Cover of leather-bound photograph album of Gross Thurow (36 cm x 46 cm)
These photographs are believed to have been taken about 1896 for the purpose of advertising when Thurow was to be sold. At that time Thurow was owned by Bernhard Heinrich Peter Berckemeyer (1840-1920) and was in serious financial difficulty. A buyer was found but the sale eventually fell through. In 1897, Bernhard’s son, Ernst Daniel Berckemeyer (age 25) returned home to take over the management of the estate. By imposing harsh economic measures and employing good agricultural practices, he succeeded in getting Thurow out of debt.
Front view of house (Haus von vorn), north side.Front view of house (Haus von vorn), north side.Rear of house (Haus von hinten), south/garden side.Dining room (Esszimmer). Directly adjacent and behind is a room with a large mirror above a fireplace.Mirror room (Spiegelzimmer). The picture to the right of the mirror is Hermann and Dorothea – Heimkehr bei’m Anzug des Gewitters. Fireplace room (Kaminzimmer). Portraits on the wall from left to right: Bernhard Philipp Berckemeyer (1794-1816), Cacilie Berckemeyer nee Bohl (1778-1852) and their eldest son Eduard Wilhelm Berckemeyer (1798-1843).Room with ancestor corner (Saal mit Ahnenwinkel). Ancestors from left to right: Eleonore Ida Berckemeyer nee Manecke (1816-1888), Cacilie Berckemeyer nee Bohl (1778-1852), Ernst Philipp Berckemeyer (1808-1879), Johann Heinrich Bernhard Berckemeyer (1732->1800), Esther Berckemeyer nee Adriansen (1732/33-?).Master’s study (Herrenzimmer). Portrait on the left is Ernst Philipp Berckemeyer (1808-1879).Billiard room (Billiardzimmer).Tennis court (Tennisplatz).
Water avenue (Wasserallee) ran parallel to the Golden Lake (Goldensee). (The “iron curtain”, a 10 foot concrete wall was built along this path during the Communist era.) Seated is probably Ernst Daniel Berckemeyer (1872-1923), behind him is his father Bernhard Heinrich Peter Berckemeyer (1840-1920). On the back is a faint date – 1893 or 1895 or 1896.This may be Linden avenue (Lindenallee). Linden are large stately trees. Left is Mary Compton (an English governess?), next is Helene (Leny) Berckemeyer (1877-1962), far right is Esther Berckemeyer (1873-1932).View from the house toward the southwest. On the far right is the coffee hut (Kaffeehutte). The woman is presumably Erna Bertha Eleonore Berckemeyer (1884-1967).View west toward the lake. Right is the south side of the house. Left is the coffee hut. It had a seating area on two sides – one facing east, the other facing west. The little temple (Das Tempelchen). Its exact location in the park is unclear.The Golden Lake (Das Goldensee), off the west end of the house. The white boathouse is just visible at the end of the path. Written on the back is Thurow 19.8.96 (1896).Golden Lake (Das Goldensee), nursery/greenhouses on the right. The Thurow park, tennis court on the left. The park encompassed an area of some 10 acres with many neatly manicured paths, one of those was Lindenallee. The park and tennis court (Park mit Tennisplatz).Water avenue? (Wasserallee?)Blick uber den Goldensee auf Gr Thurow – vor 1837 – View over the Golden Lake toward Gross Thurow – before 1837.Zur Erinnerung an Thurow. In memory of Thurow.Erinnerung an das liebe Thurow. A reminder of dear Thurow.
Berckemeyer 