Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 11:43 am
Post subject: Train info/rural home needed/Lodz WWII
Hello, I am writing a novel and have my main character riding the train from Praga to Lodz. There she will take a cart ride to her grandmother's house. This is September 1, 1939 when Germany invades. Can anyone help me with a possible location for the grandmother's house, about 20 miles southeast of central Lodz that would have existed in 1939? The area should be rural which I assume had no indoor plumbing. By cart/horse, how long would it take to get there?
Any description about a house would be really helpful. She would be a poor farmer's widow. Did the house have screens or windows that closed? Or wooden shutters or fabric on the windows. Dirt floors? Wooden floors? One story? Did they have a cellar or basement of sorts. A pump well? or how did they get their water (outhouse, too?). Etc.
I notice from Google Maps how the houses border right along the roads with strips of land behind each house. Not like the US with homes dotted all over the place. Was this the same in 1939, too? Struggling to find detailed maps in 1930s.
Also, if anyone has any information about the train and what it might have looked like. Again, I have some info but would welcome anything else.
Lots asked here. I appreciate any information and more if you want to add to this.
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HenrykPO Top Contributor
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Magroski49PO Top Contributor & Patron
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Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 1:29 pm
Post subject: Re: Train info/rural home needed/Lodz WWII
Neesie wrote: | Hello, I am writing a novel and have my main character riding the train from Praga to Lodz. There she will take a cart ride to her grandmother's house. This is September 1, 1939 when Germany invades. Can anyone help me with a possible location for the grandmother's house, about 20 miles southeast of central Lodz that would have existed in 1939? The area should be rural which I assume had no indoor plumbing. By cart/horse, how long would it take to get there?
Any description about a house would be really helpful. She would be a poor farmer's widow. Did the house have screens or windows that closed? Or wooden shutters or fabric on the windows. Dirt floors? Wooden floors? One story? Did they have a cellar or basement of sorts. A pump well? or how did they get their water (outhouse, too?). Etc.
I notice from Google Maps how the houses border right along the roads with strips of land behind each house. Not like the US with homes dotted all over the place. Was this the same in 1939, too? Struggling to find detailed maps in 1930s.
Also, if anyone has any information about the train and what it might have looked like. Again, I have some info but would welcome anything else.
Lots asked here. I appreciate any information and more if you want to add to this. |
Neesie,
A very descriptive life in Lodz 1939 in http://www.centropa.org/sites/default/files/pl_bromberg_a4.pdf
About railroads and trains:
http://woznyj.republika.pl/mapa.html
Gilberto
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Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 12:18 pm
Post subject:
Magroski49, Henryk:
Thank you for the links! I'll get into the material at the beginning of the week. Might have more questions as I go along.
Neesie
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