Harmes in Wanfried

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Harmes

Harmes in Wanfried

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From the inscription at Harmes:

In the night of October 16th to 17th, 1753, the merchant Wilh. Anton Harmes, who was born in Bremen, died in this house.

As he, himself, had cut his own neck, the strangest rumours were spread about his death. The house was avoided and not lived in for many years, as people considered it to be "haunted".

Today's inhabitants still tell the following story:

With the Werra's shipping business, the merchant was very successful. He kept his money in a heavy iron chest.

In the same night, both his young wife and child died. He felt totally sorrowed and despaired, so that he could not stay at the funeral. Only for a brief moment he looked at the caskets on the grave. From now on, he became so sinister and mean that he was nearly insane.

As he, once again, greedily looked into his money chest for talers and guilders, the lid to the heavy iron chest slammed shut. Since he had not been seen for days, his gate and front door were opened. He was found dead his hands clenched in his money chest.

From then on, it is told, that he peers from the loft when funeral processions are passing his house. Whoever has seen him, is said to have died within the same year.

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