Mum's Monday: The House by the Lake by Thomas Harding

This book is about a real-life house in Berlin Germany and the five families that live there over one hundred years.

Prologue, first it is sad to read that the ‘Berlin wall’ was built between house and lake. Now when the Grandson of the last owner was exploring the house the description reminded me of a ‘Before’ scenario in the BBC television program ‘Homes Under the Hammer’ with Martin Roberts. There have been some rundown properties before they then get renovated. However, in this case I hope the house can be saved. In the program all we see is the immediate state ‘Before and after’. We very rarely hear of any history connected with the properties. This book is like the equivalent of reading the history of one of those houses. I am already fascinated.

Part one, Chapter one, 1890, they commonly say that ‘You learn something new every day’, today is no exception, it turns out that in Germany and other European countries, the lime tree is considered sacred and it protected against bad luck. This is interesting to read.

Chapter two, 1913, despite the date in the title of this chapter, the chapter quickly goes into 1914 and beyond into the First World War and after.

Chapter three, 1927, it is interesting to read of the construction of the house, it sounds lovely and yet modest. I am glad there is a picture, it is nice to put an image to the description.

Chapter four, 1928, it is lovely to read about how the family spent their days at the house. Also, now as Berlin is prospering. I can see why the family is spending more time at the house/haven. Again, it is nice to see photos in this chapter.

Chapter five, 1929, the chapter starts with a tragic accident. This chapter is not nice to read with the outcome of the Will reading and the consequence of the ‘Wall street crash’ in New York for Germany.

Chapter six, 1930, at first I thought Elsie was a bit ‘Self-centred’ but then it became clear she just missed her family and was acting like a typical sister as in going to miss her sister but wished her well. I like that Elsie followed her own heart and swapped being a doctor for journalism. This did put her in the position of being in the centre of the events of the day. Because of this it does, it seems, make it easier for the author to interweave what was happening into the history of the families at the house.

Chapter seven, 1934, a commonly known term is ‘As one door closes, another door open’s’. In this case some of the land around the lake has been sold off to make way for Germany’s Luftwaffe, and it is sad that the family that was living there has now moved away. It is an ‘End of an era’ as they also say.

Chapter eight, 1934, It is sad to read that the family have now moved to London, leaving the ‘Lake house’ for good under the circumstances of the time.

Part two, August 2013, I like that this book includes the research, however, tragic it is in it. Although this book doesn’t need the proof it is interesting to read it as the proof is there and it has been very thoroughly carried out.

Chapter nine, 1937, after a length of time in which the house was empty there is about to be another family take up the lease. It is nice to see that the house is going to be lived in again. It turns out the house makes for a perfect, relaxed weekend retreat for an exhausted, successful film actress, her successful husband who writes music for films and their son.

Chapter ten, 1937, I can see the reasoning of the security and freedom of owning the ‘Lake house’. It is sad, however, that one family had to lose it and the Second World War was going on around it at the same time.

Chapter eleven, 1942, it is lovely to read that a song was written about the house. What is sad to read though is that almost all the previous catalogue was destroyed in the war bombing. After this and the theatre also bombed and that one and all others closed, it is sadly, enough for the family to leave Germany and hand the keys over to another family to look after the house.

Chapter twelve, 1944, I can see why the lake house and the surrounding village could be seen as a ‘Safe haven’ but sadly nowhere could escape the war.

Chapter thirteen, 1945, at the start of this chapter it is so nice mentioning that the telephones were still connected and the radio broadcasts could still be listened to but by the end of this chapter it is not at all nice to read as the Soviet soldiers have arrived in the village.

Chapter fourteen, 1945, during this chapter, although I have also noticed this being mentioned in previous chapters that quite a few of the things that happened during the Second world war and after it is followed by how far it is from the lake house. This keeps the house very much connected so, I feel, for the purpose that we don’t lose sight of as the focus of this book. Sadly, the house has now been abandoned again and it is sad to read that the family missed out on buying the security of the land with the house they wanted. It is a mixture of happy and sad news of what happened to the Alexander family.

Chapter fifteen, 1946, there is good news in this chapter, the house and the land now belong to a family. I am pleased and happy to read this part after all the awful things that was written previously. It seems the house is still of interest having been part of a ‘Denazification’ trial. This is a good example of things/events coming back to haunt a person, luckily the outcome was a good one. It is a shame the same cannot be said for Germany/Berlin or the lake house with the ‘Blockade’.

Chapter sixteen, 1948, it seems the house was situated right next door to an air field that was used during the ‘Berlin airlift’ this supplying much needed food and supplies to the deprived people and places. There is more history to this house than just the families that lived there. The house was certainly well placed to be in the centre of things back then. It is annoying though to read that the ‘Denazification’, I can only describe it as ‘Red tape’, didn’t go through.

Chapter seventeen, 1949, I don’t want to comment really about this chapter, although it is written in this book, it is still not at all, let’s just say, correct what is happening. Something that is good news that is almost lost in this chapter is that Will Meisel receives and frames his Business licence.  

Part three. December 2013, again this part is notes on the research on the house. I am both surprised but understandably not surprised by most of the reactions the author is receiving whilst requesting information. It shows that a house can just be a house but it is the living families that tells the living heart of it as a home.

Chapter eighteen, 1952, from this book I can learn a lot of the history of how Germany/Berlin was divided up in the time leading up to the construction of the Berlin wall. Sadly, the house by the lake is looking its age. It is good that it is occupied, if only by a ‘Caretaker’ family that is, I am glad, following the rules of the owner regarding his belongings.

Chapter nineteen, 1958, it seems the lake hose is going to be full of people as two families now are living there. It is nice that once again the house is recognised as ‘A better place’ similar and in keeping with the previous description of the term ‘Haven’. The house is evolving as building work and alterations have been carried out on it. It makes me feel cold to even think about having to wash/bath outside during the winter. Although it is a little sad to read the bigger picture of being ‘Better’ must be thought of, so the family is happy in the long run then that’s fine.

Chapter twenty, 1959, in a previous chapter it was mentioned that the house sewage went into the lake, this is ok as a temporary home. In this chapter with the house being now full time occupied, the inevitable happened and sadly, the lake suffered because of being overwhelmed by full time sewage.

Chapter twenty-one, 1961, it was a shock to read that, to wake up one morning and find a wall being built. Also, it was sad to read, although the piano was stored away the music and clothes were either thrown away or given away. And yes, what good is a ‘Lake house’ with no access to the said lake? Not good.

Chapter twenty-two, 1962, it is nice to read that the alterations to the house makes it more spacious for the now one family that lives there.

Part four, January 2014, again the research continues. I like reading about where some of the past residents of the house ‘A where are they now, what are they doing’ scenario, even though sadly, there is medical issues for one previous resident. I like how the cousins have shown enthusiasm for the house showing a disconnect from the history of it makes for a connection to want to see it preserved and an interest to learn about it.

Chapter twenty-three, 1965, in this chapter we read of a ‘Royal visit’ which is exciting for the west. Also despite the border guards ‘Kids will still be kids’ although dangerous and certainly not good/right this is weirdly amusing to read.

Chapter twenty-four, 1970, it is nice to see the family fall into a routine at the house. They still had to be careful with the border guards despite a friendly camaraderie built up. it is sad that as once the house was referred to as ‘The house by the lake’ it is now referred to as ‘The home by the wall’.

Chapter twenty-five, 1975, at the start of this chapter I thought I would eventually be writing about a successful athlete living at the house, but sadly, an accident changed everything. This was skipped over quickly, but I suppose what is done/has happened, has happened, so there is not really much more to say. This chapter however, by the end there is good news as in a wedding and a baby.

Chapter twenty-six, 1986, after turbulent times at the house a new marriage could be seen as good news. I love that there is a picture of the tiles in the house. The description is good, but a picture is still better.

Chapter twenty-seven, 1989, all I can say about this chapter is the Berlin wall is coming down. Overall it was a nice chapter to read.

Chapter twenty-eight, 1990, despite the wall coming down there is still, you could say conflict, as who owns the house by the lake and what land was theirs and what the land was made into, what can only be described as a ‘Public footpath’.

Chapter twenty-nine, 1993, it is lovely to read that a previous resident was able to visit the house, even though this was sadly, after some tragic loses in her personal life. Even so a bit of nostalgia can be good sometimes overall.

Chapter thirty, 1999, I like that the house is still lived in, but how, with the parties, is questionable. The two young lads had their fun but, and I guessed it couldn’t last long. It seems the house has had a mixed history from respectable holiday home, through equally respectable full time tenants to a bachelor pad. As fun as the latter sounds for the two lads as in best things it comes to an end and the house is now empty again.

Part five, February 2014, the research continues. I would like to have known more about Roland the last resident of the house, about what he is doing now and so on, but at least he provided some information. It is sad to read of the first initial ruling but hopefully after a ‘Clean-up day’ the pretty little house will look better for it and convince a change of heart.

Chapter thirty-one, 2003, this chapter is really not nice to read, squatters have basically, ‘Trashed’ the house. This is so sad to even think about let alone read.

Chapter thirty-two, 2004, I can see why the family next door used the lake house garden also I can see why the other neighbour objected to that. Now it seems a race against time to save the house. Not exactly ‘Edge of your seat’ scenario, but I would like to know how it would be saved.

Chapter thirty-three, 2014, it is lovely to see ‘’Clean-up day’ such a success. I loved reading about the response and the sense of community.

Epilogue, it is lovely to see the house saved and to read the recap of the story.

Postscript, yes, here’s to the next ‘Hundred years’’.