Steckhof
The Steckhof was a type of settlement in the Swiss Plateau during the Middle Ages and early modern times . It was a farm or a small hamlet that did not belong to any community and was far away from villages. Although he was not bound by the flood obligation , he neither owned a common land nor a share of the forest .
The Steckhöfe got their name because they were delimited with wooden poles ("sticks"). During the 18th century they were either converted into independent parishes or attached to the nearest existing parish.