach undated (probably 1921)
• Bergische Bildcher, poems in the Rheinisch-Bergisch dialect , Bergisch Gladbach 1948

literature

• Herbert Stahl : August Kierspel. 1884-1967. His life and work in words, pictures and sound. Bergischer Geschichtsverein - Dept. Rhein-Berg, Bergisch Gladbach 1997, ISBN 3-932326-19-9 ( series of publications of the Bergisches Geschichtsverein Rhein-Berg eV 19), (with a CD on which August Kierspel can also be heard).